I had a very New Yorkish sort of day. On the subway a Mariachi Band was playing Feliz Navidad. Have I ever mentioned that I LOVE the mariachi bands on the subway. I save my change in ziplock bags to give them whenever I see them. Best thing about NY subways. Actually, it might be the only good thing.
I was going to Macy's to return something. Ah, Herald Square. The bell ringers were singing and it was very "Xmas in New York" People bundled up singing "Baby it's Cold Outside" (it was!!!) as an old man walked by me with no coat eating an ice cream cone. What?
Then I got IN to Macy's. I KNEW what I was getting myself into but I figured better on a Wed than a Sat. Except Macy's apparently has a 1 days sale EVERY FREAKING DAY. The shoppers were everywhere! Lines everywhere and security guards were monitoring both the escalators and elevators. I wasn't even trying to use the elevators (I was wearing Jason in the baby carrier-As far as I'm concerned Macys at Christmas time is a no stroller zone) but I was still informed by a rather cranky fat woman sitting on her stool that she carries around that I can't take the elevator because I don't have a stroller. I was like, "Hey, I'm just trying to get into a normal cash register line!"
Now that I am not working as a Buyer, I am, for the first time since graduating college (Japan didn't count-that was la la land and frankly out of this world), looking at Christmas with a new set of eyes. Walking through the largest department store in America all I could think was, "So you are the people who actually buy this shit" Before it was numbers and $ on a computer screen that I would check on Monday mornings...and at Christmastime I was working on next summer's orders. I'm not saying I don't X mas shop, I do! But I definitely steer clear of malls and crowds and cologne sprayers and stuff.
EVERYONE was there to see Santa. I have never seen such miserable people in my entire life. Crying kids, bitching adults, grandmothers yelling at their daughters, Moms spanking their kids and making threats about Santa not coming. Some of the brattiest kids ever. If I were Santa I think I would steer clear of Macy's Herald Sq.
THANK GOD JASON doesn't know any of this exists yet. I need more mental preparation time. He was just asleep in his carrier, like a little X mas peanut.
Today was also the 30th anniversary of the John Lennon tragedy. So I of course walked over to Strawberry Fields in Central Park to check out the scene. It was the same as his birthday-I couldn't get anywhere close to the mosaic, despite how bitter cold it was. The big difference was this time the whole side street near the mosaic across from The Dakota was closed down and lined with police and news trucks.
It's pretty cliche to hear Imagine at the Imagine mosaic...but I have to admit, this was really neat.
But it's not without it's humor. Directly in front of me is Fox 5 news trying to figure out the placement of their shot. Towards the end you hear her talking about breaking a heel...
THEN we have the lady busting in on the Fox 5 news ladies bit. She is literally talking to the News chick WHILE the story is going on (at the 45 sec mark on this next video) I think she was drunk. She is blabbering on about being from Connecticut and a huge music fan and finally after the news lady couldn't hear her cues, the cop came and escorted her away! Too funny.
As I was leaving the crescent moon was in the trees and looked like the Cheshire Cat. I love when it does that.
The day ended with a "New York" version of a good Samaritan. A man kicked a lady's car on my behalf. I had the walk signal and was crossing the street and a car turned in front of me. But I had my stroller so this guys who saw it all took it upon himself to kick the woman's car and yell at her on my behalf.
The Christmas spirit is all around.
