Yes We Need a Little Christmas!

 

After a wonderful night's sleep with hearts overflowing with love and gratitude, we woke up for our final morning in New York. Tom and Ruth Anne had work early on Monday morning. While they rested, I organized and packed up our room. We walked over to Junior's for breakfast. There was a long line and we were about to find another place to eat but I suggested we see how long the wait was. As we went to the hostess desk people were being told they would receive a text when their table was ready. After we showed our vaccination cards and ID's, they led us to a table for 3. We bobbed and weaved through the crowd with our masks still on and were led to a table with the same waitress who served us lunch on Saturday.  We feasted on a New York style breakfast with bagels, eggs, french toast and orange juice. We shared our plates with each other and took a picture of the Christmas tree:

 

With a noon check out, we didn't have a lot of time to go galavanting around the City. Since we all need a little Christmas right now, we went down different streets to get to Rockefeller Center.

I had seen an article about the Show Globes in Times Square and was thrilled to see them along with a spectacular view of Times Square.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 Photos taken on our stroll around the Rockefeller Center area:

 One of my favorite displays at Rockefeller Center

 

 

 

 

 

The traditional selfie with the ice skating rink in the background

 

 

 

The doorman at FAO Schwarz who was making sure that no one entered the store before 11am. They were hosting a special event for the families of fallen firefighters from 9/11. FAO Schwarz always makes me feel like a kid again.

While we watched the tree trimming at Rockefeller Center, Tom asked if we could have a cutting from the tree! After we were gifted one of the branches, the security guard told us to wait a minute. He gave us pine cone decorations on another branch!

 I caption this photo  "Jaywalker Tom":

The light had changed but he ran to cross the street. A bus was careening down the street right behind him. Ruth Anne and I were left on the other side of the street but he held up our treasure to indicate all was well.

What an incredible way to kick off the holiday season in New York. We were able to enjoy the City before the throngs of holiday goers arrived. Our waitress at Junior's told us the holiday week began on Monday for New York schools!

Everyone is ready to celebrate this year after a year of darkness, uncertainty, fear, hope, possibilities, isolation, and waiting as we do in Advent. Yes, we need a lot of Christmas this year.

Extraordinary

Sunlight sparkles on the water
dancing on the gentle ripples
how long we waited to see the sun again
darkness and fear were all pervasive
would light ever prevail

lying in waiting
world's troubles heavy
bearing down on tender hearts
weary as days became months
keep hope alive

Emerging from the pandemic
baby steps
is it safe?
bigger steps
out into the world
leap of faith
at times waiting seemed unbearable

and yet

what joy culminates
sweet experiences that hearts yearned for
ordinary times become extraordinary
hugs' pleasure magnified
seeing smiles once more
happy and free
into the light.

From my heart to yours

In health and wellness,

Mary

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