searching for Santa

We drove the hills of Little Neck after our class last Wednesday to find Christmas lighting. These are beautiful old money - old house neighborhoods. But after an hour we hadn't seen a single light. Weighing several explanations we returned home puzzled. It is a dominant Jewish community, but still, not even Chahunkah lighting.

and then . . .



















Mainer's Chapel 
lights across the Sound 
a gentle snowfall 
The Great Neck Choral Society 
  Ralph Vaughan Williams Hodie 
and of course, 
  standing for Handel's great chorus 

Yoolis Coolest

"I'm ready to move out in front"

"I wanna feel my heart coming alive again
 Before the parade passes by... " 

____________________________________

Dino-Decorations at the Museum of
Natural History near parade start

The idea arose on our way back from the July 4th celebration. After all, that had gone off very well. Our CES coordinator Stan Kauffman  and his wife Shirley had graciously escorted us to the fireworks display, and maybe we were ready for the big-time. Stan said that he had received good tips on schedules and viewing locations for The Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade. I looked over to check with Stefanie and saw that she was talking to Shirley and probably had not heard our discussion. So I turned back to Stan, "Sounds great. We're in!"

Because Thanksgiving dinner would follow the parade, and an early start was needed, we planned a two day outing. The Kauffman's invited us to spend Wednesday night in their Queens pad. They also invited friends from New Haven, Connecticut, Stan's CES counterpart at Yale, and a church chaplain. Like the Kauffmans, they are a couple with many interesting stories and ideas to share.

A popular part of the parade experience is attending the "inflation of the balloons." Sort of like Pamplona's prequel "Running of the bulls," but slower. If the winds are not too high, they are filled the evening before. It was raining on our arrival. The temperature was in the 20's, the winds were under their threshold, so the balloons were out and about.

The Amazing Spiderman - Most popular character in the queue 

We went cross-town for meatballs and then back to the Kauffman's for desert and late games.

Thanksgiving morning. 

Wind-chill forecast in the teens. We arose early, bundled up and headed back in to Manhattan.

Our spot was Avenue of the Americas and 57th. We tried to cross west for a better view, but were stopped by spectator density about 20 feet from the curb. We settled in. The parade lasts about three hours, but our plan was was and earlier exit. I had a decent angle on the balloons, floats and even the bands, but they wouldn't be arriving for another hour. We had no illusions. The best view was on the flat screen back home. This was cultural ambiance. It was all around us.

An early awareness: It is much warmer in this press of bodies.

View from my post - not bad 

We could hear increasing sound and vibrations from the north. The flux of anticipation, elation on faces. The children across the street. I strained to see around the corner.

My attention shifts gradually. I hear them at some distance. Late arrivals.  "Excuse me, excuse me, I need to get past. Excuse me, we're trying to get to the front. We cant see back here. Could you move please, we need to get forward." Phalanxes of two or three, pushing - probing. A bump on one side. I here cheers from the street. Hey, isn't that, that singer, what's her name? A shove on the other side. There's Spiderman. I try to bring my camera up. Some of my neighbors gently resist. Some are less gentle. Proximity's shrink. I see Stefanie drifting upstream. Looking behind, the crowd is 200 bodies deep. Usurper's persistence is rewarded. I think, "that's right, I chose to be back here because I prefer mediocre views. If you are one of those that prefer good views, you need to be at the front. That's where the best views are . . . you're welcome."

There are two parades.
The sidewalk promenade has become more interesting.

Cold and tired, we retreated, trading parade stories on the train home. Thanksgiving dinner was excellent. Stan shared a story from the life of B.H.Roberts and the Thanksgiving Psalm which led to further discussion and insights on the meaning of gratitude.

So, what's next?

New Years Eve?   Fashion Week?   The Marathon?

I think we're done for now.

Sir! no Sir!

Hi Erin -

 

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Chris Owens chrisjowens@gmail.com	12/1/13
to erin.owens

Hope you had a meaningful Thanksgiving. They cook turkey there right? Do they have turkeys? Mom and I went to two ward sessions hoping to meet an investigator at the first one. No show. So - a long day. But we enjoyed a great testimony meeting in the family ward and had fun with the youth in YSA service.  

Mom said she mentioned our Macy's parade adventure, so I'll skip my perspective on the "human sardine can," other than to note that it was a vivid and interesting cultural experience. The big story this week was our airport debacle - still too close to the bone for mom to discuss.

Some of our students at the Marine Academy asked us to drive them to the airport for their Thanksgiving breaks. We dutifully arrived and picked up three of them. Despite the rush hour timeline, we successfully navigated to JFK in less than  an hour. 

Just as we were verbally patting ourselves on the back, one of our passengers asked why we were at JFK (Southshore) when their flights were leaving from Laguardia Airport (Northshore). 

ARGHHHHHHHHHHHHHH! 

45 Minutes until lift-off. Quickly shifted to the Van Wyck cross Island - pointed to Laguardia. 5MPH. Raining. Highway looking like a parking lot. Backseat suddenly verrry quiet. Anxious faces all around. Mother praying. Dad praying. Crawling, crawling, crawling . . . then prayers answered! Traffic congestion eased and the passengers dropped off with 25 minutes remaining. Fortunately they are all in top physical condition, and in uniform. 

We received texts on our return through Queens. All flights made. Wow. Life on the island with crazy dad. 

PS: Stef drolly noted that our chauffeur services for Christmas break would likely NOT be needed.