Traveling/Travel Writing/July Writing Challenge
Celebrating Thanksgiving Day And Lighting Of The Christmas Trees In New York
My first Autumn in New York, A Fall that made things fall into places
There was a time I wondered, if America is America because Americans do celebrate Thanksgiving day.
And Philippines is Philippines because we don’t have Thanksgiving Day. Either we are just a bunch of ungrateful people or we think it is not something to celebrate…though we know that there’s always something to be thankful for.
We do have a lot of celebrations and holidays. Holidays for each religion, for the dead, for Chinese new year, national heroes day. You name it. The only holiday intended for the country to celebrate without any protest is Independence Day. Though for ages, the country celebrated Independence Day every 4th of July and it was only in 1964 that the date became June 12.
Oh well…
A trip to New York was not an immediate plan. But whenever I watched CSI: New York, their opening song ‘The Who” by Baba O’Riley was like a strong wind pulling me to pack my bags and pushing me to plan a trip. I’m easy to talk to, no problem.
And I had learned that a convention is to be held on the Saturday after Thanksgiving day. My Auntie B had transferred to Greenwich, Connecticut . The stars were aligning. I didn’t want to ignore them. And regret when they misalign again.
And so I went to New York City.
The day before Thanksgiving Day, I told Auntie B that I am going to watch the Macy’s Thanksgiving Parade in Manhattan, she said she wanted it too.
Thanksgiving Day
We left Greenwich at 7.00am. It was a 20- minute walk to the train station and 1- hour ride to Manhattan.
From Grand Central Terminal we looked for a spot where we could watch the parade. All the sides of the streets where the parade were to pass through were filled to the brim.
I had to squeeze myself to get a small space. The only space I got was behind a tall and broad- shouldered man behind another man who had a child sitting in his shoulder. It was a relief every time the child was put down. More or less most of the characters I were able to see in the parade were those who were above their heads and from the space in between two bodies.
Well, logically it’s better to watch in the comfort of the wide screen in a house but I preferred the illogical one. It didn’t matter if what I had seen were limited, I had my other senses to enjoy that big moment. I heard the sound, the cheers, the music. I felt how it is to be present in person and in broad daylight in that kind of celebration. Now I can say, I’d seen Macy’s Thanksgiving Parade, even in that way. Still, a prized possession of mine.
After the parade, we walked to Penn Station, we boarded the train going to Long Island for a Thanksgiving lunch in the house of a distant relative.
At nighttime, we were fetched by another relative for Thanksgiving dinner. Since her husband was an American-Italian, dinner was the American way…turkey and all the side dishes. Unlike in our lunch, our hosts were both Filipinos, so it’s the Filipino way. We spent the night there.
Those were the perks of having many relatives.
My Thanksgiving Day didn’t end up yet. For the next six days, were days I will always be thankful, for they existed and became a big fraction of me.
Friday
From Long Island we went to the Grand Central Terminal to meet Auntie L. She had free passes for us for the Metropolitan Museum of Art of New York City. We visited St. Patrick’s Cathedral and Rockefeller Center.
We sleepover at the former boss of Auntie B in Midtown. From the glass window, the sights and sounds of Midtown were all alive….the yellow cab, people walking around, the lights of the Empire State and Chrysler buildings. And the siren, that made me felt like Stella Bonasera or Jo Danville of CSI: NY, ready to investigate and solve a crime.
Saturday
The start of the convention at Javits Center in 11th Avenue. It was my first time attending an international convention. Sitting for three hours in the morning and four hours in the afternoon were more tiring than walking for seven hours. It was a respite that there was an exhibition hall to walk to during lunch break.
New York knows how to hold a convention. Not to downgrade our local one, but our version is a lame version.
Sunday
Convention day the whole day. Auntie B went back to Greenwich and I transferred to Queens.
Monday
After the convention, I went to the World Financial Center. From the exit of the train station going to WFC, the atmosphere and silence gave me goose bumps. For in-between them, was the four-year-old ground zero. The sounds of my every step in the wooden makeshift path , made me quicken my pace.
Auntie L from Queens worked there and there was a musical program for the lighting of the Christmas tree. Several choirs rendered their Christmas songs.
Tuesday
After the convention at Javits Center, I went to 34th street to meet Auntie L . It’s a 1-mile walk. It was more convenient to walk than wait for the bus. With people from the convention and the regular riders, the buses were always full.
The streets of New York were busy and crowded. But it was better that way. It was only 5pm and the sky was so dark. That’s the only truth of Autumn that I like less. Because most of the time, darkness is intimidating.
We headed to the Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts for the lighting of the Christmas tree located in its open ground.
There were food stalls for the spectators. Minimally priced but the queues were long. I can’t remember if I had eaten one or not. It was a festive night. I treasured this night.
After that, we went to Saks Fifth Avenue. Their Christmas Light Show had started for the season. Snowflakes and music, a magical combination. What more can I ask for on this kind of night.
Wednesday
The last day of the convention. My last day in NYC. My last night in Greenwich too. The next day, my flight back to Manila.
My biggest regret: The lighting of the Christmas tree in Rockefeller Center was that night. I missed that.
But I need to go back to Greenwich. My bravery was not enough for my fear in returning to Greenwich late at night. The streets were dark and when the wind howled at night, it’s frightening.
If only I was able to book a flight on a later date. But unfortunately, the next available one was much later and it’s not possible for me.
Maybe having three Christmas lighting was too much, I had to be contended with the two.
My second regret: I didn’t have a good camera. I didn’t have that interest to take photos back then. Now, I have to content myself with a very few blurry photos.
In Gratitude
Up to this day, my heart is full of gratitude for those days. As I always say, it is the best time to be in NYC. And I was there at the right time.
If I have to be asked to name one of the best days of my life, I can answer that in a New York minute — — My Autumn In New York where I celebrated Thanksgiving Day and the lighting of the Christmas trees and many more, for I was there for almost four weeks.