It was a simple, specific goal. In the array of all that Manhattan has to offer, amid all the lights from the twinkle lights in the trees to the pattern of office windows still illuminated after 5, we wanted to see the tree at Rockefeller Center all decked out for Christmas!
As this year's trip was later in the year than usual, we decided it was a fair expectation. Not only were we on the cusp of December, but the sun would set earlier so we would have more time immersed in darkness and surrounded by lights before we had to make it back to the bus. As usual, the trip was a quick dart into the city... travel overnight on Friday and again on Saturday night, and be back in Canada by Sunday morning. I never spend the night, never stick around the see the sunrise. Some people say I'm crazy, but I think it's brilliant!
So around 5pm we made our way from Times Square to Rockefeller's explosion of lights. It was stunning but we were soon disappointed: there was a tall black void in the glow. The tree was erected but it was dark. No lights.
We wrestled our way through the crowd of skaters awaiting their turn on that famous rink. I stood on the platform and took several pictures of people whizzing past, before the glorious variety of lights. It was a gorgeous scene, one that eased our disappointment. As long as we didn't look too high upwards, it was a gorgeous scene!!
As we walked back towards the street, we spoke with a policeman in the crowd and discovered the tree wouldn't be lit until four days later. Four days into December when we would be back in our respective real worlds and putting up our own, smaller, versions of Christmas trees.
The knife became wedged in a little more on Sunday evening when my kids and I were watching Home Alone 2: Lost in New York. A holiday favourite for sure, particularly since both my son and I could utter the words: "I've been there" throughout the story. But he wasn't with me on this recent trip. So towards the end, when Kevin and his mother are reunited, the scene of the brilliantly lit Christmas behemoth was a frustration he didn't share.
It was cool to discover, though, that the path leading up to the rink in the movie was adorned with the same angels and stars I had just seen in person. So that was good!
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