December 10th, 2024
When we first moved to Maryland from New York 22 years ago, I made Scott promise that we would go home as much as I needed. Christmas was non-negotiable. Almost every year, we would wake up early, open the presents, have a quick breakfast, leave the house a mess, and hit the road by 10:00 AM to beat the traffic up the turnpike.
Up until 8 years ago, my parents still lived in our hometown of White Plains so we always had a place to land. My siblings and I would make the trek and crowd back into the renovated cape on Havilands Lane with Bagels, Pizza, Antipasto from Arthur Avenue and black and whites for dessert.
Since my parents moved to Maryland, we never return to White Plains as a family. Instead, we rotate between Montreal, where Nancy lives, Buffalo, where Denis lives, and our home here. Because of this, I rarely get to NYC for the holidays and my kids don’t have that same nostalgic connection to NYC that Scott and I. We met there in a bar, married and had Lucia there. Maryland is our kid’s home. New York City is our love story.
This past weekend, Scott and up headed up for a conference he had to attend, which landed us right in Times Square. The lights, the crowds and the traffic are at their peak right now, and this part of the city is the epicenter of tourism. I am a bit of a snob about Times Square. All New Yorkers are. I am not a tourist. Even when I lived in New York City, I would send our out of town friends to see it, avoiding it if I could. It is a lot. But this time it hit differently. I need the big dose. I missed it all.
I logged over 50,000 steps in two days with my tennis sneakers, long johns, layers, hats and gloves. I had some catching up to do. I was back and not wasting a John Travota step. I was so busy soaking it up, I didn’t take many pictures. So here are my pictures in words. Enjoy.
While working out in the hotel gym, I looked out the window to see that it faced a dance studio where Broadway dancers were practicing in tight matching leotards with perfect kicks, leaps and bounds.
Scott pausing to kiss me under the lights of the Rockefeller tree. We went on to get in a fight while eating a $400 dinner. (It was the wine.. It is always the wine.) Then we made up as we always do just as he pulled me back from getting hit by a cab. He didn’t let go of my hand after that.
Waking early so I could get down to the flower district. Building a $200 bouquet for my best friend Dana who still lives in the city.(I had to return over 1/2 the flowers before haggling cash for a better deal.)
Facetiming Maya from a cab to hear about her night out and feeling cool for having my own night out to tell her about.
Stealing Dana away from work for a long lunch in a cozy café in the meat packing district. Reminiscing about how we shared a basement apartment up on 92nd and York and how much the city has changed and not changed since then.
Putting on my headphones and strutting up Broadway from 10St all the way to 44th St without missing a beat or looking at a map.
Walking around Eataly alone and breathing in the sheer beauty of cheese, vegetable and fruit displays.
Getting a cappuccino at a Deli and saying, “What the fuck” to the cashier because it was so good while he says back, “It’s NY. You think we can serve up shit here. We’d be out of business.”
Having a door held open for me and hearing “Sure Doll,” by a stranger with a Bronx accent who looked and sounded like a young verson of my uncle.
Taking a long nap at the sunset, then, waking to get ready and go on a date with Scott. Just like old times.
Grabbing a fast slice of perfect Pizza with Scott on our way to meet friends. Taking our first bite and saying, “Are you fucking kidding me!, Why is this so hard to do in Marland.”
Using the word Fuck in almost all my sentences in my head and too many outloud.
Meeting old friends, Tammy and Jill for a drink in a cool new restaurant they heard about and feeling like I am cool and in the know for knowing them. Sitting at the bar, ordering one delicious thing after another while watching beautiful people in sequins walk by to their reserved seats.
Getting an egg sandwich on a kaiser and eating it at the counter while the door opens to a bell jingling and cold cold air with the tinge of subway.
Meeting my sister Franny and niece Danika and Maya’s oldest best friend Nick (who now goes to NYU) for a liquid lunch at ABC Cocina, then showing Nick why ABC carpet is my favorite store of all time even though it is now ¼ of the size. Buying Nick the perfect ornament from ABC Capet, a fragile bodega that I hope he will keep forever to remember the day.
Walking around the Christmas stalls at Union Square and finding enchanting presents that they carefully wrapped in order to make it back through the crowds to under the tree.
Saying goodbye at the corner of a busy intersection and watching my beautiful, confident niece Danika disappear into a crowd, knowing I will hug her again in a few short weeks.
Taking a picture with my sister under the lights of Times Square before sending her off to catch the Hudson Line train back to White Plains. Wishing I could go home but knowing I never can again.
Watching guys in a big white truck catcall to two women on the corner and listening to the woman say, “Yeah, go on boys, you wish you could have some of this.” Watching one of the guys pretend to get out of the truck to meet them.
Realizing that the kid helping me buy dress shirts for Scott has a master’s in political science and actually went to GWU like me and rowed crew. (I was briefly a coxswain for the men’s rowing team.)
Having our friends, Donna and Greg DiFilice, plan a surprise night out for us and landing last-minute Broadway seats to “Hells Kitchen”. Feeling the hairs rise up on the back of my neck while the ensemble sings Alisa Keys life into Broadway history. Singing her “New York, Empire State of Mind” song with choked-up tears in a theater full of filled to the brim, grateful people. So glad they stayed out with us for “one more drink.”
Waking up at dawn naked in a messy hotel bed and opening the curtains to see the distant Hudson River, knowing it’s time to go home.
Sitting down with Scott in a diner before catching the train home and smelling coffee, bacon, fried eggs, and hash browns. Remembering how, after I spent my first night with Scott, he took me to his neighborhood diner for breakfast, and his favorite waiter came over and said, “Spidey (his name for Scott). You gonna marry this one.. She’s a keepah!”
Falling asleep with my head resting on Scott’s shoulder on a warm rocking train back home. So glad he listened to that waiter. So glad we always have New York.
