What a contrast from last Christmas. In Iraq last year, Christmas was 90 degrees, sunny, dusty and an extravaganza of food. Two days later I was on a flight to Al Kut, Baghdad and Balad.
This year Christmas was a calm day at my father-in-law's house near Washington DC. Christmas night, four of my kids and I drove to Lancaster. After Church we loaded the car and drove to New York City--actually Trenton, then the rest of the way by train.
The weather was clear for about 20 miles then more and more snow. We passed six accidents and almost became one ourselves when some slowed to look at other accidents. After two and a half hours of sliding, we made ti to Trenton station. Another 90 minutes and we were in Penn Station and on the way to our hotel in Times Square. The blizzard was howling when we left the subway. We struggled two blocks to the hotel then checked in. Even through the snow Times Square was pulsing bright with ads on two-story electronic billboards. Jacari saw NYC for the first time stepping out of the subway staircase and said, "Awesome! This is like Hollywood!"
The gym was closed by the time we arrived, but the Crown Plaza has 46 floors so we could run up the stairs and either walk back down (which Lisa did all three times) or take the elevator, which I did two of three times.
We changed and went three blocks to the Marriott Marquis so the kids could ride the glass elevators up to The View--the 60th floor restaurant. We struggled another couple of blocks and had pizza for dinner.
Today, I am sitting in Starbucks while the kids shop the few vendors who opened on Canal Street.
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I admire you. I have taken a vow to never again drive in the snow. Raised in So Cal and never had it on the road. We get it very seldom and now where I live (near Sacramento) never - only tried it once and slid into a pile up of 4 cars at the bottom of a freeway overpass. Made the front page (or the van did) of the paper - there were no consequences - as the truck I was warning to not try to come down the overpass yelled out "I have 4-wheel drive." Guess what? All four wheels slide just as well as 2 wheels and she misses my van and took out the side of the car I had bumped. The damage I did was obliterated in her crash so I was out of the issue. We were all "office ladies" going to work - clueless (obviously). Will not drive without chains (even in 1" of snow). Glad you had a nice Christmas and blessings on you and your family for the New Year - even though you have to drive alot with your extended and mixed family. Love to all.
ReplyDeleteThanks Lorraine. It is fun to do this each year. I hope your Christmas was wonderful also.
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