Day 4

Even with our own and others skepticism, we braved the crowds this year and went to see the windows at Macy's and Saks Fifth Avenue. Tom has never actually seen the windows, and there is something very magical, if you can ignore the people, about being in and around the biggest department stores in New York.

We decided to head to Macy's first. After much deliberation, we drove in. Sometimes I just don't feel up for the subway. We pulled into a parking garage and quickly decided that $33 was just too much to pay, so we found an even better spot right behind Macy's. In the city, almost all meters have been turned into Muni Meters. The idea of these seems so much easier, you swipe your card, tell it how long you will be there, it prints out a ticket, and done, you put it in your window and take off. This is only a great idea though if the machine can read your card. Unfortunately all 3 machines on the block couldn't, or wouldn't. We were in luck though, a nice man yelled out to Tom from across the street and said we only needed to pay Mon-Friday, and since it was Saturday, FREE! We were in luck. So glad we didn't pay that $33.

The Macy's windows were great. Luke loved them, and we were impressed too. I was really happy we decided to do it.

After Macy's we jumped on the Subway and headed uptown to Rockefeller Center and Saks. We wouldn't have been able to see the tree if we didn't take the concourse under the center and a side door that led us right in front of the tree (they were only letting people in the center from fifth avenue, which was impossible). The tree was big and pretty and the line to ice skate, which we debated on doing, wrapped around the rink and down half the block. Even though the crowd was insane, the energy was great.

We attempted to cross the street to see the windows. I was holding Luke and Tom had the stroller, as we approached the corner I suddenly was sandwiched in a giant crowd. Tom was no where in sight so I backed out of the crowd and just waited, waited to find him. After 10 minutes I assumed he made it to the other side so I worked the crowd and made it over there. He wasn't anywhere to be seen so I put Luke on my shoulders and just waited for him. 45 minutes later I assumed he must have been waiting for me. At that point people weren't allowed to cross the street so I explained my situation to the officer and was escorted across, back to Rockefeller. The situation would have been easily solved if both of us had our cell phones and we had a family emergency plan of action but we didn't have either. Tom finally called me on a pay phone and ironically we were standing only 10 feet away from each other but with the crowds we didn't see each other until he was right in front of me.

At that point, we were done. No more windows. We went into Dean and Deluca to recoup and eat some soup. It felt so nice to be together again. Hearing Luke call out "Daddy" over and over was heartbreaking.

We took the train back to Macy's to drive home, and wouldn't you know it, our car was gone. Our car was stolen a year ago so with our luck we were sure it was stolen, with some of Luke's Christmas presents inside. Best case scenario it was towed and we would have to pay a small fortune to get it out. We called the tow company, and they had no record of the car. She suggested we call back in a couple of hours so we sadly took the train home to wait. We found an old traffic ticket with our license plate number so we called again and they still didn't have any record of our car. Merry Christmas. I luckily found something else with a different license plate number on it so I called and they did have our car. So Tom went back into the city at 11pm to get our car. If we had only payed the $33 for the garage. Nothing is ever easy here.

Ending on a positive note, although Tom didn't see the Saks windows, he caught these lights on the building from across the street.

Comments

[tara]

First may I comment on all the beautiful pictures. Wow New York is indeed the place to be during Christmas. That tree is so fantastic. I must have it. It shall be mine. I think we could fit it into our living room if we take out the roof. And Lukey in his camo hat that flaps over his ears, ah he's just so cute. And your hat, I love it & want it to be mine as well. Tom's, well, he can keep his beanie.

And now I must comment on this wonderful adventure. 1, I didn't know that seeing window displays was such an event. But then again, this is NY not Utah where we don't do things so grandiose. 2, just reading your adventure through the crowds and so quickly losing Tom & the stroller, makes me all a quiver. Insanity. Way way way to many people. And I can only imagine the little boy's cry "DaDeee" as I've heard it and it is adorable but would be really sad when you are so lost. 3, Forever and always have both cell phones on you because man on man as I said before just reading it gave me anxiety that I can't imagine how it was for you & Luke & Tom & the stroller. And then to find out you were so close (yet so far away). Geez. Exciting & fun yet holy claustrophobic.

And now with the car?! My goodness what a day. I'm exhausted just reading about it I need to lay down. Thank goodness you were able to find something to locate the car (though it does suck that you thought you were getting such a great deal without having to pay anything only to have it shoved back in your face), as having it be gone with many of Luke's presents in it would be so sad. Losing it once was bad enough. I'm sorry Tom had to go back in to the city, again, so late at night to retrieve it, but at least it wasn't gone forever.

Yeah I need a nap. This was a long day. Started out good but whoa did it take us for a real trip.