| My cousin Judy,
who is actually a second cousin, twice removed, or a third
cousin, once removed (I’ve never been good at figuring
out these distant family connections) called a few weeks ago
to ask if I would meet her in New York to show her the city
at Christmas. Judy, a widow, lives in Seattle, but spends
winters with her sister in North Carolina.
Although it was at a busy time for me, it was also a rare
opportunity to get to know one another, as over the years
we have seen one another most infrequently.
In making plans for her brief visit, my first shock came
when I ordered tickets for the Radio City Music Hall Christmas
show. Admittedly, the last time I was at Radio City was
over 20 years ago, but prices have increased astronomically.
Judy arrived on a recent Saturday, late in the afternoon,
and was welcomed by a Seattle-type downpour, so we decided
to rendezvous for dinner instead of seeing the windows on
5th Avenue, as previously planned. Her hotel was in the
Chelsea area, a few blocks from my son’s apartment
where I was staying, so we all had dinner at a low-cost,
but excellent, neighborhood Thai restaurant.
Sunday morning we had tickets for the 9 a.m. show at Radio
City. Leaving Chelsea about 8:15, traffic was minimal and
we easily grabbed a taxi and were there in ample time to
admire the beautiful renovations made to this landmark Beaux-Arts
building. A new addition is an enormous, sparkling crystal
chandelier gracing the grand staircase.
The show itself works hard at selling Christmas, and although
at times slightly corny and a bit over the top, does for
the most part succeed. The Rockettes are featured in many
more numbers, but still perform that astonishing wooden
soldiers routine and the corps de ballet delight with the
opening number from “The Nutcracker Suite.”
Three-D glasses, which come with the program guide, give
an up-to-date and thrilling version of Santa’s sleigh
ride over New York City, allowing the audience to zoom over
landmarks like the Statue of Liberty and the Empire State
Building. Although the Nativity scene has been shortened,
there are still the magnificently costumed three kings,
the manger and yes, even live camels.
Leaving the theater at almost noontime, we entered a sunny,
cold, but by now, crowded, New York. We opted for a quick
soup and sandwich at a nearby Au Bon Pain, then searched
several drugstores until finally locating one that stocked
batteries for Judy’s hearing aide. By the third try,
we were getting discouraged, but Judy perked up on learning
that not only did the final Rite Aid stock the elusive batteries,
they were featuring a $2 discount coupon.
That accomplished, we made our way crosstown to Madison
Avenue, where we boarded an uptown bus and I tried, through
the heavy traffic, to point out some of the name designer
stores that might interest Judy. However, many of them were
unfamiliar to her, and she was surprised to learn that there
is no branch of Nordstrom’s in New York. Departing
the bus at 70th Street, we walked over to Park Avenue, only
to find that the Christmas trees that usually light up that
broad, beautiful street as yet had no lights.
We stopped at 70th and Park at Asia House, one of my favorite
small museums, which has a unique gift shop and a lovely
tea room. After resting our now-weary feet, we enjoyed both
the gift shop and the exhibit of elegant Indian bronzes.
Once again, out and walking over to 5th Avenue, it was
turning very cold, and the wait for the downtown bus in
front of Central Park took forever. We finally boarded,
and through foggy windows, I tried to point out the Plaza
Hotel, Bergdorf’s, Harry Winston’s, etc., but
it was difficult for Judy to get more than a brief glimpse.
It was dark enough by now, however, to see all the bright
lights illuminating 5th Avenue, a shopper’s wonderland.
Finally arriving a few blocks from Rockefeller Center (buses
do not stop directly at the site during the holidays), we
elbowed our way, partially on the street, partially on the
sidewalk, with Judy clinging to me, for dear life. One friendly
lady, pushing nearby, smiled and said, “Hi, how you-all
doin?” “I would be better if there weren’t
quite so many you-alls in New York,” I thought, but
did not say aloud.
When we reached Rockefeller Center, peering above the huge
crowd, Judy could barely make out the skating rink and the
beautiful golden statue of Prometheus. By now we were too
exhausted to hoof it over to Broadway and 47th to catch
the night sightseeing bus as planned.
Instead, we decided to take the subway back to the Chelsea
area. Trying to buy a senior Metro card at the subway station,
Judy, who is in her 80s, was asked for her Medicare card,
which she did not have with her. Forced to pay full fare,
she attempted several times to insert and use the card,
to no avail.
Meanwhile, I was shouting instructions from the other side
of the turnstile. Finally, two kind-hearted New Yorkers
held open the emergency gates, and Judy slipped through
in time to get the train.
When we got to Chelsea, we collapsed at a Japanese restaurant.
Judy was leaving the next morning for North Carolina, so
after eating, we said our good-byes. I regretted that with
only a day and a half, I had barely been able to scratch
the surface of New York at Christmas as I had, in the past,
experienced it.
The most important and lasting Christmas gift, however,
is that in our senior years, Judy and I have developed a
new, fond relationship. Here’s wishing all of you
a warm and wonderful holiday.
Jean Cherni is founder of Senior
Living Solutions, a retirement advisory service. Contact
her at jeancherni@sbcglobal.net or 15 The Ponds, Branford
06405.
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