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It was a cold Saturday night in Little Italy. This part of New York City was like something out of a 1940’s holiday movie. Christmas lights were strung outside each store and restaurant. A glittering lighted star hung across the street at regular intervals. In each storefront window and restaurant window was a Christmas tree; a Santa; a Nativity scene. Each was so genuine, so homemade it made my heart ache with remembrances of Christmas pasts. Dean Martin, Bing Crosby, Rosemary Clooney, and Frank Sinatra singing Christmas songs filled the air. And, to make it all a dream come true, it was snowing!
I sat in Lunella’s Italian Restaurant and marveled at the sights and sounds and fragrances around us. Sherry and I had journeyed to New York City for a trip filled with fun and excitement. Sherry and I had never been. But, our friends Magdy and Denise had lived here for years. They had met here and fallen in love here in the Big Apple. They guided us through the streets and filled our minds with wonder and delight.
Nella, the owner of this restaurant, was a tall, willowy woman somewhere north of sixty with frosted, straight hair and a face filled with smiles. The crowning moment came when she raised her right hand in the air and uttered those famous words, “Forget about it!” when it came time to pay the ticket.
She looked at Magdy who had once worked in her restaurant and said, “I haven’t seen you in three years. Can’t I give you a Christmas present? So, fuggitaboutit!” It didn’t get much better than that!
I discovered some interesting things about New Yorkers. Don’t violate their personal space. There are so many people moving down crowded streets shoulder to shoulder I can understand how one woman became very angry that Magdy accidentally brushed her shoulder. She accosted him for not saying he was sorry until she brought the incident to his attention. The argument could have gone on for hours but I looked her in the face and said, “Hey, lady, get a life. Just forget about it!”
But, once you get past this touchy reaction, they were the nicest, kindest, most accommodating people I have ever met. They put Southern hospitality to shame! Well, all except the driver of the limo from the Addams Family. Denise fell on the subway and cut her knee. It was Saturday night and we couldn’t get a taxi to stop for us. Everyone travels by taxi and considering it was in the twenties and snowing, few people were willing to walk for a long distance. So, Magdy got out into the street and flagged down a limousine. The driver agreed to give us a ride to the hospital. We climbed into an aging, dilapidated limo. Rugs covered the floor and Sherry and I began sinking into the seats. I was afraid the rugs were all that was left of the floor. The interior was dark and there were glasses for having a drink. The problem was they were all cracked and had lipstick and fingerprints all over them. Magdy and Denise got into an argument with the driver over the cost and I just tried to hide in the rugs. Finally, we arrived at the hospital and, I kid you not, the driver got out and he was a twin for Lurch!
But, aside from that the whole trip was delightful. People on the streets actually said, “Merry Christmas” not “Happy Holidays”. We had a wonderful horse drawn carriage ride around Central Park. We saw Spamalot which was a delight for me, an avid Monty Python fan. Sherry’s only comment was, “I don’t know what is going on!” which, of course, is the point.
We went to the original Macy’s Department Store. The original Bloomingdale’s. We saw the new Apple store right across from Central Park. We toured the Empire State Building and saw the Statue of Liberty. We walked around Rockefeller Center and saw the huge Christmas tree and the famous skating rink.
On Tuesday night, we saw the Broadway premier of “White Christmas” and it was incredible! Afterwards, we ate at the famous Sardi’s restaurant on Broadway. Magdy knew the maitre d personally. It was astonishing to see over twenty people glare at us as the maitre d hugged Magdy and escorted us past the waiting patrons to our very own personal table! I felt so special. I felt like somebody!
Anyway, the entire trip was surreal and delightful and filled with Christmas images you only see on television or at the movies. But, the best was the unending “Merry Christmas” and acknowledgement of the real meaning of this holiday. I guess on of the best moments was sitting in the waiting room of the hospital while Denise was getting her stitches and talking to some native New Yorkers. They were just like me. They were real people with the same kinds of problems that I have. And, they worshipped God and said prayers and looked to a Savior for guidance and forgiveness. They were not some foreign aliens from a strange land.
I will say the strangest moment was when we were selected off the sidewalk to attend the David Letterman show. I have always regarded David Letterman as a strange man with, at times, a very funny show. But, after walking into the historic Ed Sullivan theater we were personally greeted by David Letterman. He was real and appreciative of our presence and delightful. He joked with us and thanked us for coming. He said, “We couldn’t do this without you. Thank you for being a part of tonight.”
An hour later, we were back on the streets of New York City and heading for White Christmas. What a strange world!
So, I hope you have a wonderful, delightful, loving, light filled Christmas. I hope you feel the love of friends and family at this time of the year. I hope that you find the peace, goodwill, and presence of “God with us” that is the central theme of Christmas. I hope you find solace and peace in the presence of the Savior.
And, when troubles come your way, just for this season, say, “Forget about it!”
Filed under: Blogroll
The Ark of the Demon Rose.
What the heck is that?
I was wondering the same thing.
And then, I had a challenge put to me.
Elizabeth, the customer relations rep at our local Barnes & Noble invited me to participate in the National Write a Novel in a Month local event. I mentioned this in my last post.
So, every Saturday in the month of November I showed up for our “Write Ins” and I wrote a new novel.
It’s about this Ark, sort of a chest that contains something mysterious, the Demon Rose. So, you want to know more about it?
Well, the novel picks up where the second book, “The 12th Demon: Vampyre Majick” ends. And, it stops a week later just before the third book will begin. So, it is an “in between” novel. And, you can download it for free!
As my Christmas present to all of my faithful readers, you can go to this website:
http://www.lulu.com/content/5118976
And download the eBook for free!
It’s a bit unpolished but I think you’ll find it entertaining. I took the opportunity in writing this book to write as my four main characters, Jonathan, Josh, Cephas, and Theo. There are even some chapters from Vivian’s perspective. We get inside their heads and it proved very interesting. The book introduces an entire new line of evil characters that were not supposed to surface until book four but you can get a jumpstart on them.
Anyhow, I hope you enjoy it. You can purchase a hard copy of the book at lulu.com if you want. It’s a bit expensive and I think you can read the ebook just as well.
Enjoy!
