Lyd writes 22 Nov 2007 11:22 am
New York makes me cry
Perhaps my hormones are raging out of control in my old age, because I can find no other explanation for why this city brings me to tears as often as it can manage.
I got up early this morning to watch the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day parade on TV — something I’m not sure I ever did back in California. I have a vested interest this year after venturing to Central Park last night to see the parade balloons inflated and lined up, ready to process. And as the opening ceremonies kicked off this morning, I teared up. Why? It’s cheesy. It’s for kids. It’s brightly colored balloons for goodness sake, nothing to cry about.
The aerial views of the parade route, the streets of the Upper West Side lined with excited spectators, the bursts of fall colors emanating from the fringes of Central Park, the Broadway numbers — it’s not just holiday fluff anymore — it’s part of my city, my experience, my life.
But that’s not all. It’s part of that grand spirit of NYC, that energy that everyone talks about — that I share with 8 million other current New Yorkers, and countless others who have at one time or another claimed a piece of this city for themselves. And it makes me emotional.
I cried watching the New York City marathon last month too. Something about the thousands of spectators who were cheering on the participants like they were all friends and family — the shared excitement, the runners who looked so proud and determined, the high-fiving, the T-shirts supporting charitable causes, the band pumping everyone up. There’s just this communal spirit that I’ve never experienced anywhere else, and it’s the best feeling in the world.
I just wish it didn’t have to bring on the waterworks every time.
on 23 Nov 2007 at 1:26 pm 1.Mom said …
We probably didn’t watch the parade because we were so busy preparing for our own Thanksgiving festivities. Ah, rolling pecan puffs, collecting leaves and acorns and bringing in firewood. We all missed you so much last night. Wish you were here or we were there, NYC sounds wonderful in the fall.