We were driving along the West side highway, close to the end of our journey to grandmother’s house. To be a little more specific an upper west side four bedroom apartment overlooking the East side. We were traveling, as usual, a few days before Christmas which kept the traffic pain to a minimum.
As we preceded a high voice in the backseat said “look, the circles”, it was what our daughter called the curved girders supporting Riverside Dr. She absolutely adored her grandmother and was excited to be seeing her. They had quite the relationship. When we’d be down the two of them would go on little jaunts together.
We exited the highway and travelled up to Nana’s apt. Once there my wife would go fetch the building’s garage key, and I would park. She would bring the kid up to the apt and I would pray I didn’t need to move the car until we were heading home. Sometimes we’d head out to my sister and brother in laws place out in Queens for a visit over the weekend before heading home.
Growing up in a Jewish household didn’t really prepare me for Christmas time, but after we got settled down we were off shopping for the last minute gifts. We’d roam around Manhattan and shop at the small shops, bookstores and department stores. As the sun went down we headed back on the Broadway IRT. We’d arrive back to pack presents and lay them under the tree, joining others already there.
Some years we would head out Christmas eve to attend midnight mass at St. John’s the Divine. It was always lovely with a real sense of pomp and circumstance. Songs would be sung and the clergymen would be adorned for Christmas and carrying incense burners.
Christmas day was a busy time. Usually some of the family would be staying over and Christmas morning saw the usual chaos of gifts being handed out. All the kids got more than enough presents. Then it was time to work on dinner. In later years that was usually my wife and I taking over from Nana. But early on Nana was in charge and was a very good cook.
Christmas dinner was a big affair with a twenty pound turkey. In addition to family, other family friends would be there and a good conversation or two or three would accompany the feast. It was a time of warmth and comradery.
Evenings it was often my wife, her mom and me discussing current events. Her mom was well read and her neocon political position made for interesting discussions. But at Christmas the group was larger with the uncles and aunts and such.
There were some other occasional treats when we’d visit. Sometimes we’d go to Zabar’s, a really big delicatessen with sections for all sorts of prepared foods. I used to love getting their chopped liver and pickled hearing. It was also a kitchen store with all sorts of pots and pans, knives, gadgets and small appliances. There are at least two, one on Broadway and 84th and the other on the East side, although I don’t know the address.
Visiting was also an opportunity to see our nephews who lived in Florida. They’d only come up a couple of times a year and we’d try and be there to see them.
Then, at last, the visit would be over, and we’d head back to Massachusetts and home.
My Gifted Life 