When I venture out of my office, I am surrounded by the holidays. Street trees are wrapped in strand upon strand of fairly lights. A block down Pine Street, a forest of small, sparkling evergreens grows atop the canopies of the always festive Pike Place Market; up the street the Bon Macy’s star glitters from its rooftop perch. Shop windows, automobiles, even the construction machinery next door is adorned for the season.
In spite of all the lovely eye candy, I haven’t been able to get my hands on much in the way of holiday spirit. I’ve had too much work to do, and too little time to indulge my inner child. Even this little online advent calendar that I’m keeping for Holidailies hasn’t done the trick. (Bah, humbug.) But today, when I caught a glimpse of two women laden with shopping bags laughing as they crossed First Avenue, I found myself humming the tune to this song:
City sidewalks, busy sidewalks.
Dressed in holiday style
In the air there’s a feeling of Christmas
Children laughing, people passing
Meeting smile after smile
And on every street corner you’ll hearSilver bells, silver bells
It’s Christmas time in the city
Ring-a-ling, hear them sing
Soon it will be Christmas day
You can hear silver bells ringing at our house any time we open and close the front door. I love the happy ring-a-ling-ing of our shiny wreath of bells, behind virtual window #7 of my advent calendar.
{ 2 comments… read them below or add one }
I’ve had the same “spirit” problem. But I put the tree up and have most of the ornaments on. And I found the little bell wreath that goes on Max’s dog house. When this cold lets up I’ll be putting out his lights as well.
I had a real “Christmas in New York” moment the other day. Walking through a corridor of Christmas trees for sale on the street, I came to the end and found a man peeing on one of the trees.