Monthly Archives: December 2021

………………….As the fourth year of Jac’s passing approaches I think of the promises I made……From the time Jac was a little girl and knew how to read and write she and her mom would exchange cards, notes and letters. Many of the cards Jac made herself. They saved all of them. Over the many years until Jac’s mom passed they kept giving each other these notes and cards. Her mom used to hide them in Jac’s luggage, on her many trips to Europe on modeling jobs, so she would find them. After her mom passed Jac would still find little notes left for her hidden around the house. I wouldn’t be surprised if one day I happen upon a hidden note…..The two cards above were given to Jac by her mom. She used to keep one in her mom’s bible and one in a book called “Safe Passage” by Molly Fumia. They were always at Jac’s bed side. She made me promise that they would be put with her when she was cremated….which I did….but before doing so I took pictures of the cards, because I wanted them too……Jac also made me promise to burn all of her cards, letters, notes and pictures plus her journals and throw the ashes into the sea. She said she couldn’t bare the thought of her loved possessions being thrown into the trash…There are boxes of them…..I promised I would, but I just haven’t had the heart to do it…..not yet………………..Promises made………….promises kept

…………………Everyone NEEDS some MAGIC in their lives today more than ever!!!!! The Radio City Music Hall Extravaganza is just the thing to see!! It’s been decades since I’ve seen a Christmas show at RCMH, and I’ve forgotten just how fantastical it is. As we get older we become a touch more jaded, and may think this show is just for the kiddies, but there is a kid in all of us, and a SPECTACULAR it is.. RCMH is like no other theater in the world…..Just the size of it alone you know you are in for something special. It’s like sitting inside of a globe. Every part of the theater, the walls the ceiling, and the proscenium become part of the production with different moving things constantly projected on them……it even snows on the audience!!! When you enter you are handed 3D glasses, and when Santa instructs you to put them on the fun begins. He goes riding in his sleigh and you go with him for the ride!!! There are so many acts the mind bogles at the visual bombardment. I loved the dancing Santas. Not only were they on the stage but projected dancing all over the theater! Hundreds of them….The special effects were wonderful. The whole thing was amazing. The Nativity scene with the live animals parading onto the stage, the 3 wise men, and Mary, Joseph and baby Jesus made it all very clear what Christmas was all about. Santa’s workshop with the elves, the Nutcracker Suite, and those ROCKETTES were all incredible…….The ROCKETTES did not disappoint…..Their precision and high kicks were right on point, and the orchestra was phenomenal……It was a great afternoon at Radio City Music Hall!

………………….One forgets just what a landmark theater Radio City Music Hall is….The Arte Deco detailing, the grand staircase, the murals on the walls and even the bathrooms are a must see. Of course for Christmas the entire theater is decked out with sparkling wreaths and a gigantic crystal Christmas tree hanging from the ceiling. The lines are long, but there are many of them so they keep moving, and it didn’t take long to get to our assigned seats. You do have to show your ID and vaccination card to get in, and once inside masks are not required….you can’t eat your popcorn, pretzels and cotton candy anyway with a mask on! I went to the show with Cathy who I have worked with for years on my jewelry line, and her sister Nina. Neither one of them have ever been to RCMH…..so it was an experience they will never forget. After seeing it Kathy was shocked she had never taken her three children to see it…………….It’s never too late!

……………………It was cold and crisp, but no wind so it was very comfortable walking around…..After the show we went for a walk around the tree and Rockefeller Center……The skaters were skating, and the MASSES of people were inching about looking at this and that taking lots of pictures and selfies……..There was a distinct odor in the air…….and it wasn’t balsam!!!!The smell of POT was very intrusive….I’m not against pot smoking, and I’ve been known to partake once in a while, but the pungent smell of pot, and the Christmas experience just don’t go together for me…….Give me the smell of a Christmas tree anytime………One thing I was oblivious to, but Kathy and her sister Nina mentioned to me, was the amount of security and police walking about…..even with sniffing German Shepherds! It was now time to eat, so we made our way to the restaurant which was a few minutes walk away!

……………..We had a wonderful meal at DEL FRISCO’S GRILLE. Kathy and I both had the pumpkin bisque soup followed by the fish special……French fries on the side!!!……DELICIOUS!!!! Then we went for our final walk about before departing…them on the train and me driving back to CT. The sun had set by now and all of the lights shown even more bright and beautiful than before. Saks was putting on its’ light show, photo second in from the bottom right, and it was wonderful with lots of applause by all. We walked by FAO Schwartz, and I had to take a picture of the little girl’s moving auto….totally covered in red SWAROVESKI  crystals! The sign next to it read, originally $25,000.00…..reduced to $14000.00. I think it will be in the window next Christmas reduced even further!!! LOL…….There was a very nice young man singing Christmas Carols near the ice skating rink. He had a beautiful voice, and I noticed his little basket was empty so I happily made a donation….Hopefully some other people would follow my lead…..He gave me a big thank you…..It made me fell good….Finally, I noticed a young couple struggling to take a selfie of each other. I said, “would you like me to take your picture?” He replied, “no that’s OK”, but she jumped in right away and said “oh yes, could you please take it”….Then she said they had just gotten engaged the night before, and she showed us her beautiful ring!!! Kathy, Nina and I congratulated them and we made a big fuss over them as they were smiling from ear to ear. Their accent gave it away that they were Brits from London, and they came to see the magic of Christmas in NYC….and he proposed….A trip they will never forget and stories to tell their grandchildren. We talked for a while….they were a lovely young couple…. Joe and Lucy……..This was the perfect ending to a truly MAGICAL DAY!