KICK OFF

Last night officially kicked off the Holiday Season in New York with the 75th Annual Lighting of the Christmas Tree at Rockefeller Center. Kiki, my PureOlogy co-worker and friend also from California, and I were thrilled for the big event. We both had it scheduled on our Outlook Calendars weeks in advance and were eagerly awaiting the big day. When we shared our enthusiasm with some of our native New York co-workers they were less than enthused, to say the least. Thousands of people jammed into one city block in the freezing cold was not their idea of a good time. Our plan was to go to happy hour prior to the lighting. The response around the office was, "We'll join you for a drink, but there is no way we are going near Rockefeller Center." Hmm...not a good sign. We figured, though, this is something you just HAVE to do when you live in New York at least one time. We would take our chances.

We headed to Morton's on 5th for a quick glass of wine before venturing toward the tree lighting. A few of the NY natives joined us, but as promised, bailed prior to our leaving for Rockefeller Center. Within a matter of minutes our crew quickly dwindled to a mere 3 (myself, Kiki, and Kiki's boyfriend, Brett). We headed up 5th two blocks where we were met with police barricades and a sea of people all with the same end goal - to get a view of the tree. We joined the masses and began walking with the crowd. After hopping two barricades, illegally jay walking, and getting yelled at by a few cops we found ourselves in the vicinity of the Center. We turned toward Rockefeller St. only to find a huge screen mounted in the middle of the crowd on which they were broadcasting the tree lighting ceremony to those of us who could not see the actual tree. We were about 50 feet from the final corner that we would need to turn in order to get a straight-on view of our green friend.

Was this as good as it was going to get? No way, we had to get closer. A pack of high-school-aged girls began pushing past us, slowly weaving their way through the crowd. We jumped into the middle of their pack and made some good headway toward our destination corner. That was until the girls in the pack behind us began to get a little rowdy. The leader of the train yelled for her friends to keep up. One of the young ladies behind Kiki replied, "We're trying, but the bitch in the white coat won't let us through!"

It took me a second to realize that I was the "bitch in the white coat!" She was talking about me! "Now don't be hasty," I replied, "we're all trying to get to the same place." I used my best, sweet-as-sugar, kindergarten teacher voice, which clearly they did not appreciate. Kiki's eyes grew big, and I think Brett thought he was going to have to be my back-up. I took the cue and we stepped aside. The crowd was thicker than ever and not giving an inch, anyway. We realized we weren't going to make it to the precious corner. We would have to settle for watching the tree lighting on the big screen. Oh well.

We attempted to get comfortable watching Al Rocher, Nick Lachey and Ashley Trisdale introduce a series of B and C List Celebs (not unlike themselves) perform in front of the tree. The highlight was Ashley Trisdale (who I had never heard of until that night), belt out her pop rendition of "Last Christmas, I Gave You My Heart, but the Very Next Day You Gave it Away," fully equipped with her attempt at sensual gyrations, and long-yearning-glances of "I'm so sexy" direct to the camera. Hah! Wasn't this supposed to be a family show? What happened to wholesome Holidays? Oh, that was next, with Tony Bennett and Celine Dion (wish you could have been there, dad). From the tremendous applause they got, it was clear they were the headliners.

That is where the wholesomeness ended though. To our left was an African-American family and in front of us a Korean couple. Supposedly the Korean couple made some sort of racial slur that got the mom of the family really fired up. She got in the dude's face, screaming that he "must be scared of black people." Oh no. That got him into a tizzy and things were getting hot and heavy. Brett, being the protective boyfriend of Kiki, recommended we move. Unfortunately the only place we could reasonably move, was back in with our pack of rowdy girlfriends that were sure to recognize "my white coat." Thankfully crowd control was near by. The police pulled the Korean couple and the entire African-American family aside and escorted them away, including their 7-year-old son who was balling his eyes out. Poor little guy was scared to death, and was yelling "Mom, I don't want to go to jail!" Oh the drama.

Thankfully, the last half hour of the ceremony was peaceful and filled with the Holiday spirit. The crowd began to sway and everyone sang along to Carrie Underwood on the Big Screen. A little "Jingle Bell Rock" can go a long way. At last the Rockettes began the big countdown. 5, 4, 3, 2, 1...the tree lit up on the Big Screen in front of us. Cheers of joy rang out all around and we began our mad scamper for the subway.

Today at lunch I made a special trip over to Rockefeller Center to see the tree in person. The Big Screen did not do it justice, however I could not deny that adventure will be one I shall not forget. Be merry, be bright.