30 Nov 1997
Just wrapping up this month - and starting advent. It was a very
sparse crowd at church this morning. Thanksgiving was very filling, and I
discovered the yummy combination of turkey and worcestershire sauce.
Worcestershire sauce goes with everything, I am convinced.
A word about the Macy's Thanksgiving parade: I got up about 5:30
or so on Thursday, made some sandwiches and brought all my applesauce (I
still have some left over). At the 34th St. Station, switching between
N/R and D, I divested myself of one of my sandwiches to a man trying to
get spare change from me. I took the D to Columbus Circle (do you feel
like you're reading a British mystery novel? He took the Hounslow line to
Chichester....) and walked up and over to 71st St and Central Park West.
And I sat.
And I stood.
And I talked to the Aussies sitting next to me about all manner of
things, like how they go to the beach on Christmas and grill seafood for
Christmas dinner. I think Christmas would feel a lot different if it came
during the winter than the summer. One wouldn't nearly have the feeling
of decadence, and one can't feast quite as much. Christmas cookies would
just sit too heavy underneath the summer sun.
I talked to the girl who sat next to me. I explained that "Red
Rover" was just like a Range Rover, only it's Red. I told her some other
lies as well. Little kids are fun.
I had gotten to my stake out at 7am. I told the family initially
that I would be at 77th St. (the start of the parade -- after I had
changed my mind about sitting on 34th St., the most packed part of the
viewing area and the one in which I'd have to wait the longest. No thank
you.), but when I got to 72nd St., it was fairly full. Not yet packed,
but I wouldn't be in the front row. So I retreated a block -- it turns
out that was a good tactic. Not only did I get a good viewing spot, able
to high five all the passing clowns on roller blades and see up close the
many clown conga lines (they had better pay those Macy's workers real well
to do that parade), but I also managed not to get hit by the falling
debris of the lamppost at 72nd.
I watched it happen. All the balloons had been held low to the
ground, in order to have better control in the high wind conditions we
were having (and that was just the natural weather -- let's not talk about
the wind tunnel effects that occur near such high buildings.) People were
having a real difficult time maneuvering the balloons, and had to run at
several points to get them more stable. Many balloons had partially
deflated by the time they got to us, just 6 blocks into the parade. Many
bumped into the branches of the tree next to where I was, so I kept a wary
eye on all approaching and passing balloons.
So I got to see the Cat in the Hat wreak its damage -- it didn't
seem too ominous initially. The Cat in the Hat seemed to be one of the
largest balloons of the group, and it kept shifting back and forth. With
every shift the crowd would moan "whoa", not really thinking it could hurt
anything except itself. So when I saw the arm of the lamppost bending, I
knew there was a _little_ more force backing the balloon than we thought.
I saw the arm really detach and I screamed as the arm fell down on
the crowd below.
About 6 or 7 ambulances showed up in short order, and the
interesting part of it all was the only momentarily stopping of the
parade. I felt sorry for the high school bands asked to march around the
ambulances and keep on going. It just seemed a little callous.
Anyway, I feel no need to go to any New York City parade again.
Even the Village Halloween Parade. I've seen enough. They're not even
terribly interesting to me (well, the Halloween parade is, but I'm talking
about all the other parades.)
I heard later that some of the other balloons were terrorizing the
crowds and had to forcibly be put down (in the veterinary sense of the
word.) I wish someone would destroy all those balloons for good. I'm
simply sick of it all.
I should work. As always.
Oh well.