Went on the train with Mommy and Daddy

Since we live in the New York City area now, we felt compelled to do those things that New York City area people do, which is to go into Rockefeller Center at Christmas time and see the big tree and the lights and stuff. And we figured, hey, it'll be great for Jack: He'll get to ride a train for the first time, and see the biggest tree ever, and see some lights and stuff.

So we lined up a babysitter for Kate, talked up the trip to the City all week, and when Saturday morning rolled around, off we went. First came dressing really warm, which Jack is typically reluctant about -- I think he doesn't quite get that just because it's not cold INSIDE the house, it will be cold outside. But we put on heavy jackets and hats and gloves; well, most of us did. I forgot my hat, which is ironic since I have the least hair. Anyway, that wasn't the worst of the things I forgot.

We left the house fully expecting to miss the train, seeing as it came every half hour, we had about 10 minutes to get there, for the next one, and we had to stop for cash. We were still on the way for cash when we realized that I'd forgot to bring the umbrella stroller. Which meant I'd be carrying Jack a lot in the city. If we got there. Fortunately, we made the train, and stood on the platform to see a whole lot of trains zoom by -- one of which was finally ours. This was one day after I'd got Batman for Jack (see below blog entry) so he was carrying Batman, who I naturally knew had only about a 50-50 shot of not being left on the train, dropped between the train and the platform, etc.

Jack was properly appreciative of the train. I think he was quiet as it got started, but since it started up slow, he was like, "Why is it stopping?" And then it picked up, fast, and he was like, "Ohhhhhhhhhhhh." At some point he was on his knees at the window. At another point he was standing Batman up on the windowsill to look out. Toward the end of the trip, which was probably half an hour or so, he was already starting to fade. We'd got a late start and it was kind of close to when his nap would be, plus he often falls asleep around midday in the car anyway, so why would it be any different with the train.

We got off the train and walked through Grand Central Station. "Daddy, carry me! Carry!" Hands reaching up to me. He was heavier with the bulky jacket, I think. I'd been to Grand Central once before, maybe, but it was still pretty insane on a Saturday. There was Christmas music playing and a light display flashing on the ceiling above us. That was kind of nice. Jack was interested. Not enough to walk much, but interested.

We walked to Rockefeller Center. I think I thought Emily would know where she was going a little better than she did. We referenced the map a lot, with my mind racing, yes, this is how people get robbed in The Big City: by looking like they don't belong and don't know what the hell they're doing.

And it was cold. Really cold. Unseasonably cold, actually, in the 30s. And windy. Walking between buildings on our way there, it was like we were in a wind tunnel, or maybe Alaska, and I was carrying my sled dog in my arms. Or Jack, whichever. Who wasn't named after Jack London, although that's kind of a cool name. Jack London Richardson. Anyway.

We finally got near, got swept across the street in a sea of people. Jack had been talking about going home for a little while. He was cold. But we were going to see this huge tree first. Got there. Saw it, took some pictures, said, Jack, isn't that a big tree? Jack: "Yeah, that's a REALLY BIG TREE!" I think he was into it. When he wasn't feeling really cold. We stood up on a bench to get a picture, like everyone else, and got reprimanded by some security type. "Can't do that," he said. Er, everyone else is. But OK.

At the ice rink underneath the tree I saw Santa on ice skates. I did! I told Jack, and that piqued his interest quite a bit, but we didn't see him again and I suspect Emily thinks I was lying. Oh well. I saw him.

Somebody offered to take a picture of us, and we have two -- Emily and I are smiling in both, while Jack has his head buried in my shoulder. Tried to get him to look up and smile; no luck. Forgot to bribe him. Oh well.

Jack: "Want to go home!"

And so we did. We rode the train on an hour-plus round trip in order to spend about 30 minutes in the city (20 minutes on the disoriented round-trip walk from Grand Central to Rockefeller Center, 10 minutes there, which by the way I now recognize when I see it on the Today show and stuff - hey, I was there! I'd never been).

Monday afternoon when I picked Jack up at school, I checked the board outside his class where they say what every child said they did over the weekend. Next to Jack's name, where it often reads "Played with Mommy and Daddy" or something, no matter what we do, it read,

"Went on the train with Mommy and Daddy."