Jubilant Celebration of a Urban Christmas by a Young Jersey Resident
In the heart of the 1980s, a brother and sister named the speaker and Becky found themselves celebrating not one, but two Christmases. This unique tradition began with their mother in Jersey, and continued with their father in the bustling city of New York.
Their journey to the city was marked by a stop at a bright-hot diner, where French dips and steak fries were savoured. The family's breath, painted with sugar clouds, filled the cold night air during their walk back to the car, as they enjoyed hot, salty pretzels and the sweet smell of sugared almonds.
The second Christmas was celebrated in the city, with a carriage ride through Central Park and visits to Washington Square Park to watch street performers. On some days, they also visited the Hayden Planetarium, immersing themselves in the wonders of the cosmos.
The father, living in a walk-up apartment in Bayonne, would arrive in a Datsun car, laden with gifts in a Hefty bag. The speaker and Becky would spend their days in the Bayonne apartment, watching Fraggle Rock and drinking OJ from the carton. The father's insistence on brushing their teeth forcefully was a daily ritual during their visits.
The second Christmas was not complete without a trip to Manhattan. The father would take them through the tunnel, and they would celebrate with sauerkraut and extra mustard, knishes wrapped in waxed-paper squares, and astronaut ice cream after their second Christmas dinner.
The family's adventures in the city were not without its challenges. The impatient tongues of the children were often burned by the molten potato in the knishes. The father's kisses, leaving ashy imprints on their cheeks, were a reminder of his love and affection.
Despite the city's hustle and bustle, the speaker and Becky cherished these memories, savoring the last moments of Christmas magic as they walked back to the car. However, a search for the name of the father who celebrated these special moments with them in the 1980s in New York City has yet to yield results.
This double Christmas tradition, filled with laughter, love, and adventure, remains a cherished memory for the speaker and Becky, a testament to the unique bond they shared with their father in the heart of the city.
