The enormous Christmas tree which happens to be next to my office.

Nov 9, 2007

Rockefeller Tree I cut through Rockefeller Plaza on my way to my office each morning. This morning, a security guard directed me the long way around the building because a construction team was putting up the Christmas tree. Oh yeah, I grumbled to myself — I forgot how completely saturated with tourists this area becomes this time of year. For the next month and half I may as well be working in an office in Tomorrowland.

But then I came around the corner and saw the tree up, and I have to admit it was a glorious site. Sure it’s a pagan ritual whitewashed with a veneer of righteous Christianity, but you can’t deny that it’s somehow a warm and reassuring ritual at that. Must be something primal about trees that makes us monkeys feel good. The crowds were swarming around it and snapping their camera phones. The team that was erecting the tree all had jackets that said merely “The Tree” because you know, when you’re talking about trees — if you don’t specify any other — this is the tree you’re talking about. One Tree To Rule Them All.

You know what? I’m on board with this. Even though I have to shove through a crowd of Today show fanatics for the next 45 days. Happy Holidays.

| Tags: christmas, nyc

13 Replies

Brian
Nov 9th, 2007 at 11:07 am

That tree is from Connecticut baby! You can feel double-proud because you too are from Connecticut. Maybe the tree will join an improv team and move to Williamsburgh.
Dyna
Nov 9th, 2007 at 2:31 pm

Your blog got nostalgic for its old layout… what gives?
Will
Nov 9th, 2007 at 3:06 pm

I’m switching it around to try stuff out.
Linda
Nov 9th, 2007 at 4:36 pm

Catsmas tree.
Linda
Nov 10th, 2007 at 11:29 am

Cats Waller.
Linda
Nov 10th, 2007 at 11:30 am

Parking tickcat.
Linda
Nov 10th, 2007 at 11:30 am

Catt Groening.
Will II
Nov 10th, 2007 at 11:57 am

This layout is upsetting.
Linda
Nov 11th, 2007 at 6:40 pm

This laycat is upcatting.
Linda
Nov 11th, 2007 at 6:41 pm

This cat cat is catcatting.
Linda
Nov 11th, 2007 at 6:42 pm

Cat cat cat cat catcatting.
Will
Nov 11th, 2007 at 6:48 pm

For what it’s worth, I think this might not be Linda.
Doug
Nov 13th, 2007 at 12:33 am

One year, when I still lived in Connecticut, I went to the tree lighting with Rob Pisaniello and his parents and older brother “Buddy.” We got in place early, so by the time the ceremony began, we were deep in a sea of fellow Christmas tourist fools. I was cold and bored, so I started screwing around — which culminated in my taking a tiny thread I had found on my coat and dangling it over the back of the head of the woman standing in front of me. Next thing I know, the woman’s husband had me in a headlock, asking me if I thought I was funny. I told him no, that I didn’t think I was funny. He eventually let me go. Rob and his parents and his brother pretended they didn’t know me, and, luckily, because of the cold sea of Christmas people stretching out on all sides, and because I had no way to get back to Connecticut without the Pisaniellos, I got to stand two inches from the woman and her husband for the next three hours. I felt pretty good about myself. My other experience of the Rockefeller tree was about ten years later, when I lived in the city. One evening afte the tree was lit, my father, step-mother, and step-sister came into town to see the spectacle. I told them I’d meet them “near the tree.” Somehow this boneheaded plan actually worked; we actually found each other right away. I observed to my step sister Karen, a police officer, that it was a “big mob” we were witnessing. She corrected me: “this is just a crowd, which is nothing. A mob is much more scary.” Happy Holidays, Will.