Got Santa?
Laura Toffler-CorrieThe other day, I took my daughter, Hannah, into Manhattan to do the Fifth Avenue holiday thing. It's been years since we've done it, primarily because it's usually insane, but it was a nice day, no one was grumpy/sick/had other plans and Hannah, who's a good kid, wanted to go. So off we went.
Once there, it was clear that it was even more insane than during previous years. There were more crowds, more police cordoning off sidewalks (creating claustrophobic like walking conditions) to keep the people traffic from spilling into the car traffic. One had to be speedy, quick and clever to navigate around the masses and cops. And it doesn't hurt if one is small.
But, interestingly, as the day wore on, it occurred to me that the experience was much like a metaphor for the writing life. How so? Well, read on. Here's what we did:
* Miraculously, we found a parking spot on the street for free. Except we had to work for it in the end. The spot was on 56th street, around the streets where we wanted to be, but it was on 10 avenue, many long avenues from where we wanted to be. We parked anyway and walked the long distance to 5th avenue, but I secretly vowed that we would cab it back at the end of the day.
* We went to see the tree at Rockefeller Center, but couldn't get close because of the crowds. Good thing the tree is tall.
* 'Shopped' at Bergdorf Goodman, Henri Bendel's and Saks. Even though no one has any discretionary money these days, stores like Bergdoff's are still selling goods for unbelievably exorbitant prices, and there's always some model woman in fur and fresh manicure spending while the rest of us 'have nots' are smiling bashfully and murmuring, "I'm just looking," to jaded salespeople who look as if they're thinking, "I already guessed that, honey."
* Tried to go to FAO Schwarz, which seemed suspiciously empty at the door, until we saw the only way in was to get to the back of a line that had snaked around Madison Avenue. Been there. Skipped that.
* Bought cool 'fell off the truck' knockoffs from street vendors that we haggled down for a song.
*Avoided near collisions from doors that other shoppers got tired of holding and let swing in our faces.
* Took a stroll through Central Park to the skating rink. Discovered that this line was also impossibly long, and skipped that too.
* Had a tasty, albeit expensive, lunch at the lovely Trump Tower (cafeteria style, downstairs by the tree). Mortified my daughter, and lost all pretense of New York cool, by wrapping the remains of my sandwich into a little hobo bundle of napkins and shoving it into my purse.
* Stopped into the awe inspiring, gothic Saint Thomas church, in all its European grandeur, for a rest and a splendid, unexpected Christmas choir practice. FYI, I learned that, not only do people not slam the door on you coming in and out of church, even if you're pokey, but they hold it open with a smile.
* Watched in befuddlement as dozens of twenty somethings dressed as Santas roamed the streets in clusters, presumably just for fun.
* Couldn't get a cab back to 10th avenue. Tired and aching, we somehow made it all the way back to the car on foot, although we practically crawled the last few blocks on our knees.
So, you might still be asking, how are these experiences a metaphor for the writing life? Please indulge me while I take creative liberties with the answer:
* There will always be crowds of writers trying to publish, and every year it seems like the competition is more insane. Some, like the Bergdorf shoppers who actually shop, will always have clout, connections and money. It doesn't matter. You have to get out there and mix with the crowd.
* There will always be gate keepers, like agents, or like the cops on Fifth avenue, who are trying to keep order by letting only a select few inside the gates. But if you're wiley and think outside the box, you can forge a new path. You can find your way around and in.
* Doors will always slam in the face of the newbie, seemingly only to be open to the prolific, money making writing elite. But if you keep at it, and find your sacred writing voice, people will happily hold doors open for you.
* Just because a whole bunch of cute generation X'ers think it's the hottest trend to wander around New York dressed like Santa, doesn't mean that you should too. Just like you don't have to rush to write stories about vampires/zombies/fey or dystopian worlds. I mean, you can if you want to but like the Fifth avenue Santa craze, I'm guessing many of these subjects will eventually lose their appeal.
Lastly, an opportunity might seem free (like our unexpected, coveted parking spot) but don't be fooled. Although the universe may sometimes gives us luck, it rarely gives us free. If you want to risk something, achieve something and, or, keep something, you have to walk that long walk and earn it.
Reader Comments (6)
Good stuff! I bet my daughter would have been mortified with the sandwich debacle, too. But - I would have SOOO done it anyway. I might have even pulled it out on the walk back to the car. :)
Dear Laura,
The unexpected music in the church is my favorite part.
Lucky you.
All best,
Caragh
I hear ya, Donna. I actually had the rest of the sandwich for lunch the next day and it
was scrumptious!
And, yes, Caragh. The choir music was a splendid surprise.
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