A Moment of Gratitude

By Lesly Federici/December 2007

It’s the holiday. The chilly winds blow through the streets carrying echoes of Christmas carols and scents of toasted chestnuts. Ah, I thought as I reminisced how my mother would take me into the city and walk down 5^th Avenue to see all the Christmas decorations in the windows of Saks department store. Then we would walk to Rockefeller Center and see the huge Christmas tree adorned with lights and small decorative bulbs, watch the ice skaters as my nose chilled from the cold.

Those were great days and I miss them. So was it any surprise that I would want to share these memories, or create new ones with my 11-year-old son? I should have known better. For young boys in the year 2007 are engrossed with video games and cell phones. I like to consider myself a “techy”, but my son can look at a cell phone with his laser eyes and visually unlock the secret workings of this mechanical devise without touching it!

So into Manhattan we went. We drove in and took the Lincoln Tunnel. What memories I had! As a child I loved to look at the graffiti on the rocks that lined the entrance to the tunnel. I always pondered how the heck did anyone do that, or why? My son however, was asking questions such as “what if I do really good in school, will I get a Wii or an Xbox for Christmas?”

I am a believer of seeing new things and having different experiences in life. It adds to your perspective of life and builds personality and character. So far this experience was not going the way I had envisioned: That my son would be jumping up and down, eager to go to New York City – the city that “never sleeps” as an awesome new life experience!

Now I thought this was just my own wish to rekindle a memory so special in my life that I really thought I could share it with him. But, my son was painfully crabby about the idea from the very start. And, saying what mothers do in a firm voice, “You keep asking me when we’re going home and you can forget about playing video games when we do get home!” The power of motherhood!

So we walked the city streets towards Rockefeller Center to see the Christmas tree. We stopped for a traditional hot pretzel from a vendor and continued our journey. As we moved with the bodies of traffic, we sprinted and stopped to avoid being hit by those restless cars and buses. Finally, we found ourselves in front of St. Patrick’s Cathedral. “Let’s go in! It’s such a beautiful church”, I said enthusiastically. At last there were no complaints from my son (must have been the threat of no video game playing).

As we entered the church it was so crowded. I felt like we were a herd of penguins bobbing back and forth, side to side to find a clearing to spread our wings. St. Patrick’s was just a beautiful as I remembered as a child with my mother. We walked around and soaked in the beauty of the stained glass windows, the sculptures, and art. As the overwhelming feeling of peace and what Christmas is really about seeped into our thoughts, my son quietly asked a question, “can I light a candle?”

I watched as he took a small candle and placed it in the glass candle holder. He lit it and quietly stood for a few moments deep in thought. When he was finished, I asked what he thought of (being the nosey mother I am).

My son replied, “I was just thinking about my home, family, my dogs Pipy and Blue, my friends and my games”.

I replied, “All the things you are grateful for?” “Yes.” And with that I gave him the biggest mommy hug ever.

In a quiet moment, I realized I did relive a special time in my own youth, but created a new one for me and my son to remember for years to come.