I Guess I Just Wanted to Go Home

I'm dreaming tonight

Of a place I love

Even more than I usually do.

And although I know

It's a long road back

I promise you

I'll be home for Christmas.

You can count on me.

Please have snow and mistletoe

And presents under the tree.

Christmas Eve will find me

Where the love-light gleams.

I'll be home for Christmas

If only in my dreams.

Please pray that the mass transit strike in NYC ends before Friday morning!

I have been thinking about and preparing to go home for the past two weeks. I don't mind living where I am, but there is no place in the world like NY (especially for Christmas)!

I knew there was supposed to be a strike last week and although I felt bad that it was going to prevent my family from seeing the train show at the NY Botanical Garden, I had not thought about the longer term problems it would cause. I was talking to one of my co-workers yesterday about going home and he asked it the strike was going to be a problem. My jaw dropped! I had not been keeping up with the news and thought that the possibility of strike was behind us. So, I pull up the NY Times today (as is often my custom... the craziness at work lately has prevented me from doing so in the last couple of weeks) and see headline after headline devoted to the mass transit strike and the difficulties all the poor NYers are facing because of it.

Here are a few interesting items in these articles:

"This is the first citywide transit strike in more than 25 years. It is illegal for mass transit workers to strike in New York, which means the 33,000 bus and subway employees will face huge fines."
I mean, it makes sense to make it illegal, but I had never thought about it before. NY is does everything largescale...including breaking the law... it's kinda' fitting.

"The strike called early yesterday by subway and bus workers had a "severe to devastating" effect on businesses... City Comptroller William C. Thompson Jr. estimated the cost to the city's economy at $400 million the first day, and $300 million for each subsequent weekday this week. "
WOW!

"At Lord & Taylor's flagship store in Midtown, so many sales clerks were absent that managers were pressed into service helping the small number of customers."
All I can say to this one is ... AWWW what a shame!... maybe it would be good for managers to learn something about customer service.

http://nytimes.com/2005/12/21/nyregion/nyregionspecial3/21business.html?hp&ex=1135227600&en=fa58925676d2f99b&ei=5094&partner=homepage

"Thrown Together in a Crisis, Strangers Share Cars and Life Stories"
I love this headline =) It sounds so altruistic despite the fact that the motives of most were more utilitarian. If nothing else, NYers are tough. They will do WHATEVER it takes to move on... even if that means being nice to other people. =P

"Throughout the city, strangers crammed into sedans and minivans. Rides were offered from rolled-down windows. Makeshift hitchhiking posts sprung up along the curb."
How fitting for the Christmas season! =P

"Congratulations, guys, you made it," yelled Henry Chin, a volunteer. "Have some coffee or hot chocolate. You need the energy for the rest of your trip."
I thought this was sweet.

http://nytimes.com/2005/12/21/nyregion/nyregionspecial3/21coping.html?hp&ex=1135227600&en=61a1f98c923d6e00&ei=5094&partner=homepage

Here are a few of the touching stories...

I live in Williamsburg, Brooklyn, and work in SoHo.Before I even got to the bridge, a car full of ladiesstopped and asked if I needed a ride. I accepted theiroffer and we whizzed across the bridge, no traffic atall. They let me off at Essex St. and I stopped for apancake breakfast since I was so early for work. Icalled my grandmother in Georgia to let her know that abunch of Christian ladies gave me a ride to the citytoday. -Natalie Beall

I walked ten blocks from my house in the Bronx toYankee Stadium, because I read online that there wouldbe a shuttle bus leaving Yankee stadium going to theMetro-North on 125th street. I planned to take theMetro-North to Grand Central, and then walk from thereto 58th and Broadway to my high school where I teach. A police officer informed me that the shuttle bus wouldnot be running until tomorrow (Wednesday). As I was about to give up and go back home, a 4 X 4 pulled up tothe sidewalk and gave three other people and me a rideto 46th and Broadway for FREE! - MIbrahim

I stopped in Starbucks (it seemed about half theStarbucks I passed were closed) to warm up for a while,and got to work at 7. It was an invigorating walk and Idon't mind if I have to do it again Thursday, etc.The determination of New Yorkers to go abouttheir business reminded me of the blackout from acouple years ago, when people just started walking towhere they needed to go. -Mary Pat Campbell, Dec. 20, 2005