Happy Holidays

Today is December 1 and it’s a big snowy day here in Chicago. Marshal Fields windows this year feature the theme—Cinderella. Last year it was Snow White which was awesome but of course I always cheer the brunette heroines. The Evil Stepmother looked like Madame from Madame and Flowers. You know the 70's vantriliquest . . . I will miss Marshal Fields when it becomes Macy’s next year. Fields has a less antiseptic feel to it than the other department stores do. It’s almost Parisian. It's downright romantic compared to the surgical feel of let's say Barney's. This way to Radiation . . . I just have lot of memories of me and my Grandma coming to Chicago to see the holiday windows at Fields. On a few occasions we got to eat at the Walnut Room. It’s a fancy white tablecloth, wood paneled restaurant with the most enormous and glamorous X-mas tree outside of the one in Daily Plaza. If Alexis Carrington were a real person, this is where she would go have lunch.

Another thing about this city I love during the holidays is the Christmas Kindlmarket in Daily Plaza. Vendors from Germany come and set up a little mini Village right in the middle of the city. There is something reassuring about the sight of wooden toys. The food is amazing too. I tried glog one year because the smell was intoxicating like liquid potpourri but I couldn’t stand the taste—like drinking actually potpourri spiked with booze. I’m more of a hot chocolate girl. I don’t dig marzipan either. The little marzipan animals look so cute but the taste didn’t exactly overwhelm me. Over the years I have bought some wonderful Russian black laquered boxes with wonderful fairy tale imagery and some beautiful ornaments too.

Christmas is sort of weird for me since my Mom and Grandmother have passed away. Plus I’m the only single one in the family. I’m so hoping I don’t age into the crazy Aunt who dresses in the all-purple outfit and everyone feels they have to invite just because "we’re family". I love my family even though I don’t have much in common with them. I always like the anticipation than the actual day itself. Before the big day I plan on spending time with my urban family and maybe see that Cinderella window one more time. Here’s to my handsome prince wherever he may be.