Oh to be here.
New York City, Christmas shopping and the stores filled. War yes but in Europe. Cousins in the officer corps in Britain but not called up yet. Scary but only kissing cousins. Related to everyone somehow but not a way that anyone can remember. No, someone gone up to Northumberland on that trip and invited in for tea but nothing more. All the way back nearly to the revolution that ancestor was, anyway.
More in America maybe but not yet. One of those German U boats coming up from the bottom and giving everyone in Baltimore a spook but gone back down to the bottom of the sea and off to someplace else. A good thing, really. Uncle’s ships filled with things for Argentina and Brazil taking up half the docks when they came in, so close that tourists tried to scramble on to watch the German crew wave the kaiser’s flag.
But New York fine. No U boats the paper said and the grandchildren coming for Christmas. A tree to be bought and ornaments hung but all that for the maids and the housemen to do.
All the packages loaded into a cab and sent uptown for someone else to take in. Tomorrow to write out the notes and have the lady’s maid wrap them up.
Tea at four at the new ice garden. Inside the Biltmore the last time but outside now. A new thing to go with the skating rink. Funny. Summer wicker chairs with winter slipcovers, a big fireplace roaring along and big windows. Ferns in baskets and skaters to applaud even though they cannot hear.
Four friends and together. Bridesmaids for each other and bonded for life. Something different later maybe but all right for now . . . .and hopefully next year too.
