Windows to a Memory

Once upon a time, a runt of a boy stood before the holiday windows of the department store, L.S. Ayres & Co. As it was below freezing, he was wrapped in layers of wool, buckle boots and a hand-knitted toboggan. His father held his little hand tight and asked, “What do you see, Little Britches?”-- To which the boy would quickly point out the most obvious element within the display. The father would repeatedly respond, “What else?” Each time the boy would dig deeper into the composition of the display. His old man wasn’t being a nuisance; but rather, he was teaching the child to appreciate the details within the total picture.

That kid was me.

No matter how old we become, the holiday season has a way of moving memories of those we love out of storage and into our pockets for easy access. I suppose it keeps our hearts stoked.

This year, I decided to experience the fantastic holiday windows of New York City. The best way to savor their beauty is once the sun has set and the night’s cloak of darkness seems to electrify them with magic. With an agenda of seven stores to visit, my schedule was full.

The city was abuzz with excitement and adorned to the hilt. Snow had just began to fall and the temps were well below freezing. It felt like Christmas. It was the ideal evening to go "window shopping!"

The crowd outside of Saks Fifth Avenue indicated there was a show to be seen! The lavish light display on the store’s façade certainly supported the brand’s level of design authority.  This year’s theme was the tale of Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs. The windows were a feast of animated characters. Every window was more fantastical than the last.