crowd 1 (kroud)
n.
1. A large number of persons gathered together; a throng.
2. The common people; the populace.
3. A group of people united by a common characteristic, as age, interest, or vocation: the over-30 crowd.
4. A group of people attending a public function; an audience.
In the last two weeks I have been part of two of the most famous crowds in America. Last week I wrote about our efforts to get as close as possible to the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade and then last night Jordan and I joined the masses and went down to see the tree lighting at Rockefeller Center. But what I want to talk about is the crowd and what it is like to be in the thick of tens of thousands of people (I am not exaggerating the numbers).
Last night at Rockefeller Centrer Jordan and I were able to make our way down 50th Street to the side of Radio City Music Hall heading towards the plaza where the tree would be lit in two hours after various pop star performances and Al Rocher talking to the crowd. Because President Obama was just blocks away at the Sheridan on 53rd Street security was insanely tight and all of the major avenues were blocked off to allow him several exits through the city. So not only were thousands of people vying to get into the tree lighting area, but the police were keeping people behind metal barricades on the sidewalks so that the streets did not become conjested. For people with small children and especially for people with babies in strollers it was almost impossible for them to move an inch forward or backward. At one point we found a nice spot where we could see the big screen tv and hear the singinng over the loud speakers (the performers were down in the skating rink so no one but a VIP audience actually saw the performances). People weaved in and out of the crowd, but you have to understand that it was a crush, so if anyone pushed through it distrubed the angle you were viewing the screen and the tree. At one point a group of at least six basketball players pushed their way forward. I mean they were at least seven feet tall and I am not exaggerating. They stopped in front of us. WHAT? ARE YOU KIDDING? They were literally a wall of humans. The people who come to these events are for the most part families out to celebrate the season, but don't mess with a woman hanging on to five kids who has finally gotten to a point where all of her kids have a view. Luckily, that is exactly the sort of family standing next to us and she gave the basketball players an ear full and they pushed forward far enough to clear our view and block some other poor spectators view of Justin Bieber singing his heart out on the big screen.
After the tree was lit some barricades near the tree where opened and the crowds pushed forward for a better view and for the photo op. For the most part everyone moved in a slow crush forward. At one point I allowed my mind to wonder as I looked up at 30 Rock as we inched forward in a shoulder to shoulder mass. Certainly if a terrorist wanted to do some serious damage all that needed to happen was for a small explosion to cause the crowd to stampede forward. With a Christian holiday celebratoin being televised all across the country and the President of the United States just blocks away at a black tie fund raiser what more opportune time to hit our Achiles Heal. At that moment there was no room to move. I mean, no room to move. I took a deep breathe and took my eyes off of the skyscrapers that surrounded me and joined back in the lively conversations that always pop-up when complete strangers are thrust together in the name of a good time.
Just to revisit the Thanksgiving Day Parade so that I can vent about something I had never seen before in a crowd. When the balloons floated by everyone looked up and was able to enjoy Kermit the Frog as he headed down Central Park West, but the floats were barely visible with people pushed together so tightly and to add insult to injury as soon as a float or a a marching band passed all the parents shoulders suddenly had a kindergardener perched up on them, so the view was completely gone. Then there was a very daring subset that actually brought ladders. For the most part they were step ladders, but there were actually a few full sized ladders. These people had no shame. They came to the parade to see it and by god they weren't going to let some babies on their parents shoulders stop them.
No, we will not be going to Time Square for New Year's Eve. My tolerance of crowds is reserved for family fun including parades, Christmas tree lighting ceremonies, shuttle busses to the beach, and lines for boats at the Boat House in Central Park on a sunny Sunday afternoon. But grocery stores at rush hour literally packed with people so that a grocery cart is prohibitive drives me screaming from the market. I pick and chose my crowds!
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