My father recently wrote about a trip he made to the Museum of Natural History with his mother when he was about 10. He said that people often don't appreciate those moments as they happen. I want to write about this now so my father and mother know I did appreciate it.
When I was a kid, likely between 8 and 11, my Dad used to take me to work with him one day a year. I think it may have been on Christmas Eve, since he worked half a day, but it may have been any day close to Christmas; I can't remember exactly. We would rise early and take the Staten Island train to the Ferry, and then the subway to where Dad worked. I don't recall where the office was; all I knew was that I had my Daddy to myself for a while and that was very good. I think he may have bought me hot chocolate on the ferry.
When we got to the office, the atmosphere seemed jovial. People popped in and out of Dad's office, doing more socializing than actual work. Looking back, it was the early 70s and people likely had a little "something" in their coffee; those were the days when you could have a drink in the office and no one blinked an eye. We were like Don Draper and his daughter, Sally.
I know I went with Dad several times to work, and although I don't remember any single visit, a few things always stand out. People always made a fuss over me. I am sure my Mom dressed me in a cute outfit and people were just nice to a little kid in the office for a day. Sometimes there were other kids too. I played with the typewriter, drew on paper Dad gave me, and played with the telephone and the things on his desk. He had a Rolodex; it had the letters of the alphabet down one side and if you pushed a little tab down to a letter, the Rolodex popped open to the place where people whose name started with that letter were stored. I thought this was a fine piece of modern office equipment. Who knew there would ever be such a thing as a Blackberry...
I also remember the copy machine and a cafeteria where we got donuts and other assorted goodies. (Leave it to me to remember where the food was.)
On several of these occasions Dad took me to lunch, I think at McDonalds or a coffee shop, and then he took me to see The Nutcracker at Lincoln Center. I remember thinking that I would have been happy enough with the office and McDonalds, but the Nutcracker was a bonus. When I think of it now, it must have been a sacrifice for my parents to get those tickets. They are not cheap now, and I am sure they were not cheap then. My mother could have easily gone instead of me, but she let me have that time with my father. It was precious time that still fills my heart with warm memories. I remember the beautiful music, and the dancing, and my father reading the program with me. I got lost in the magic of that ballet, and in the magic of having a parent to myself for the day. After the ballet, we would go to my Grandma's house for Christmas Eve. (This was before the Christmas Eve celebration moved to Aunt Paula's, where it is to this day.)
I always felt that my Dad and I had special times on those days. My parents both worked hard when I was a child, and outings like that were a real treat. I often wonder what my own daughter will remember of her childhood. I hope that she retains memories of special times. I know I do.
