The time we almost got chased down Broadway by a viral holiday mob
- Tim Craig
- Feb 9, 2022
- 2 min read
"JINGLE BELLS, JINGLE BELLS, JINGLE ALL THE WAY"
Jenny had organized a Christmas Eve morning run and Taegin and me gladly joined her. We met outside the Columbia Sports Complex on West 218th and headed north on Broadway. Running up Broadway has the reward of Van Cortlandt Park at the end, with its numerous trails and rather quiet bike path that goes all the way up to Albany. This makes the stop lights, foot traffic and crowd weaving worth it.
"OH, WHAT FUN IT IS TO RIDE IN A ONE HORSE OPEN SLEIGH, HEY!"
December 24th was a time when Omicron worries and cases were both spiking and it seemed like every New Yorker was getting a COVID test before seeing family for the holidays. A few days earlier Emily had waited over 5 hours, most of it in the cold with our three kids, to get testing before her parents arrived on December 26th. COVID testing was no joke.
"JINGLE BELLS, JINGLE BELLS, JINGLE ALL THE WAY"
We had come upon a line of perhaps 100 people waiting in line for COVID testing at the urgent care near West 230th street. Jenny, Taegin, and I were already a spectacle with our running jackets and my colorful BOA shorts behind a double running stroller. The second we reached the back of this line, Jenny broke into joyful song. I have never heard Jingle Bells quite this way before, and based on the looks and reactions, those in the line were also surprised by the unlikely Christmas carolers.
"OH, WHAT FUN IT IS TO RIDE IN A ONE HORSE OPEN SLEIGH, HEY!"
Jenny was in the lead for the duration of this 100 person Christmas carol sprint and what she didn't see was Taegin and I ducking for cover and attempting to act like we didn't know Jenny. It wasn't working. I think a couple of those in line joined in with the song and Jenny definitely drew some smiles.
Looking back on it, I wish I had the courage to join with Jenny in song that morning. As it was, the thirty seconds it took to run past the line was an explosion of joy and cheer from Jenny in a season where those in line were likely filled with anxiety about the results that awaited them at the end of their wait.
I know I needed that joy on Christmas Eve and remembering it today brings a smile to my face. Thank you Jenny.
Our running relationship and the friendship that has formed around it has been a gift on so many levels. Rest assured that I will never stop testing your relatively high threshold for public humiliation!