Joy to the World.

In case you weren't aware, darling, Christmas is coming. And today was the first day that really felt as cold as winter.

After sleeping for half the morning (a miracle for me!), I came out to find that my roommate had made a pot of the pumpkin coffee she got for her birthday (thanks, Bethany's mom!) and found The Shop Around the Corner on TCM - we've just gotten obsessed with old films, thanks to White Christmas. Those old movies are cheesy and funny and the dialogue is smart as a whip! Plus the men are truly men, and truly gentlemen, even though they sing and dance. What's not to love?

Despite the cozy couch, another shop around the corner was waiting for us - the stores of Manhattan were singing to us, the kind of shopping that makes New York the best place to be at Christmastime if you, like me, pride yourself on finding the perfect gift for every name on the list. Even if you're dead broke and your list is 78% males (it's scientific fact that male persons are impossible to shop for, unless you're rich enough to buy Playstations or boring enough to buy boxers and ties).

I won't tell you where we shopped, in case you're on my list and prone to secret spoiling, but we ended up with full bags and gorgeous lips, thanks to a visit to the grown-up girls' playground, Sephora (oh you little black-and-white striped bag! with your burst of red tissue! true love that never hurts). And as we headed back to the train station at Union Square, we saw the greatest thing ever. Almost literally.

A little boy, round about four or so, was running joyously across the cement pavilion at the northwest corner of the park. He was laughing, his arms flung out, and as he ran, his pants fell down. He kept running. Little bare legs pumping in the chilly air, track pants fallen in bunches around his shins. Somehow he didn't trip. He just ran, and ran, and laughed. His mom caught up to him and yanked his pants back up. He took off running again as soon as he could break away from her, and we watched in fascination. Sure enough, pants came tumbling back down. Still running, still laughing. I think he knew everyone around was watching, and he loved it.

And heaven and nature sing.