See the Lights.

Nine hours and 48 minutes. That's how long I was on my feet Saturday running around the toy store helping customers, wrapping gifts, and restocking shelves. There wasn't a whole lot of time for pleasantries, exchanges of glad tidings, or conversation. It was GO TIME. Christmas is 11 days away! Who has time for that stuff? But I need it. I crave it. I need to press pause and take a moment to look around and remind myself of all I have to be thankful for this time of year. I need to take in the sights, the sounds, the smells, and be reminded that though Christmas crept up on me this year, I don't want to blink and miss it.

Last night I visited three downtown hotels to see the lights and enjoy a holiday cocktail (or two). The famous lobby at the Roosevelt Hotel, the Ritz Carlton Jeremy Davenport Lounge, and the Hotel Monteleone. Last night I fell in love with New Orleans all over again. How could you not? Sipping on a holiday drink at the famous Sazerac bar surrounded by families, tourists, and of course the 610 Stompers, I took a moment to take in my surroundings. And I smiled. It seems really simple and yet, completely necessary. 

The Roosevelt

The Ritz Carlton

What struck me most as I visited these hotels last night is that lobbies aren't made for stopping. We enter and exit doors moving from one destination to another and often have our face turned down lit up by the glow of our phones. The constant shuffle. The constant hustle. Do. Do. Do. Go. Go. Go. It was something else to see the Roosevelt lobby filled with people who had nowhere to go. Nowhere to be and nothing to do other than stand around and look at the lights. 

Eleven more days. And then it's on to the next thing. But for these next eleven days, I'm going to remind myself to live in the moment. Take stock of where I am. Look around. Look up. See the lights.