Belated Birthday & Christmas Greetings

December 27, 2017

Dear Jane,

Season's greetings and Merry Christmas, my dear friend! But more importantly, Happy Belated Birthday! I know not if you are aware of this (I, myself, would surely lose track), but you recently celebrated your 242nd birthday on the sixteenth of December in the Year of Our Lord, two-thousand and seventeen. Quite the milestone, I must say! Happily, I celebrated your birthday in the best way possible and I shall tell you all about it in this letter. Before I get to that, however, it is also worth noting that Christmas was but two days ago and as it was my darling nephew's first, it was a most joyous occasion. And to make it even more special, we woke up to a beautiful blanket of Christmas snow which was ever so charming and festive. Being amongst my family for the holiday was the best gift I could ever ask for.
Merry Christmas from the Forkers and von Gootkins!
Now to return to your birthday festivities. The sixteenth of December began with an exciting train ride into the city of Manhattan with my dear friend Hillary.The purpose of my trip was a Jane Austen Society event...a lecture and a Birthday tea in your honor! I do believe that Catherine Morland of Northanger Abbey would have enjoyed our journey into New York as it was full of intrigue and mystery. You see, our train lost the use of its engine just outside of the Stamford station, so we were stranded for a spell. Luckily, daylight and splendid conversation with my friend filled the train car, so the hour long wait in the dark was not so very terrible...in truth, the dilemma made it more of an adventure! Luckily, we were not so far gone from the station and a mechanic was able to get the engine working enough to get us back to Stamford where we promptly boarded a new train and were soon on our way once again.

Upon our arrival, Hillary and I parted ways with the promise of reuniting later in the evening with our friend, Darcie. As expected, I had to visit the powder room before meeting my friend LoriAnn for lunch, so I hastened to a McDonald's that used to be an old haunt of mine when I worked in the midtown area. Feeling as though "I owned the joint," I made my way to the second floor where I knew the restrooms to be located and was subsequently loath to find no less than three girls occupying each of the two stalls. The young ladies were loudly discussing their struggles as they tried to get their spirits and alcohol into less conspicuous bottles. Ah, the follies and magic of youth.


Me & LoriAnn!
Anyway, I soon found LoriAnn and we took a nice long walk towards where my JASNA event would be taking place at two o'clock. We came upon a charming french bistro and enjoyed the most delicious waffles. Ever the kind and gracious friend, LoriAnn presented me with the most beautiful Pride & Prejudice ornament! Who could ask for a better friend?


Your niece, 
Caroline Knight!
After lunch, I walked over to the Fifth Avenue Presbyterian Church for the JASNA lecture and tea. However, before the lecture began, we JASNA NY members were treated to a special video message from none other than your fifth great niece, Caroline Knight! I do believe you would be proud of the lady as she is intelligent, smart and so very charming! Afterwards,  Dr. Jenny Davidson presented a wonderful lecture entitled, "So Far We Are Equal: Jane Austen's Teachings on Women, Independence & Equality." Once the lecture concluded, we gathered in a lovely parlor to partake in engaging conversation as well as indulge in tea and treats. We even had a sparking cider toast in your honor! (I know, we are dreadfully adorable.) It was especially lovely to catch up with the ladies of the Juvenilia group for I do miss them whilst I am in Connecticut!


Cheers to you,
 Jane!
After our tea concluded and I bade my goodbyes, I took a festive walk down Sixth Avenue past Radio City Music Hall and various displays of giant red ornaments, giant Christmas lights and giant nutcrackers. I did not wish to be too side-tracked, however, as I was making way towards my favorite place on the Isle of Manhattan...The New York Public Library. Besides being a magical place of literary and historic significance, it holds the most beautiful Christmas tree in all the land. I sigh in remembrance of it.

New York Public 
Library Tree
After I viewed the tree, I reunited with Hillary and Darcie and we made our way down the crowded and Christmas-filled Fifth Avenue. Our first stop was the Saks Fifth Avenue window display which depicted the movie "Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs" in honor of its 80th Anniversary! We then watched the light show on the building whilst in the midst of a large crowd of unyielding people. In truth, we were not sure we would ever emerge from it! We eventually did, however, and soon made our way to the Tree at Rockefeller Center. Coincidentally, we happened upon a man proposing to his lady. I later learned that the lady was Sarah Palin's daughter...odd, no? One never knows what one may happen upon whilst in New York City.


O.M.G.
The ladies!
After our fifth avenue adventures, we walked as far away from the area as possible towards the restaurant, Serendipity, where we were hoping to indulge in their famous frozen hot chocolates. We learned that there was a two and a half hour wait (I know...wild) so we left our names and journeyed to a Thai restaurant nearby where I had a delicious dinner with wonderful friends. Afterwards, we were finally seated at Serendipity and I satiated my sweet tooth with a salted caramel frozen hot chocolate. Needless to say, my stomach grew three sizes that day...but it was well worth it.

After a day filled with Christmas and Austen adventures, I journeyed back to Woodside of Queens with Darcie to the apartment which I once called home and had a most pleasant evening. Darcie gifted me a beautiful candle with your likeness on it and I was quite overwhelmed with her thoughtfulness! I am so very fortunate to have such wonderful, kind and strong female friends.  I am a lucky lady, indeed!
Woodside of Queens

I hope that all of my gentle readers had a joyful holiday season and that the New Year is filled with happiness, new adventures and good health. I heartily thank you for reading my letters to Jane Austen and here's to writing more frequently in the New Year! Also, because my amazing Aunt is so supportive of my letters I wanted to give her a special "shout-out" and say, "Thank you for reading, Aunt Mary!"

Happy Belated Birthday and Christmas, dear Jane!

Yours Faithfully,

Amanda


The Giant Lights!
The Giant Ornaments!
The Light Show!
The Giant Nutcrackers!
The Tree!
Radio City!

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