It hits me, not for the 20th time, that the books and newspapapers are piling up. I have always been a read a book straight through person, then read it again and again, if I like it. Now I read them a third through because I would rather be blogging. But I can’t; I just can’t. If I don’t read who will? Yes I’m a supreme egotist, but I did buy stock in B&N, a bad move, just because I frequent them so much.
Now we have Borders which I like better, and they have Dean & Deluca in their cafe instead of Starbucks, but I feel a loyalty to my stock and to my discount card and the extra discount card they sent me for the holidays.
I like print; I like to feel one with what I’m reading and a computer screen just doesn’t make me feel all cozy with the material. I spent the entire day up close to my computer screen; very close because I’m so near sighted and refuse to wear glasses when I read or write. It just doesn’t feel the same.
It’s night now and time to begin my day. Night is when I feel most alive; night is when I want the sun to shine. Thought that was a truly stupid sentence until I reread it, and didn’t push delete. The way the world is going I feel that anything bad is possible. But I also believe in the beauty of life and the beauty of dreams.
I don’t believe in slogans such as “what would you do if nothing was impossible?” But I have it on a plaque and stare at it sometimes. So I must believe in something, sometimes. Joan Didion can go through a year of mourning and write a beautiful book about it in less time than it takes me to decide what to have for breakfast.
Maybe my start button has been stuck; maybe it’s been working all the time and I just haven’t noticed. I think that I have accomplished more than it seems; I think I’m on the royal road to something. But first I need to think about breakfast. Uh, small problem; it’s time to go out to dinner.
This post is Bone inspired. He’s single, straight, a great writer and a great person who lives in Alabama but knows more about Seinfeld than I do.
Frankly any time I can get a cab from Penn Station I consider it a Miracle on 34th Street; but when I was a kid, and still…the original movie with Natalie Wood was one of my five favorite movies, and I watched at least three times during the holidays
I ran up and down the block. It was somewhere around Great Neck/ Lake Success/Manhasset/Roslyn; I believe off the service road from the Expressway which hadn’t been there when the movie was made.
I screamed:
“Buy a house here.”
As my parents were looking for a house and had included my sister and I in the selection process it wasn’t as crazy as it sounded. They asked if I saw a house for sale, or if there was a particular one that I was looking for.
I was so excited I couldn’t speak in complete sentences. I was also bundled in a heavy winter coat with hood that my mom had ran to put on my head, earmuffs, scarf and gloves. I must have looked like a snow girl in perpetual motion.
“That, that, that..house…Natalie Wood….”
It took about five minutes for them to understand that it was the house that Natalie Wood had moved into at the end of Miracle on 34th Street. I was about eight.
“Do you see a ‘for sale’ sign?”
“No.”
“A house has to have to a ‘for sale’ sign on it.”
“No it doesn’t. We’ve been to houses that didn’t have for sale signs on it.”
“We went with a broker. You know that.”
My parents had me mixed up with a genius. I was confused and stood there crying until they made me come back into the car. Though it was supposed to be Italian night, my sister’s favorite food we had Chinese which was my favorite and the only thing that made me stop crying. I wasn’t a crier. Really. So when I did cry my parents generally did what I wanted to do, unless it was dangerous etc etc.
We didn’t move for another four years. We almost did move to a house right near there but ended up further down the expressway.
I still loved the movie and especially loved the ending. I would still love to live in a house that looks like that one. Some dreams never die; they just languish.
Wonderful movie… and all the re-makes do not compare… maybe someday… your dream will come true. Have a great weekend!
I loved Natalie Wood then and also when she was older. She filmed a movie here in Raleigh, once, and friend of mine met her, but I didn’t.
Michele sent me.
I could watch that movie over and over… I also thought the house was great.
here via Michele’s
Now, had you been a little more persistent, perhaps your parents would have bought you the house you wanted when you cried. Okay I’m just kidding & that was undoubtedly a run-on sentence.
That was an enjoyable trip down memory lane. I could see you in the snow, all bundled up & you know what was so funny? It was in black & white, like the Miracle on 34th Street.
Thanks for sharing 🙂
Love it, love it, love it. If you could have just gotten into that house, you probably would have found Santa’s cane!!
It didn’t happen to be on a street in Great Neck named Pont Street, did it? Love that movie, too..And I always hated the ‘colorized’ period…All those black & white films were soooo beautifully shot; so meticulously lit JUST for B & W….so I am thrilled that THAT inovation did not take over ALL the old gorgeously shot films….
I had to laugh when you mentioned Creedmore….I remember it well…It scared me just to drive by it! (I haven’t thoight of that place in years!!!)
When she runs to the glass doors looking for the swing and cry’s, ‘There is one! There is one!’ I wanted to be her so much – that little girl – to have that life with those parents – I believed, you see. Tinkerbelle had nothing on Kris Kringle.
Never forget the smell some books have… Mmmmm.
I prefer books and I prefer Borders, but really prefer old book shops with used books and dirty old tables with newspapapers stacked up.
It’s night now and time to begin my day. Night is when I feel most alive; night is when I want the sun to shinePerfect.
I love that movie and will take it any day over It’s a Wonderful Life.
Pia,
One of my all time favorites. . . Enjoyed your personal reflection on this, and how you related your experience with the movie.
Scot
that movie is a classic, it must be said.
but to choose chinese over italian? you MUST have been mad! 😉
happy thanksgiving..
Thanks for the mention, Pia. Wish I’d have had a better post up on that particular day 🙂
Had Chinese tonight myself 😉
Don’t ever delete a sentence like “Night is when I feel most alive; night is when I want the sun to shine.” I have you confused with a genius too.
Pia, luv:
See the future:
Everyone has two blogs.
Everyone reads two blogs (and nothing more, because who has the time to read, with all that blogging to do?)
Every blog has 2 readers.
The world of democratized content creation. I have more to say, but I’m saving it for… well, MY blog.
xoxoxoxox
Much cyberlove, and typing too fast today to stop and think.
PS: Do you finish the books if there’s nothing in them to blog about? That’s today’s “tree falling in the forrest” question.
Once saw the house Mary Richards lived in with Rhoda. Its right there on a big corner in Minneapolis. I wanted to live there too.
I have been looking for that little house at the end of Miracle on 34th Street for EVER. Every November, I see that movie and once again I trek from home in Connecticut to Great Neck/Manhasset and drive the streets looking for that house. I was wondering, with the price of gas being what it is, can you please tell me where it is? Thanks, Mike P MJP9190@aol.com
I think the house in Miracle on 34th street was somewhere near Elderfields Rd in Manhasset, But I am not sure… if someone knows please reply.
I too have wondered where the house from the end of Miracle on 34th Street (1947 version) is located. If anyone has any ideas I would be thrilled to hear it. I live in Seattle but would at least love to locate it on Google Earth.
The house from Miracle on 34th Street is on Derby Road, in Port Washington – the next town east of Manhasset.
Hi Blackbird,
Thank you so much for this information. I’ve located Derby Road on Google Earth. There appear to be about 35 houses on the street. I can pick up a couple of potential houses but am curious if you happen to know the address of location on the street.
I’m also curious as to how you came to know this location. I’m guessing that you live in that area? I’ll have to watch to movie and the end to see if I can pick up any discerning features that would be visible from the air.
Merry Christmas and I’m sure we’ll talk soon.
Me again,
I found it. You were right. The house is absolutely on Derby Road and can clearly be seen on Google Earth. It was one of the ones I suspected when I looked earlier but was unsure because the roof line has been slightly changed. The house is located at the Northwest corner of Derby Road and Essex Court in Port Washington, New York.
If you watch the end of the movie you can clearly see the two houses directly to the North, as well as the two houses directly across the street. All of these houses are exactly placed and in the same shapes and roof lines of what’s in the movie. In the movie you can also see the cul-de-sac of Essex Court and this too is easily seen on Google Earth. Not sure about the address of the house but it’s definitely the one.
It would appear that the owners have added some sort of upstairs room which has added a bi-level appearance to the roof. In the movie the roof is completely flat but on Google Earth it has a definite split/additional angle.
In any event….a mystery I’ve wondered about for 35+ years has been solved tonight. Thanks Blackbird.
The address is 24 Derby Road. Type it into Zillow.com and click on the parcel (Northwest Corner of Derby Road and Essex Court). There are great photos from the air of the house.
I am also a big fan of Miracle on 34th Street and have searched the internet for several years trying to find the location of this house. I am so happy that someone finally found it and has actually seen the house. Thanks so much for solving this mystery.
Hi,
I am a big fan of Miracle on 34th street. I am looking for a picture of the house in the 1994 version. Does anyone know where I could find it?
I love the house in the 1994 version of Miracle on 34th Street as well. If anyone has a picture or knows the address so I can get a picture of it I would appreciate it.
Just came across the blog entries for the Miracle on 34th Street house. For what it’s worth I came across an ad from the Port Washington News by C21 Laffey Assoc for an open house that was 1/15/2006. 16 Derby Road, Port Washington: “purchase a part of cinematic history – a stunning Walter Uhl Cape Cod house seen in the classic A Miracle on 34th St.” Not positive by the ad if it “the” same house or a similar Walter Uhl Cape Cod. Price was $779,000.
Hey SJ,
16 Derby Road would have been one of the houses seen as the car drives down the road at the end of the movie. 24 Derby Road is absolutely the house that Natalie Wood runs up to. If you go to maps.live.com and enter 24 Derby Road a map will pop up that shows the street. Click on Bird’s Eye View and select the ‘West’ view and you’ll be shocked as you’ll see a great photo of the house.
Send me an email and I’ll send you a street level view of the house from the county assessor’s web site.
Hi David Crocker,
Thanks for the update.
I viewed on the maps.live.com as you mentioned.
If you are able to email me the assessors photo I’d love to see it… sjdesalvo@earthlink.net
I’m from Port Washington but never drove past the home. I live upstate in the Catskills now, and get back to Port a few times a year.
Hey SJ – I just emailed you the photo. I hope to visit the house someday myself.
The house shown at the end of the movie is located at 24 Derby Road in Port Washington, New York. It looks practically the same, except the roof line has been altered by the addition of a window. A view of the home can be seen here.
I’ve researched this extensively. The house at 24 Derby Road is definitely the one used in the movie, but the movie crew did not have access to it’s interior. Natalie just ran up the front steps and that was it for that location’s shooting. If you compare the interior scenes to photos of the actual exterior (as on zillow.com or the Nassau county website), you’ll see what I mean – it’s a completely different house inside. The fireplace is on the back wall in the interior shots, and there are double windows. The chimney is at the South end of the house on Derby and the house has no double windows near it like you see in the movie.
Oh, what a sweet and wonderful post! It’s old, but new to me.
Bone-inspired? You must have known ABC Family was showing this last night and that I would be watching vigilantly.
I love this whole story–oh, imagine if that house HAD been for sale!–but especially the fantastic closing line.
Oh, and I like that you stress that Bone is straight. Hee.