Frequently I am critical of those who gravitate to superlatives without restraint. Everything is the greatest, the best, or the most wonderful. There are no gradations, no limitations, or no less than outstanding. This is especially true when people talk about their children or their grandchildren.
But last night we sat in a restaurant on the shore of Weehawken, New Jersey, and gazed at the skyline of New York City, ablaze with its usually colorful lights, but even more festive with seasonal lighting on some of the larger buildings. IT WAS SPECTACULAR.
It occurred to me that a huge number of people who live and function in New York City may never have (or take) the opportunity to go to a place like this restaurant to see the magnificent painting we were drinking in. With their usual, day-to-day functions, complete with complaints about traffic, trash pickup, snow removal, and the cost of living, they may never know how absolutely unbelievable this city is visually.
What a privilege to be able to see this superlative accumulation of structures. There is a school of art known as urban landscape. I can't imagine a more breathtaking example than this painting against the darkening sky. In New York the sky is never truly dark; the urban lighting is such that there is always a sense of manufactured daylight.
Later in the evening we ventured to the top of the Marriott Marquis hotel where a restaurant spins slowly to take in a 360 degree view of the center of Manhattan. Again, the sight is breathtaking, a testament to the creativity and splendor of two centuries of architecture.
In spite of my aversion to superlatives, I can't and won't be restrained in my expression of awe at the beauty of this panorama. It is incomparable. Superlatives cannot be spared.
Photo Credit: http://www.allposters.com
Definition Credit: Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
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