Amid a press of tourists, curious passers-by and TV crews from nearly a dozen media outlets, a somewhere tired-looking construction worker gazed up at a giant crane that has just put this year's Rockefeller Center Christmas tree more or less upright.
(1)______________________________, and gave a status report on the tree, which is as yet unadorned with the 30,000 glittering lights and giant crystal star that will illuminate it on November 30th. "It will be stood up and secured with 4 cables today. Monday we'll start decorating and putting the lights on, and get ready for the lighting, for the tree lighting."
"So (2)______________________________, we are doing a Christmas thing? " Sooner rather than later is just fine with Steve, a native New Yorker who stood nearby looking up at the tree and grinning.
"I think it smart to put it up for a little bit early so that it's here in time and decorated and beautiful for the holidays. For me, it's just part of the Christmas holiday. It wouldn't be Christmas without seeing the tree in the middle of Rockefeller Center. So it's a beautiful thing when it's lit up and kids are seeing it for the first time. It's gorgeous. It's magical. (3)______________________________."
