Celebrate

So the tree is up, the gifts are wrapped - my speciality is lumpy paper secured with far too much tape, but the tape is green and that's festive.

I went to visit my VFW buddies and brought "the boys" cookies and a giant pan of baked ziti - the ziti is another of my specialties but it's good, really good - no lumps or tape. I love the VFW guys and they get quite a kick out of my radical, liberal ways. They didn't know what to make of me at the start but have come to (I hope) respect my views since I respect their history and service. Anyone can display a bumper sticker and fly a flag - for me it's all about recognizing individuals.

Tonight we go to the Motherland - Brooklyn. Ahhh - the traffic. Yet another holiday tradition. It's wonderful once we get there and assuming my son doesn't have road rage meltdown. My adorable baby bro, my gorgeous nieces, my boy and his wife - and her family, and all those adopted into the clan. Maybe mob is a better word - it is Brooklyn!

I know I made a wee bit of a stink about putting up the tree and now that you see how small she is you're probably wondering... It's not the putting up, it's the finding all the stuff. We have a huge storage closet in the basement - right next to the luxurious office (hole) and pulling out all the storage tubs and lugging them upstairs is quite the battle.

But once the battle is won it's wonderful. Over the years I've tried different tree motifs - I'll never live down the pink tree with silver lights - as my son said "Look, it's Christmas in a strip joint"

So I always come back to the memories - every ornament has a story. The year we went to Cape Cod for Thanksgiving and found a tiny star in a junk store, the trip to Newport, RI and the clearance sale at the "chi-chi" boutique. I even have the ornament my son made in pre-school - it's 31 years old but wearing it's age well. Every little box I open is a smile or a tug at my heart. Every mountain of tissue paper reveals a moment that will never come again but will always be remembered.

And on top - Nana's angel. It was packed with her Menorah when she came here from Russia - it was one of the few things she managed to save as they ran from the soldiers. How sweet and profound that two symbols of two religions held on to each other as they made their way to America.

Whatever you celebrate - I wish you joy and peace. Take the time to have moments that will become delicious memories. May all your wishes be realized - and more important - may you make wishes that are worthy of your heart and soul.



Peace.