The "December Delimma"
December 27, 2005
First of all, I’d like to wish everyone Happy Holidays. Not because I’m trying to be politically correct, but because I think people forget that there are more holidays celebrated by different religions and societies than just Christmas. Or, maybe they don’t forget; they just want everyone to only remember that Christmas is the only thing we should remember about December, and the rest of the holidays be damned.
That pisses me off.
If I see one more freakin’ letter in the Op-ed section about how someone is going to throttle the next person they see who wishes them a “Happy Holidays” instead of “Merry Christmas”, I’m going to throttle them. Jesus wasn’t even born on December 25th. It’s historical fact.
I know this because I watch the History Channel. A lot.
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As I’ve said before, we celebrate both Christmas and Hanukkah. It was really nice to have both fall on the same day and night. It made the night extra special, waking up at the crack of dawn to see the boys open their gifts (and immediately fight over them), and then spend a huge chunk of the AM putting together several of those gifted toys. As the day wore on, it was nice to sit around with friends and family chit-chatting, but after awhile, it started to feel like any other weekend day. Then as the sun set, we geared up to light the first candle on the Menorah, and it felt like it was a holiday again. It was kinda neat how it did that.
Have I mentioned how much I love to hear the boys recite the prayers in Hebrew? I really do. It is especially cute to hear an almost 4 year old try to speak in Hebrew without mumbling. R did a great job tonight, the second night of Hanukkah. He made me proud.
Rabbis talk about the “December Delimma”; how families who celebrate both holidays should pick only one, becauses it confuses the kids since Jews don’t believe Jesus is the savior. I can see their argument, and if we were overtly religious, I could understand the point. However, we believe in God, share and give for Hanukkah instead of recieve; and Christmas is for presents and family time. I like that my children get to be like many of their friends and open gifts on Christmas morning; but also get to light the candles and learn the meaning of Hanukkah, and spread hope, love, and light. Seeing that Jesus was Jewish, I think he would appreciate what we are doing. He strikes me as being hip like that.
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Toys R’ Us threw up in my living room, and M threw up in my sink. I’m providing quite the visual for you today, huh? Lucky for you, I didn’t get a picture of the second one.
I think the boys got all that they wanted, and there’s still more to come for other family members. Now I just need to find places to store all of this stuff. Yikes.
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The only “December Delimma” I have is that I miss my mom even more during this time of year.
I miss her getting as excited as I do, and decorating the house.
I miss her gifts of clothes that I may or may not ever wear. (Sorry Mom, but the Mickey Mouse shirt that looked like a hooked rug had been sewed onto it was atrocious.)
I miss her cooking, and her ham with the pineapple rings with the cherries held in the middle by toothpicks.
I miss her smile, and her laugh.
I miss that she can’t see my sons carrying on the traditions she instilled in me that I resisted and resented so much when I was younger.
I miss her not seeing my sons light the Menorah, and saying the prayers.
I miss not sharing my life with her anymore, and I resent having to write that in my journal.
I miss her.
I hope that I’m making her proud. Because I’m trying really hard.
…and not just at the holidays.
That’s my “December Delimma”.
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I’m out.
