MERRY CHRISTMAS AND HAPPY CHANUKKAH 2016!

Somehow, the end-year holidays seem to cheer people up, no matter how horrible the recent world news.  I hope it works that way with you, too. And this year is very special because it’s the first time in recent memory that the first night of Chanukkah and Christmas Eve fall on the same night! So, for people like me who celebrate both holidays, it’s an extra-fun time.

[Sad note, so don’t read it read it if you don’t want to be brought down for a moment: some of you may remember that my beloved little mother died on actual Christmas Day five years ago. I had been making dinner when she got sick, so the whole thing is more than horrible to me. Mr. X and I have not been able to bring ourselves to really celebrate Christmas since then, but it’s been an internal struggle for us; we love this holiday! The music, the lights, the festivities are all wonderful to us, so we can’t help but love them, but we also hate the day. Mr. X cheered everyone up at the funeral by ending his eulogy for my little mo with something to the effect of, “Now May Rose will forever be a part of Christmas,” which she would have loved. So, we’re trying to buck-up a bit this year, because that’s what she would have wanted us to do. We’re just taking baby steps. Small trinkets and such from caring pals have helped us, and we have a cute little display going which features all of their decoration gifts, rather than our own former grander ones. And we’re fine with that.]

I didn’t even mean to tell you all that, but now that I took the time to write it, I’m letting it stand, and moving on to, hopefully, bringing the room up again!

So, I just want to wish you all a very Happy Holiday, no matter which one(s) you celebrate. If it’s Chanukkah, please save a potato latke for me!

And since Christmas falls on a Sunday this year, (which means that most of us don’t get the day of the actual holiday off from work,) I’m taking Monday off.  That day is a real holiday in Canada—Boxing Day—so my Canadian readers will be joining me in that hiatus.  And then I’ll meet all of you back here on Tuesday.

Have a great one! And be safe!