tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4550834460078686136.post1844493039839423235..comments2023-10-30T00:47:24.862-08:00Comments on NUTS (and seeds and truffles, oh my!): Let There Be Light!Anitahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09009039545530448682noreply@blogger.comBlogger3125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4550834460078686136.post-12291438895181288882009-12-21T08:22:51.325-09:002009-12-21T08:22:51.325-09:00I understand your bah humbug.
But what if we refu...I understand your bah humbug.<br /><br />But what if we refuse to let corporations or television or the attitudes of other people define what this time of year means to us? I have learned to overlook the ugliness of the malls (luckily not too many around here, but we do have a WalMart), the bastardization of the holiday spirit (all holidays!), and even the warping of Jesus' message that we should all be nice to each other (a radical idea!). <br /><br />To me, this time of year is about being with those we love when it's darkest (not as dark here as it is there, but the idea is the same) - lighting candles and little sparkling lights against the darkness, and remembering what is MOST important to us. For us, so far away from family, it's about families biological and chosen. We remember to tell people we love them, and that we feel lucky they are in our lives.<br /><br />This time of year, with a 5-year-old, is about watching how delighted he is by everything - the lighting of the Hanukah candles, putting ornaments on the Christmas tree, even being allowed for the first time to turn the tree on himself. He wrote an adorable letter to Santa, and only asked for one small toy.<br /><br />This time of year is about remembering how lucky we are in so many ways. Sam's birthday is in late November so he gets inundated at this time of year, but we try very hard to talk about giving, and donating, and he even went with me to a meditative food labyrinth at a local church and genuinely got something "spiritual" out of it, I think.<br /><br />This time of year is about song and dance and art. Even in our small town, we have been to more performances than we have Christmas parties - high school band concert, dance performance of The Nutcracker, local production of A Christmas Story, Sam's own dance class family show. I played music at his school last week and they organized the whole school's holiday party around my "concert." Last night I played for a holiday singalong at a community center north of here, emphasis on community!<br /><br />This time of year is about food too, and yes, not all of it is good for you. But really there is no need to eat MORE at this time of year. We (in our house) just allow ourselves indulgences that don't even exist at other times of year - rum balls, cutout cookies, eggnog. <br /><br />Anyway, I wish I was there to sample your wares, and to give you and your family a hug, and to light candles and sing songs with you.<br /><br />Sorry for the long comment, but your post really made me think about this question, of how we celebrate and why.<br /><br />Are you open in January? Tom will be in Anchorage and would like to make a road trip with a friend ...<br /><br />Love, love, love,<br />NancyNancyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17731528263638223144noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4550834460078686136.post-51132610723445119332009-12-20T18:17:40.350-09:002009-12-20T18:17:40.350-09:00and I wanted to wish you a quiet peaceful mini vac...and I wanted to wish you a quiet peaceful mini vacation, but I know it is unattainable at this stage of your life.<br />Love to you, Brian and Oliver Nathan.Momnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4550834460078686136.post-29137299986759976502009-12-20T17:59:46.169-09:002009-12-20T17:59:46.169-09:00research future vacation in a warm climate that do...research future vacation in a warm climate that doesn't celebrate Christmas, any suggestions? <br /><br />ISRAEL FOR ONE. OR ALMOST EVERYWHERE ON THE CONTINENT OF ASIA.<br /><br />Cheer up. As you pointed out, on December 22, the days start to get longer!Dadnoreply@blogger.com