Lovely story, Ivan. It's the small pleasures, don't you
think, that make it all worthwhile? Happy Holidays! Carole
--- Ivan M Suzman <[log in to unmask]> wrote:
> Hi folks,
>
> Just to let you all know that you are the greatest
> FAMILY
> anyone could ask for I am getting SO much support-
> thank you for being there.
>
> I couldn't possibly lay on that log like a dead ol' bump
> for long. I've made it back to the snail stage already.
>
> We (the part-time caregiver team and I) have wrapped
> the presents - PD-style- hung the stocking by the
> chimney, by jim'ney.
>
> Ther's MORE.. get this: I {not "we"} am baking
> APPLE PIE for Santa and his "thirtry-two feet and eight
> little
> tails of white"..
>
> So now I have to roll over into the TWAH (that's a new
> Beckerism) - XMAS - KWANZAA - JOYEUX NOEL -
> HAPPY NEW YEAR - BLESSED RAMADAN -
> may the Holy Spirit bless you mode.
>
> I'm going to try and get to a candlelight service
> at a little tiny community church tonight -
>
> First though, I would like to share something
> very personal and very special...I hope you like it.
>
> I did manage to sing the solo to Rock of Ages
> three times (Dec 10 -12 ) in tuxedo, for my
> chorus's Holiday Concert. I read this narration first:
>
>
> BEING JEWISH IN
> DECEMBER
>
>
> Being Jewish, December always provides me
> with the joys of
> the Festival of
> Lights, or Chanukah. Even as a small child, the
> excitement of eight
> days of gift exchanges,
> the magic of lighting the bright, colored candles of the
> Chanukah
> candelabra, or Menorah, and the tradition of singing
> joyous Hebrew songs
> of praise all gave me a special appreciation of
> my unique, ancient, Old Testament-based roots,.
>
> Growing up in Providence, Rhode Island,
> Christian-oriented
> society that surrounded me marked December with displays
> of beautiful
> lights, Christmas carols on the radio throughout
> Christmas Eve, family
> gatherings on Christmas Day, relief from the pressures of
> school work,
> and most of all, a special spark and excitement that only
> Christmas
> brings.
>
> Many front windows in my own neighborhood
> were filled with
> silhouettes of tall trees and their shimmering lights.
> While all this
> was going on, my brothers and I gathered night after
> night in the
> kitchen, to eat supper with our parents, and to exchange
> gifts. My
> mother's sister, my uncle and my first cousins were
> celebrating in the
> house next door, while my mother's parents also were
> celebrating, in
> their apartment directly over ours.
>
> Delicious potato pancakes, or latkes, made
> from Old World
> recipes that have survived for
> generations, were being enjoyed in all three households.
> These were
> served piping hot, with liberal amounts of either apple
> sauce, or sour
> cream. Gradually, the glow of the menorah, with one new
> candle added each
> night after sundown, became so bright that electric
> lights were virtually
> unnecessary.
>
> Knowing that the miraculous ancient Temple oil
> burned for eight
> days instead of one, my brothers and I watched the
> candles like hawks,
> seeing which one would last the longest, and wondering
> and even betting
> on which candle would be the last to go out! Somehow, in
> our Rhode
> Island menorah, a modern Chanukah miracle seemed to be
> very , very
> possible.
>
> Ivan Suzman, Portland,
> Maine
> December 7th, 1999.
>
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