Tonight is the last night of Hanukkah. and since the Grands are on the road for a well-needed weekend getaway, we’ll probably have a quiet evening with the Crown on Netflix. Later, I’ll light up all eight candles in our kitschy, electric Menorah, an artifact of the 70s. Steven Fine, an author and director of the Yeshiva University Center for Israel Studies, has a special interest in the symbolism of menorahs:
Becoming not only Judaism’s oldest symbol, but also the Western world’s oldest continuously used religious symbol, the menorah once stood in the Holy Temple of Jerusalem. The seven-branched candelabrum (nine-branched for Hanukkah) has been a source of fascination and illumination for Jews, Samaritans, Christians and also Freemasons for three millennia.
I love menorahs and I love light and I love objects and I love text, and they all have to go together to get me really excited. And when they do, its really almost a moment of revelation.
https://www.timesofisrael.com/7-facts-about-menorahs-the-most-enduring-symbol-of-the-jewish-people/
I love my menorah too! Yes, there are nine branches and only eight nights, but that’s because one special, usually taller candle is used to light all the others – called the “shamash;” I remember because when pronounced a bit differently, it means James in Irish!
Our holiday cards are in the mail and we’re all masked up! In fact, the Groom is in his Covid ICU space suit. In a year of dramatic differences, I’ve noticed my friends are all doing the holiday season a little differently. Some have opted not to put up a Christmas tree at all, or they’ve replaced the big one for a smaller version. Others have gone all out with outside lights and blow-up snowmen. I used to find a small fir tree at Whole Foods for the Groom to put up, since my daughter always worked that day like her Dad, and I knew he’d need a little Christmas when the Grands were babies.
Last weekend, he and the Bug picked out a similar, smaller tree and decorated it with many of those original tiny, wooden, non-denominational ornaments, but she has put in her order for a bigger conifer next year! So, this is their last baby tree I guess.
It’s almost a “laissez faire” kind of holiday season. It’s as if we’ve all adopted a communal policy of non-interference in private conduct and individual freedom – and/or governmental affairs. It literally means to “allow to act,” or if laissez faire were a song, “Let It Be” would come to mind. Some people think the virus is a hoax so they refuse to wear masks, well I refuse to hold onto my anger anymore. If they want to go to Costco showing their face, great, I’ll get a Shipt order. Or, Mr T is still ranting and raving about a rigged election? That’s nice, it doesn’t bother me.
You’re not baking a bunch of cookies this year? That’s just fine, you do you! I made almost 50 mini-pumpkin muffins yesterday simply because the Love Bug gave me a bottle of pumpkin spice blend! Maybe I’m just tired of the political and personal chaos. I feel that whatever gets us through this year is good; I never actually Marie Kondoed my closets… even though every day I woke up thinking, “This will be the day!”
Today was the day I wanted to call Great Grandma Ada. The Bride got her first shot of the Pfizer vaccine this afternoon! She found out she received a placebo in the Moderna study. Yesterday her shift in the ER was filled with Covid patients. I wanted to cry, with happiness, with relief. I can see the light in the darkness, I can believe in miracles. The Groom will receive his vaccine at Vandy on Monday. Better it couldn’t be.
MountainMornings 
You know, my husband has to go to the hospital three times a week for dialysis and throughout this covid year those visits have been fraught with stress – to the hospital, where the covid patients are! I cannot even imagine how much more stressful it must have been for you with so many family members being health professionals and up to their eyes in it nearly 24/7! It must be such a tremendous relief that the vaccine is here at last and offers a measure of protection and hope!
Yes, the holidays are vastly different this year. I have chosen to find joy in the fact that we are still here, still relatively healthy and safe. I will save the big celebration for when I can finally have that big family dinner my heart’s been longing for.
Oh Carol I had no idea. I’m sure the dialysis unit was quite safe, it’s just getting there, walking thru the hospital and the elevator. May this new year bring you both continued health and that big family dinner we are all dreaming about and I’m sorry I ever complained about all the work! We must stay the course for a few months more. Hugs and love, Chris
Don’t you worry about that. I tend to assume people have been reading along haha (so presumptuous haha) Yes, it is the walking through the hospital, the elevator, etc. that causes a fair bit of anxiety. And there were a couple of cases of covid on the dialysis unit. Hubby’s been tested a couple of times and so far, so good – all negative results. I only brought it up because I know the stress we live with and imagine it is multiplied that many more times when you have family who work in health care., all day, every day. It’s got to be hard. And by the way we appreciate our health care workers so very much, especially when governments don’t do enough to keep the case loads from climbing. It’s got to be so frustrating! You have every right to complain!
At any rate, I do wish you & yours all the best and even though it will be a very different Christmas, I hope you all enjoy it.
thanks for your kind words, sending love and hugs to you as well.