Category: Seasons
Adding more holidays
Caitlyn came home from school last week and announced, “It’s the first day of Hanukkah! Can we light candles?” I figured, why not? So, our non-Jewish household has been lighting candles at dinnertime for the last week, one more each night. We’ve made a circle of tea lights since we don’t have a menorah, and Caitlyn – without any prompting – changes out the old lights for new ones every morning. I’ve found some blessings to read, and we’ve talked about Maccabees and miracles. This morning, Caitlyn asked for a menorah for Christmas. So, she hasn’t thrown out the other …
Inventing Traditions
I enjoyed Christmas as a kid – what child doesn’t like presents and a party? But it’s only recently (yes, and belatedly) occurred to me that I haven’t really done anything to make sure Caitlyn will be able to say the same in 20 years. Traditions, apparently, don’t make themselves. After moving out for college, I always went back home for Christmas. I wasn’t responsible for shaping the holiday there, and by then the patterns were pretty much set. When we didn’t go to my family’s home, Ian and I went somewhere else where we still weren’t responsible, leaving the …
Making Pretty Lights
About the time the email discussion of How We Would Do Thanksgiving This Year got started last month, I saw this over at Uncommon Grace. We were discussing food, as one does, and spreading out the cooking responsibilities and I suggested that maybe, in addition to potatoes and pie, we could have a craft table set up. While most of the family members are quite happy to sit around and talk, Caitlyn doesn’t see the appeal. I thought having a creative space might keep her from being too much underfoot in the kitchen or from jumping on the couch unsupervised. …
What if…
I have this fantasy about melting snow: Imagine you have some snow on the ground. Seattle snow. Midwestern snow would be too deep. Now imagine that it all melts, all at once. Instantly. Like someone used the Clapper and instead of turning on a light, all the snow was immediately liquid. Now imagine the split second when the water is all standing where the snow had been, all still and quiet, like the water’s a little surprised to be Not Snow. Then, it all suddenly rushes away. It’s somewhere between that Parting of the Red Sea scene in The Ten …
Thanksgiving Snow Days
One of the things I enjoy about a good snowfall in Seattle is how it shuts things down. We live a block off an arterial road, and when we’ve had a good snow fall, the volume of traffic drops significantly. There were occasional cars on it yesterday, but mostly just the big trucks interspersed with stretches of quiet. Today – probably due to the holiday since I’m not sure the road is really all that much safer – the cars and their constant hum are back. Snow provides an excuse. I’m behind on my pre-holiday to-do list because it was …