Beam Me Up, Scotty!

Just back from my long weekend in Florida. IT’S COLD OUTSIDE! Yuck. I need a vacation from my vacation.

So... the holiday season is here, and I guess you could say that I’m feeling a bit, BAH HUMBUG right now. When you are Jewish, Christmas always feels like you are an outsider at someone else’s party. When I was growing up, we always gave each other the obligatory holiday present, and we even wrapped it if we were feeling generous. Don't get me wrong. We really loved each other, but usually the gift giving usually involved wrapping the present in a brown paper bag and putting it behind your back and yelling, “SURPRISE”, or something along those lines. Maybe it was the lack of a Christmas tree and lights and those cute little nativity scenes. I mean, face it. A “Hanukkah bush” and a song about a stupid spinning top just doesn’t have the same effect!

A few years ago, my boyfriend, (who is English and not Jewish & is now my current husband), was getting ready for a visit from his 2 little daughters who live in California. We weren’t living together yet, but since he didn’t have cats, (like me), we decided to get a Christmas tree and show the girls a true New York Christmas with all the trimmings. We spent over 2 hours picking out “my-first-ever” Christmas tree. (What do I know from trees?) Then I went out and got every decoration that I could get my hands on in New York City. It was then that I made the observation. No wonder they are so popular. CHRISTMAS ORNAMENTS ARE LIKE CHRISTIAN TCHOTCHKES!

Definition for those of you who live in non-ethnic areas: tchotchke\CHOTCH-kuh\, noun [Colloquial]: A trinket; a knickknack; a gewgaw.

The girls are visiting again this year. But we have 2 young cats that would tear down any tree and tinsel. And honestly, maybe I'm over it a little bit. But for the sake of the girls, I'm dusting off my favorite tchochkes and ornaments, putting them up out of the reach of the cats, and because I'm THE LAST GIRL ON EARTH, I'll put on my, "Gee, isn't it a beautiful season face" and show them that this non-practicing, non-religious Jewish girl knows the words to almost every Christmas carol, and a couple of tunes about spinning tops that I'd be willing to teach them if they ask!