Tag Archives: Hannuka

Suspense

Posted on December 24, 2006 | Comments Off on Suspense

Here at the Rancho we celebrate both Hannuka and Christmas, and so Mr. Boy has a busy month of anticipation. We started with the candles and reading and telling and explaining the Maccabee story, which he always has questions about. Then, concurrently, we moved on to buying the tree, decorating it, wrapping packages and waiting for the mailman to bring more. Lately Mr. B.’s idea of fun has been to lie on the rug beside the packages under the tree and dream out loud about what might be in them, and what Santa might be willing to add to the anticipated pile of loot. We still credit Santa with largess around here, although I believe we are on the tipping point, as they say, of knowing better. It’s a blessing, meanwhile, that the suspense finally is reaching a crescendo–especally as it is cold and rainy outside and there’s very little to do except wait for tomorrow morning to arrive.

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Posted in Mr. Boy

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On the other hand…

Posted on December 15, 2006 | Comments Off on On the other hand…

Why not a big menorah at Seattle-Tacoma airport? Lord knows, we could use some miracles. Apparently there will be one lit tonight at sundown, and every night through next Friday, at the Washington state capitol in Olympia, and there are other public ones around the country. It doesn’t have to be either-or, Christmas trees (or for that matter, manger scenes) or menorahs. Why not both? Why not a Muslim crescent or three during Ramadan? It could get out of hand, but it doesn’t need to, with a little common sense. The constitution says we have freedom OF religion here, not freedom FROM religion. Chabad-Lubivitch, for which I have had a soft spot since a memorable seder at Chabad House on the UT campus, has their side of what happened in the Sea-Tac airport controversy, and a good overall argument for religious pluralism here.  And as for Hannuka, which begins tonight, you can Google up your own explanation if you need one, but this short Flash movie commentary is a winner by itself.

Inspiration by the good folks at No Left Turns 

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Posted in Scribbles

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