|
|
I went over my cousins' house last week to celebrate Hanukkah. Very fun time, lighting candles and spoiling my 5-and 4-syear old godchildren with presents.
While I was putting together 4-year-old Arden's "Color Me Cardboard Castle," her 5- year-old brother, Hudson, engaged me in a philosophical discussion about holidays. Now that he's in kindergarten, he's interested in all the different kinds of families out there.
"Aunt Cousin Daryn," that's what they call me, "Does your family celebrate Hanukkah or Christmas?"
I thought about it for a second and said, "Well, actually a little of both."
He was having none of that. "No. You have to choose," he informed me. "You can't do both."
"Well, Hudson," I replied. "Actually, you can."
"No. No you can't. Which one does your family celebrate? Hanukkah or Christmas?" Clearly Aunt Cousin Daryn couldn't hear or is senile or something.
"A little of both," I again replied.
"Noooooooo!" Now he was half-laughing, half-getting frustrated with silly Aunt Cousin Daryn.
We did a couple rounds of this when Hudson decided to take a different tactic. He decided to break it down into basic elements. Maybe wacky Aunt Cousin Daryn could understand that way. "Do you have a Christmas tree?" he quizzed me. Why did I feel like I was on the witness stand being cross-examined?
"Turns out, I don't," I answered honestly. (the reason why is a story for another blog entry.)
"See, then!" my junior detective godson declared. "You celebrate Hanukkah!" There was such a spirit of "Case closed!" in his voice. That sense of assuredness didn't last long.
"Yes, but aren't you and your family coming to my house to celebrate on Christmas Day?" You bet they are and the kids are very excited about this.
Now, he was stumped. I don't think his 5 year-old brain has yet wrapped his brain around this holiday thing. He wants it to be like teams. You're either on the Hanukkah Team or the Christmas Team. You gotta pick!
I don't blame Hudson. A lot of grown ups are like that, too. Not so much about holidays. But about life. You gotta pick.
That's just never worked for me. Even when I was a kid, I didn't go for the the group/clique system. I never did pick just one group to hang out with. I've always had all types of friends. True as an adult, as well. My people come in just about every color, shape, size, religion, gender, sexuality, political belief, and ice cream flavor preference.
I know it makes some people uncomfortable. "You gotta pick," they seem to say.
Uh, actually I don't.
Something tells me that has a thing or two to do with the success of this website. I hear from left-leaning enviromentalists who say, "Thank you for creating a site for us!" And I hear from right wing conservatives who say, "Thank you for creating a site for us!" Yeah, some of you would be pretty surprised by the company you are keeping when you stop by DarynKagan.com.
Hey, it works for me. So go ahead. Pick your team if that works for you. But, just know you are all welcome here.
Gotta wrap this one up. I'm off to see another godchild's Christmas recital. Then, I have some house stuff to do. Time to put the menorah away and get out all the Christmas decorations. Hudson has put in a special request: he wants to see lots of Christmas lights all around Aunt Cousin Daryn's house.
You got it, buddy.
|
|
|
