One exciting aspect of the city is that New York has a very large Jewish community sharing it's tradition of Chanukah at the same time that Christians in the city are celebrating Christmas. Last night we came across a bus (think RV) sponsored by an Orthodox Jewish organization called the Mitzvah Tank. The bus loudly played Jewish holiday music from its speakers and young men from the synagogue walked along the street cheerfully asking, "Excuse me, are you Jewish?" I was with Hunter and Jordan and urged them to check-out the festivities. Technically, your mother has to be Jewish for you to be Jewish, so when the young man asked Jordan if she was Jewish and she answered, "Well, my father is half Jewish" I know he smiled to himself and invited her in more with the spirit of inclusion than anything else. Jordan and Hunter both emerged from the bus with jelly donuts and Jordan was given a new menorah to replace the one that we have in storage in Denver. Hunter said that when they were in the bus they were given literature on the history of Chanukah (choice of literature in English or Hebrew), offered a free menorah and donutes, and several of the volunteers were dancing. Just looking at the bus from afar and the happy volunteers made me smile.
Evergreen Lake is the diamond of Evergreen. All three of my children learned to ice skate on the lake and we already miss it.. Cameron's school spent their last day before Christmas break at Wolman Ice Rink in Central Park. Cameron challenged a friend to a race on the ice with a $4 hot chocolate as the prize. Jeremy is 6 feet tall to Cameron's 5'0" and she skated rings around him. If you learn to skate on natural ice with occassional giant cracks in the ice, slushy top ice, and deep gauges in the ice you suddenly become a super star skater when you get on man-made ice at a skating rink .Although we miss our beloved lake there is no denying the glory of skating in Central Park surrounded by towering skyscrapers.
Not even New York City can compare to the decorated splendor of Vail or Breckenridge over the holidays. Those cities build their identities on being magical Christmas villages. But I have certainly come across some dazzling displays on the sidewalks of the city. The other night I rode my bike over to townhouse where Cameron was spending the night to give her her contact lens solution and case and the family was outside putting on the final trimmings of a tree that they had created out of plastic lids (lids can't be recycled). I give it my vote as the most unique and inspired decoration of the season! The girls at the sleepover circled the tree and sang Christmas carols as the parents proudly watched the girls enjoying the fruits of their creativity.
And I know that New York is famous for it's holiday windows at famous retailers, but my favorite display is at a little Mom and Pop shop that does alterations. Barbie and her friends have never looked more glamourous!
We are embracing the spirit of "Viva la Difference"! Happy Holiday!
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