When I was a child, Hannukah was over in the blink of an eye.

At first, my siblings and I each got a bit of something on each of the eight nights. Eventually, as we got older and our tastes got more expensive, there was an amount that we were each "given". If that ended up being one present, it was one present. If we were lucky, we had something to open on several nights. Regardless, the holiday flew by way too quickly.

This year, however, Hannukah seemed to take forever.

I couldn't figure out why this year seemed so much longer than last year (the first time Eric, Dylan and I fully celebrated the holiday) until I realized that last year, I was pretty sick during it (ending up in the ER one evening) and Eric and I got presents, too (finances being a bit tight this year prevented our exchange).

But this holiday, we lit all the candles. Dylan was old enough to appreciate the opening of gifts each night. And then we had one day "off" before we saw my family on Christmas eve and Eric's on Christmas day for more presents (I know, you're thinking, "but wait...you're a Jew...why is your family celebrating Christmas??" The answer is that everyone in my generation married gentiles. Therefore, they're used to some sort of something and it was close enough to Hannukah...well, you get the idea).

It was lots of excitement and lots of family and lots of running around.

But towards the end, I could see Dylan starting to glaze over. And I worried at how the change in routine and such would affect her. We're sort of back to normal, though. She's slept a bit longer, ate a bit less and seems to fighting a cold (with a slight fever). But all in all, we survived. And next year, there's a fairly decent break between the two festivals which should (hopefully) help emiminate some of the strain.

I know I sound like I'm kvetching quite a bit so let me clarify that the vast majority was wonderful. I got to see and hear from family and friends around the world. Life was good.

I hope you all have had a fabulous holiday season as well.

:^)


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Just Read:
~Heart Seizure by Bill Fitzhugh
~Again, Dangerous Visions edited by Harlan Ellison

Reading:
~The Mystic Foundation by Christopher Penczak
~Fairy Tales by Hans Christian Anderson

Going to Read:
~Hannibal Rising by Thomas Harris
~A Child's Christmas in Wales by Dylan Thomas (still on the potential)