Presents!

It’s the most wonderful time of the year, when Chanukah is here and Christmas music is playing on the radio. I know that we have the Maccabeats and such, but there is nothing like seasonal music. Currently, I am getting my hair colored, and there is a 24-hour Christmas music station playing in the background.

Who knew there were so many versions of Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer?  Sorry, what is a nice Jewish girl like me going on about Christmas music? Next. Back to Chanukah.

When you have children living in Israel, Chanukah becomes a very frustrating time of year. Especially when those children have children. Forget about the presents I used to get for my kids, I still got Strudel a whole bunch of stuff before she even knew what wrapping paper was.

But when your children’s children live 6,000 miles away, getting them presents is just added to the list of things that make you sad. Is sad the right word? I am happy that they are happy. God should watch over and be good to all our children. And yet I am sad that I can’t see them open presents and only want to play with the boxes or eat the ribbon or have them be so excited about something I got them that they hug me. Yes, sad is the right word.

I normally do not send things with folks who are going to Israel and are kind enough to ask me if they can bring anything. This is because those folks are usually not going anywhere close to where my children live. And my Oreos are not keen on traveling away from their gemaras. God bless them.

My Chanukah miracle this year is that one of my friends is going to be near my kids and I am sending under six pounds worth of presents with her. It doesn’t even matter that I won’t be able to see them open them or that Matzo Ball won’t know what to do with his present, but knowing that I am giving them something makes me a little less sad.

I told Husband #1 that next year, I want to spend a few months in Israel so I can be there for Chanukah, aka Israel Donut season. He said no. Because no one will be home to do his laundry or buy his Fanta. I have to assume there are other reasons, like who will give him his leftovers to microwave.

It is what it is. We all make choices. I chose to live six miles away from my parents so they could enjoy their grandchildren and my children chose differently. And that is okay. Or at least it will have to be.

And, for the record, it doesn’t make me feel better that so many people I know have kids living in Israel. I am sad for them too.

But you know me, I am all about the positive. The glass half full. And I will cherish Strudel and her family who live a car ride away. Granted it is a long, traffic-filled car ride, but if you don’t have to get there by plane, it is a true blessing.

This year Strudel wanted a watch, that for sure she will lose within 72 hours, and a camera, which for sure she will break within 72 hours, but that is okay because you can’t take it with you. And I love that kid (and her sisters and her parents).

I also discovered these pillow things from a company called Iscream. For example, it is a pillow that looks like a can of Pringles and inside the pillow are actual Pringle pillows and they aren’t choking hazards and machine washable! (Actually, I will have to check on the machine washable part.)

I went a little crazy on the website when they had a black Friday sale. I got Pringles, pickles, Oreos (how could I not?), donuts, sprinkle cookies, and a gumball machine pillow that has little heart-shaped pillows inside.

I know you probably have no idea what I am talking about, but I am telling you anyway. And hopefully the girls will be as excited about them as I was.

And that is all I got.

Banji Ganchrow of Teaneck is looking forward to making latkes for Strudel and her family. She also made her first babka that DIL #1 liked, so she will be making her another one. Happy Holidays, y’all!