Winter break, then and now
I honestly cannot remember the first time I realized that I had winter vacation, but I am sure it involved going to Grossinger’s or the Concord. When we went to Grossinger’s with my paternal grandparents, we stayed in the Harry G. When we went without them, we stayed in the Jenny G. Something about the rooms that were closer to the dining room were in the Harry G, which made it the most desirable and the most expensive.
What do I remember about going to Grossinger’s? The ice skating lessons that I really enjoyed, and not just because I got hot chocolate with whipped cream when they were over. I really loved skating and even learned how to spin. And I distinctly remember coming home and trying on my roller skates that I had gotten for Chanukah, and being able to wear them and skate around the basement because of what I learned in ice skating lessons. I know, this is compelling stuff — you don’t have to tell me.
As I got older, I think we went to the Concord more. When my grandparents came, we got two rooms, and when it was just my parents and the three kids, we got a room that had two full bathrooms in it. One for my mom and one for the rest of us.
Because my mom was so crazy about germs, my dad would have to Lysol the toilets before we could use them. Why? I don’t know. But any hotel we went to — whether it was nice, not as nice, or even really, really nice — no one could use the toilet until dad Lysoled it. It’s actually a pretty funny memory. And a tradition that none of us kept, well, at least not my family and in some of those places we stayed in on our road trips, the toilets needed a lot more than just Lysol, but that is a whole other story.
I can really just fast forward to winter vacations with the kids. We took them on two cruises, both of which were really inexpensive and really fun. And it was a really good thing we took them all those years ago because Lord knows they wouldn’t go on a cruise now. And there is nothing wrong with that.
We took them to see their grandparents in Boynton Beach a couple of times. Sometimes I went with them and sometimes I stayed back with my parents and let them all fend for themselves.
Then there were the two or three trips we just took with Son #3 that included Boynton and Miami Beach. Those were lots of fun, even though we missed Sons #1 and #2. Husband #1 and I always love spending time with our baby — he happens to be a lot of fun to share a room with.
And then, Baruch Hashem, our “empty nest” winter vacations. We really could take them any time, but because I was babysitting for my surrogate granddaughter, we would go away when they went away. And now, I babysit for new surrogate grandchildren, and they have a different vacation than my actual grandchildren. So Husband #1, for my birthday and because he is soooooo wonderful (seven “o’s” worth of wonderful) is sending me to California to see my favorite sister for four nights and three days during the kids’ winter break.
God willing, when I come home on Wednesday, I get Strudel and her sister until their winter break is over the following Tuesday. Which means, not that you really care, that I have to take two days off to run the full Camp Babka winter session. (Don’t worry, I cleared it with my bosses when, at my interview, I informed them that my real grandchildren come first and I would have to take off to help them. Why they don’t all have the same winter break is totally beyond me, but it is what it is.)
So, thank God, lots of good things coming up. I have about 100 restaurants in Los Angeles to try out and I am only there for three lunches and three dinners, so hopefully we will pick good ones.
Husband #1 and I were talking to someone at the men’s club kiddish about vacations in Israel and places to live. Apparently, there is a “senior living” chain called Ad Meah V’esrim — which translates to Until 120 — as in you should live in good health til 120. Husband #1 asked if they guarantee that in the contract, and the man we were talking to said I should put that line in my column because Husband #1 is so funny. So there it is.
One day, we all might be winter breaking in Israel, but no matter where you are, home or away, it should just be in good health.
Banji Ganchrow of Teaneck has lots of exciting things planned for Camp Babka winter edition. She hopes all the campers will be happy and no one will want their money back.
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