Season's Greetings

Recently one of my girlfriends turned me on to the idea of hanging a holiday wreath. Before this year I had never considered putting up any holiday decor. Not on my apartment door like other city dwellers, not anywhere. It just wasn't my vibe. And I'm Jewish. There aren't a ton of Hanukkah decorations I'd be into displaying. But now that I'm in the burbs, it feels homey and festive to do something. When my friend brought up wreaths I was intrigued. It hadn't occurred to me to even consider it. "Can Jews do wreaths?" I asked. And of course the answer is an astounding yes. Some decorations, like wreaths, can be non denominational. And really we should all be open to everything.

I was feeling open and into wreaths when I spotted a bunch at my local grocery store. I picked one up for further inspection and an older lady approached me and remarked how beautiful it was. "Fresh herbs?" she asked. "I have no idea," was my reply. We chatted. She encouraged me to get it, it was so special. (She didn't work at the market, I swear!) We really bonded, me and my new friend. I explained it would be my first ever wreath. I asked her how to go about hanging it. She advised a nail in my front door, advice I promptly decided to ignore but nonetheless appreciated. We agreed the wreath was just so lovely and I said: "I need this right now." She replied, of course, "We all do."

I placed said wreath in my cart and did my shopping. When I was about to check out my wreath buddy approached me again. She wanted to tell me she was so enchanted by The Wreath, she had gotten one for her daughter. Her daughter, too, had never had holiday decor before. I thanked my new bestie for telling me, and we spoke about appreciating each other's kindness. We said we would think of each other and we wished each other well. I know I'll think of her when I hang my wreath -- on a hook, next to my door -- this year and perhaps for many years to come. Our encounter was one of true holiday spirit.

AES