Category: Uncategorized

This year, I thought I would take stock of what I do and don’t do at Christmas, any more.  I find that I don’t do more than I do do.  Sometimes, this makes me sad.  Truth be told, so many of these things were things that Larry did for the holidays.

 This past week, I’ve had the pleasure of listening to the Civic Center building carillon.  Volunteers from all walks of life spend their precious holiday time going to the Civic Center in downtown Denver to entertain the visitors to the Center by playing holiday music for almost an hour.  Some of them, like my friend, have been doing it for years.

Sometimes, this happens.  I get to 8:40 at night on Tuesday and suddenly am hit with the realization that I have a BLOG to write. Talking with sister Clara in her Texas (I’ve told you that we talk every day – sometimes for more than an hour), it hit me.  BLOG!  Capital letters – BLOG!  I asked Clara what I should write about, tonight.  I have four hours before I post for tomorrow’s Cranky Crone News.  Only four hours.  It takes that long to edit and correct a blog – usually.

Her response was quick.  Write about waking me up from sound sleep just to talk.  “You mean, Waking the Bear from her Lair?”  Good idea.  So here it is. 

Dear Readers,
This month is a set of three acrostic poems for the holidays.
M

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Christ Child.
Holly.
Reindeer.
Immaneul.
Santa Claus.
Trees.
Mistletoe.
Apples with clove spices.
Sleigh.

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Candles in the menorah.
Helper candle that lights the other eight.
An event celebrating the dedication of the Temple.
Undeniably delicious latkes.
Kids play dreidel and win gelt coins made of chocolate.
A band of Jewish warriors of the Maccabees, who   regained the Temple.
Hanukkah is another way to spell Chanukah.

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Kinara – a candle holder.
White, Black, Yellow, Red (and all hues in between) – all can celebrate.
African and American cultures.
Nation, race, family, community – strive for and maintain unity.
Zawadi is gift giving.
African heritage dancers.
All may join.

Jose Alberto Dueñas
CEO
Einstein Bros. Bagels, Panera Bread, Caribou
JAB Holding?
1720 Bellaire Street
Ste:  Skybox
Denver, Colorado 80220
Subject:  Policy of no seats at Einstein Bros. Bagel Stores
Dear Mr. Dueñas:

Years ago, I worked at National Jewish Hospital (remember that I’ve had a varied and chequered work career) teaching children who had quite literally been kicked out of first grade.  The five children had rejected being in the classroom to which they were assigned; at that time, there were only two classes for the children (first through eighth and high school) who were all patients with respiratory disease, such as asthma.  Having been rejected by the children, the teacher was allowed to reject the children.  I was hired to teach these children in a separate classroom.

The Left Leg and the Right Leg walked to the Tahoe.

“I’m so excited,” said Left Leg.  “This means we are going somewhere.  I’m sick of being in that house for days and days.  I’m glad she is well enough to go out, these days.”

“Yep.  I’m real tired of this.  We can’t exercise.  We can’t go up and down stairs, easily.  We can hardly walk.  I think we’re losing our grip,” replied Right Leg.

And, the conversation continued.

Years ago, when I was the school super in a small Eastern Colorado town, my school librarian was expecting her fifth (I think, fifth) child.  When a school district is as small as mine, it is not always easy to find new staff members.  So, you keep them, if possible.  As well, child care is not as available as it is in the big city.

 Lady came to live with me four years ago.  Two years after Larry’s passing.  I’ve talked a lot about her in my BLOGs.  You’ve seen photographs of Katie and Paisley and Katie.  She left me, yesterday, November 3.  I felt that I had to let her go. .

I had planned to do other things this weekend, but spent almost the entire week going to Lady’s personal vet and, then, the VRCC.