Ooh That Smell

Happy Hanukkah from Tennessee!

I hope all of my Jewish friends here on DU are enjoying a wonderful second night of the festival of light. I just wanted to share a small story that, to me, made me smile this morning.

My son, who is currently 14, became very close friends with a boy in preschool who happened to be Jewish and as a result he became very interested in Jewish traditions and holidays, particularly because there were school holidays for Jewish holidays in the area of the country we lived in at that time. He and his friend have remained close despite the distance between them. My son, has, similarly, continued to nurture his interests in other cultures and traditions since moving here to TN several years ago.

Anyway, I took him to school this morning, as I do a couple of days a week, and it's our habit to stop for breakfast on the way to school. This morning as we were eating breakfast in a fast food joint we frequent, they were playing holiday music overhead. Not just Christmas music, but Hanukkah songs alternating with Christmas songs. Now my son is a virtual mini-me in his liberalism and he has no issues making sarcastic comments at times about the evangelical trends in our area. But this morning, his eyes lit up when the first Hanukkah song played....then the second, then the third...he loved every minute of hearing those songs and having a tiny little celebration of the season over breakfast, in an area of the country that isn't known for such things. In truth, it's the first time I had experienced it myself and I grew up here.

Tonight, as you light the candles of the menorah. I hope those of you who celebrate this holiday know that there are non-Jews who are out here, holding you in our hearts and celebrating this season of light in darkness. We love you and yours

Happy Hanukkah to all who celebrate!