Hanukkah and Christmas converge

I've been Jewish for nearly twenty years now, and though I can't imagine being anything else, I have to admit there's something about Christmas that gets me. Maybe it's the memories of my own childhood. I remember, as a little girl, getting into the car with my mom and sister and brothers on Christmas Eve to go to the local fire station to buy a Christmas tree. By Christmas Eve the pickin's were slim, but it didn't matter- they were also affordable. We'd go back to our house - I particularly remember doing this in Warner Robins, Georgia- on the Air Force base- and spend the evening decorating the tree. The best years were the few where we were able to visit Grandmom and Grandpop in New Jersey. We'd all gather at their house along with aunts, uncles, and cousins on Christmas Eve. We'd cram in around the dining room table for good food and lots of laughter- Grandmom filling our bellies - often tossing the few leftover vegetables on top of dessert, and Grandpop filling our souls with his funny, poignant stories. After dinner, we'd all help clear the table, and Grandpop would wash the dishes while we fought over who would be his dish dryer. With plenty of dishtowels to go around, we all helped. Finally, we'd adjourn into the living room, where a tall evergreen stood next to the stairs, and Santa Claus would come to hand out presents. Grandmom would get talked into playing the piano, and we'd sing at the top of our lungs. Though we've made our own Hanukkah memories over the years, the Christmas ones from my childhood are irreplaceable. These days when I find myself in the car on the way to who knows where, I often turn up the radio, and I swear I hear Grandmom on the piano and Grandpop leading the rest of us in singing those old tunes I remember so well, and I have to sing along. Merry Christmas everyone!