1. Loving Kindness
I know what you’re thinking, “aren’t you the skeptical cynic?” Yes, I am. However, this time of year, “I’d like to teach the world to sing in perfect harmony.” I wish people would stop talking about the war on Christmas and live the spirit of Christmas: love, compassion, mercy, goodness, kindness. “For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me. Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these you did for me.”
2. Snoopy Snow Cone Maker
Surely you are not surprised by this one. The kid in me still wants Snoopy to “Please Come Home for Christmas and if not for Christmas by New Year’s Night” – the Charles Brown original version of the song if you please.
UPDATE 12/25/2012: Wonders of Wonders. Miracles, Miracles. The nephew that used to kicked the ornaments off the tree bought his auntie a Snoopy Sno Cone Maker. See some wishes do come true! He grew up to be a good boy.
3. Realization of Dreams Deferred
I am human and do have some selfish wants. I would love to get a literary agent to get my books published. http://www.ronda-lee.com/
4. European Christmas Market Tour
I love Chicago’s Christkindl market modeled after German Christmas markets. One day, I’d like to spend a winter holiday visiting the European Christmas markets. Oh, I would come back with wonderful menu ideas for auntie’s Christmas Eve luncheon.
I just finished having Auntie Ronda’s Christmas Eve luncheon with my babies. We had a sit down luncheon of shrimp cilantro lime tomatillo on a bed of mixed greens, seafood gumbo, cod wrapped in bacon, and lobster mac-n-cheese. I made gingerbread cake. My aunt brought homemade sweet potato pie, peach cobbler. A friend that makes the BEST pound cake I ever had came through and made me a special mini loaf to take back to NYC. I still cut extra pieces from the big cake to take as a snack for the plane trip back. When she bakes her pound cake there is a line around the table.
It’s been a busy visit. As soon as I landed, I was on auntie duty, but I was happy. We had “no school Thursday Auntie day.” I took the nieces and nephew to Navy Pier’s Winter Wonderland and we went out for lunch. My oldest niece has taken the lead in heading up the cookie baking. No snow has really disrupted tradition. This makes two Christmases with no sledding. My young nephew is not pleased. In between paying homage to my babies, I had a chance to catch up with friends. They all commented that NY suited me.
Christmas Eve did live up to tradition. My youngest nephew requested a drum. Auntie bought him a marching snare drum. As my sister’s husband was helping him strap on the drum, her husband fell flat on the floor. He was sitting in one of those lawn chairs for skinny people. That chair snapped crackled and popped. He was on the floor. That in itself was funny, but it went from funny to outrageous when my sister tried to help him off the floor.
I flew back to NY Christmas evening. While in Chicago, I was driving north on Lake Shore Drive. My niece said, “Auntie, Chicago has a pretty skyline.” I replied that was so. She asked if NYC skyline was better than Chicago. I told her not to let a New Yorker hear her say that. As the pilot announced our landing, I looked out the window. There she was, the Statue of Liberty then the Empire State building, then the Chrysler, the bridges all aglow with lights. Yes, I was truly home. New York!
Ronda is an attorney, writer, and entrepreneur. She is a contributing writer for the Huffington Post. Originally from Chicago, she has lived in Los Angeles and New York. She loves to travel and is passionate about education equity, especially for first generation college students.