Yes, Virginia...

I believe in the Easter Bunny. I saw him when I was a child and I can't be convinced otherwise. As for Chanukah Charlie, who I've brought to life for our children, the Tooth Fairy and Santa Claus, they're a different story.

Our son asks me if they're real and I hedge. Sometimes I say they're real in our imaginations (he hasn't caught on to that yet). Or I say if he believes in them they're real. Why spoil the fun?

And who wouldn't want to believe in Santa? A jolly fellow who bestows gifts on all good people. Doesn't he represent all that is decent and kind in this world? All that is fair and holy? I'm just not sure about the whole breaking and entering part...

Chanukah Charlie was here

We've reached the point during Chanukah where I muse about converting. Not due to doctrine. I just figure christians have the right idea, getting the whole shebang over with in one day.

Eight nights is killing me. I try to spread gifts from family across the holiday, but I do make sure there's one for each night. So I go overboard. Compensating for the fact that our son is the token Jew in his class. It's my fault, really.

Still, it drives me mad when no sooner have they unwrapped the night's gift than they are asking what's next? Who's gift do we open tomorrow? Then when we're all done our son whines because we don't celebrate Christmas. I explain they'd get far less booty if we did, and I get frustrated with the greedy little monsters I've created. They do say "thank you" and genuinely like this year's haul. Thank heaven, because there's no way in hell I'm up for the Eucharist.

Ode to a Grecian Formula 16 Urn

Fifty plus years of
everyday use
first turned the pate
orange
never it's original black
now sandy-colored and brittle
at least he's not
pilgarlic