[Magdalen] Home for the Holidays.

[James Handsfield]

This year, I could not face Thanksgiving at home without Marcy, so Matthew and I went to Hawaii and had a wonderful time with my brother and his family including my niece and two grand nephews.  We took the elder for his first SCUBA experience, which he loved.

Same for Christmas so Matthew and I will be on an eastern Caribbean cruise over Christmas.

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Education is its own reward, both for the individual and for society.

Jim Handsfield
jhandsfield at att.net

> On Nov 30, 2016, at 9:52 AM, Cantor03--- via Magdalen <magdalen at herberthouse.org> wrote:
> 
> 
> 
> This is not an unique observation, but for some reason I've been more
> aware this year of the portrayal of the Christmas holiday as extremely  
> important
> to families but this does not translate into even the slightest realization 
> of the real essence of the holiday.
> 
> There are a half dozen series that I follow on television and  Christmas is
> always featured as very important to the characters, but never is  there
> any idea of participating in religious observances which are the  foundation
> of the holiday.
> 
> Christmas trees and decorations are prominently displayed, and there  are
> often subplots involving Santa Klaus.  Families fight tooth and nail  to get
> together for the holiday usually portrayed on Christmas Eve.
> 
> I am reminded of the three medical residents assigned to my area
> over the Christmas holiday whom I observed having a heavy duty  argument
> over who would be off for the holiday.  One was Jewish, one was
> Moslem, and one was Hindu.
> 
> Such is Christmas in North America.
> 
> 
> 
> David S.