By Susan Lesh
I won’t kid you…I’m feeling a little stressed right now. There are lots of get-togethers happening, and parties and gift-giving, and family togetherness…and, um, I like it all but it makes me a little jumpy, too.
While every event has much anticipation, particularly at the beginning of the month when it’s all anticipation, many of the events are crowded into the next couple of weeks. I love baking the special recipes that fill the kitchen with smells that evoke my childhood and memories of Mom and Grandma. My mother’s family owned a bakery in Scranton when she was little and we have the recipe for the special cut-outs—the recipe makes 30 dozen cookies. I remember spending all day with my mom getting to choose the cookie cutters and eventually making it to decorating the cookies. I love the cookie-exchange party now, where I make 10 dozen cookies, all the same kind, but come home with 10 dozen assorted cookies.
With both Mom and Dad gone now, the holidays going forward will be different. We’re going to all be together in Florida this year. I’m looking forward to being with everyone, but am aware that “too much of a good thing” could occur, so will try to remember to give space to my loved ones, especially in the mornings when we are caffeine-deprived! I will try to remember that I don’t need to have the last word in every conversation and I will try to remember to breathe.
My wishes for you, my Ethical community, are that you relax, rejuvenate, and enjoy. See you in the new year!
Susan Lesh is president of the Ethical Culture Society of Bergen County.
