I imagine being the therapies and trying to keep on a serious face:)

Not everyone has the privilege to enjoy a Christmas tree in their house during Christmas time and that was true for our family back in Romania while growing up. It was mostly lack of money masked under some religious excuse, but we knew it, understood it and… did something about it. Well, my brother Sergiu did something about it, we just brought our lists of requests to him knowing that he’ll take care of the rest, no questions asked. For those of you that don’t know yet, we were a large family of twelve children growing in luxurious poverty back in Romania, mostly due to our Christian status.

So you see, for us kids, in lieu of what the religious authorities believed, it was very important to have a Christmas Tree. It brought a spark of magic and joy and we needed every spark possible. So Sergiu, as usual, got to work and we would end up with a Christmas Tree or a large branch, or a crooked tree or a small ghostly looking tree, most likely the one nobody else wanted, but we didn’t care. We had our tree, and we loved it as if it were our best friend, decorating it the best we could. To this day a Christmas Tree is very important to me. It reminds me that magic and joy are still available. The lights on the tree and all those sparkly decorations bring out the kid in me that wants to jump up and down, clapping happily and laughing as if pain and disappointment no longer exist. I’m grateful that my brother Sergiu did not let past life circumstances interfere with our goals and came through every time:)

So enjoy that Christmas Tree, if you have one. If you don’t I hope you enjoyed this story:)

December 20 

In 1999 during Christmas time, Chet and I visited Romania and during Christmas Eve we joined our old friends, Ica, among them and went caroling. While walking in the cold night from apartment building to apartment building, laughing and having a good time a car full of teenage boys with undeveloped brain functions, stopped in front of us throwing at us lit up mini fireworks that would’ve caused minimal damage but it would’ve been just very unpleasant. Out of reflex, we tried to jump out of the way, only to see the fireworks bounce off the closed window and back inside their car creating panic among them. Embarrassed they drove away with a bruised ego while our group laughed until our bellies hurt.

Here’s one of the carols we sang that night:)

https://youtu.be/ofT0TjzaQcg

In iarna din 1999 am vizitat familia in Romania si de ajunul Craciunului ne-am alaturat unui grup de prieteni, Ica, printre ei, si am mers cu colinda. Pe strada, in drumul nostru catre o noua familie un grup de baieti adolescenti  au oprit masina in fata noastra si au aruncat petarde catre noi, dar au uitat sa deschida geamul. Ce a urmat a fost de mare haz si pina la urma au plecat rusinati. Colinda de sus a fost una din cele cintate. 

As I’m writing this to you, I found out from my family in Europe of another hate attempt.  A truck that drove into a crowd at a Christmas farmer’s market in Berlin; nine dead and over 50 injured. My family that lives there are safe, thank God. The driver is on the run. I really don’t like this type of news, yet we live in a world full of hatred. I was out to few stores today and around at least three german mothers with their children speaking in their language while shopping. That’s unusual. (The unusual part is the amount of german language I heard today, not the mothers, their children or the fact that they spoke a different language. I happen to know a little german so it was very pleasant to listen to them speak).

Have a good day.

December 19

Six days until CHRISTMAS:)

This Carol, in Romanian, is done by one of my cousin’s daughter:) The same cousin, Simona, that helped translate Chet’s letters back in 1993 when we courted long distance. New generation, new hope:)

December 18

We’re one week away from Christmas! For those of us that made it another year, thank you, God! For those we lost, we’ll never forget you. May your week building up to Christmas be full of hope, health, faith, and joy:)

December 17

December 16

Trapping ourselves in the believe that you don’t need others in your life is nonsense. You’ll always need at least one person to build you up when you’re down and to laugh with.

December 15

We’re halfway there:)

December 14

Why December is not so bad series.