Happy Holidays ...

all of them

Photo by Annie Spratt on Unsplash

We just celebrated Winter Solstice, a day in which I like to reflect, listen to soothing music, and contemplate the days growing shorter one hen step at a time.

Next is Christmas Eve, then Christmas Day and the beginning of Hannukkah, followed the next day by Kwanzaa, then New Year's Eve, and New Year's Day.

On Christmas Eve, I will join a queer sing-a-long with a newly forming choir of older queer folks. I'm excited to sing along to songs I most likely already know.

Christmas morning late, my daughter and I will host her two children and their partners (grown-ups all of us). Secret Santas will be revealed and gifts opened. A few refreshments will be consumed before the grandchildren go off to celebrate with more of their family members.

Many of my dearest friends celebrate Hannukkah, and they will be on my mind. Others among my friends will celebrate Kwanzaa beginning the next day.

My theory is it was Winter Solstice before any of the others, because human beings have always paid attention to the sun for survival.

One of the most well-known traditions of Christmas (in this country at least) is the letter to Santa. Usually this is written by children, hoping for gifts.

I'm not a child, but I still have wishes. Here's my letter.

Dear Santa,

I'm not hoping for riches, jewels, faux furs, convertibles, or real estate, although my wishes are no more deliverable by you than those things are.

I wish for the end to hunger. The end to war -- everywhere. I wish for a stable government elected by and for the people, one that provides education, affordable housing, help with food as needed, and healthcare.

I wish for governments to tax fairly and use the taxes to fund services that serve the people. Great roads, bridges, tunnels, and public transportation of all types. One that trains scientists, doctors, nurses, educators.

I wish we could all get along with our neighbors. I wish we could turn the guns into toys that don't actually hurt anyone, much less kill them. I wish all major disagreements could be settled by collective agreement, and minor ones settled by talking or hugging it out.

I wish all our governments would suddenly wake up to the fact we are choking our environment to death, and with great urgency and haste get to work solving the problem.

I wish everyone understood how precious are all the animals, birds, fish, insects, invertebrates, every form of life. How humans do not need to eat animals, birds, fish, or insects to live. How much more would we treasure the water and food that sustains us?

I wish every human could experience what I do when I talk to animals, birds, fish, insects, even my plants. For they give me so much joy -- every day of my life.

I wish no one ever had to feel lonely or be alone unless they wanted to. I wish everyone had good friends to help them celebrate.

I'm okay that not all people are the same color, the same size, the same gender. I'm okay that we celebrate different holidays. I'm okay that some people believe in a god or many gods, or no gods at all. I'm okay we speak different languages, because all these things allow us to learn and grow. It would be nice if we could all grow to love and respect one another.

And dear Santa, even as a figment of imagination, we ask too much of you, and you work too hard. Please take a few days off and put your feet up. I'll set out a plate of vegan cookies and a glass of Portland water (the best!).

Love, Sandra

I hope you all have happy holidays. Please leave a comment to tell me how you are spending the holidays.