In a world of instant messages, voice notes, and emails fired off without punctuation (or pause), something quietly beautiful is happening: the pen pal revival. Pinterest boards are filling with wax seals, fountain pens, pastel envelopes, and carefully chosen stationery. Searches for “handwritten letters,” “pen pal ideas,” and “vintage stationery” are rising, and with them, a longing for something slower, more thoughtful, and more human.

The theme song of the sitcom “Friends”, written by The Rembrandts, is appropriate for all stages of life.

“So no one told you life was gonna be this way (clap, clap, clap, clap, clap)

Your job's a joke, you're broke

Your love life's DOA

It's like you're always stuck in second gear

When it hasn't been your day, your week, your month

Or even your year, but I’ll be there for you.”

Happy Holidays, Merry Christmas, Happy Hanukkah, Happy  Kwanzaa, and Happy New Year to everyone.  Whatever holiday you are celebrating, be mindful of not allowing commercialization to get in the way of the traditions.  In 2021, everyone panicked about not getting gifts in time due to supply chain issues.  However, the gifts are not what is important.  It is getting together with family and friends with traditions old and new.  When you light a menorah, the seven candles, or the advent wreath, you are strengthening family bonds.  Traditions improve family stability, increase the feeling of belonging, and bring overall better well-being and health.

If you didn't raise your hand, I would share that once you get the "grandparent" moniker, you will be relegated to the "old" category. Yes, I know that it may be far from the truth, but as they say, perception is reality. A check of Merriam-Webster Dictionary tells us that "The definition of old is advanced in age or having been around for a while.”

As a youngster, I was raised in a family business, a mom-and-pop convenience store.  My mom started work at 5:30 am every morning, even on Christmas.  She brought in the newspapers, opened the cash registers for the day, and straightened the shelves to ensure everything was in order.  She would continue the day by waiting on the customers, restocking the shelves, ordering new inventory, and scheduling the other family members' work schedules since only family worked in the business.  Endless amounts of cash would go in and out of the store, trips to the bank for deposits, and stacks of bills to count.  As early as six years old, I would join her at the store to help before school.  Throughout my childhood, I learned our family's core values by working alongside my mother.

Growing up in the '60s and 70's in the Illinois suburbs of North Chicago, I was fortunate to be part of a fantastic loving home with two tenacious parents and four amazing sisters. The ups and downs of everyday life, the challenges of a Vietnam-era society, and the life changes that I faced as a young teen made me realize the importance of family.

Holiday traditions were a keystone that helped our family remain connected. The rules around Easter and Christmas were particularly significant. At Christmas, we looked forward to St. Nicklas day, December 6th, where we left our shoes near the front door and awoke to find money in them in the morning. At Christmas dinner, we said a traditional Polish prayer and passed the Oplatek wafer, starting with our father, then on to our Mother, followed by my sisters and me. Each person would break off a small piece and pass it on with offers for peace and prosperity. At Easter, we observed the tradition of the blessing of the Easter food. We would go to church on Holy Saturday, where the priest would bless our basket of food. In that basket, never absent is the cherished Lamb Cake. Made of a firm pound cake and frosted white with a coconut coat is the confectionery treat awaiting those with a sweet tooth. These traditions, along with many more, have been passed on to my daughters while growing up, and it warms my heart that they have said that they want to continue them with their families when they someday have children. As a future Grandmother/Grandma/ Bushi/Nana, I have promised to encourage the passing of the traditions on to my grandchildren.