Wherever you are, I wish you a very Merry Christmas. I wish you happiness, joy, and many reasons to smile in the year ahead.
I don’t know about you, but I find Christmas to be both a time of joy and a time of sadness. It brings back childhood memories–memories of family that have grown more sentimental as I grow older. I remember the laughs, the minor mishaps, the anticipation, and the presence of loved ones who are no longer with us.
Although I am Jewish, my family always had a Christmas tree, which we decorated; I loved hanging the long strands of tinsel. I had seven brothers and sisters. We all waited in great excitement for the stroke of midnight so we could hurry downstairs to open our presents.
My parents are long gone. Three of my siblings have died. Christmas will never be the same.
Enjoy your family, whatever their ages. Have a lovely Christmas and turn the day into a celebration of love, peace, kindness, and compassion.
Diane Ravitch's blog 
Merry Christmas and Happy Hannukah to you Diane. Thank you so much for a voice of reason
Cindy Williams
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All the best to you and yours Diane. And thank you. You are a gift every day of the year.
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So well said, Callisto! I could not agree more, so ditto, Diane!!
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Well captured. At 56, I could not agree more. As a Roman Catholic, I still love the preparation thru Advent, the physical decorations and preparedness. Midnight Mass with all the senses: colors, incense, music, and the warmth of people. You are right that it brings both joy and sadness. Sadness of what was, who is no longer next to us or with us, but also in our hurried and capitalistic world the focus on materialism. When really the love, joy, and generosity with humanity should be everyday. Yes, love, compassion, and kindness should exemplify the day….and upcoming year. Even more so…Be well.
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My father died over the Christmas holiday, in 1980. Since then, Christmas has been bittersweet– always a season of memories tempered with music, food and lights. As you said, Diane, both joy and sadness.
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Thank you.
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Merry Christmas to all who come here. Thanks for providing a community of concerned people. Above all, a wonderful holiday to Diane, through whom we have all met.
My father’s first cousin used to call us on Christmas morning and greet us with the phrase: “Christmas Gift!” He said his father greeted people that way, but it could not have been on a phone call, his father was not around for phones until his later life.
Christmas Gift! To all!
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Merry Christmas Diane!
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Merry Christmas, Diane, and fellow blog readers!
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Merry Christmas to all.
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Happy Holidays to you Diane! Thank you for all you do for public education! It is going to be a rough four years!
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Merry Christmas to you Diane and everyone!
May we all find peace and strength in ourselves and gift it to others.
OM shanti shanti shanti
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Thank you, Diane. We educators appreciate you and your good work very much.
Becky Langrall
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To all here who share your thoughts and give me hope, be well today and all through the year to the next one. And thank you, Diane, for this blog and for your wonderful presence on it. CBK
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Buon Natale a tutti! Thanks Diane for this great blog.
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Merry Christmas and Happy Hanukkah to you, Diane!
THANK you for all you do! 👍🙏💕
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Happy Chanukah! MAGA!
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Merry Christmas Diane and family! And to all the faithful readers of her blog. Joy, Peace, and Light to you in the coming year!
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Merry Christmas and a Happy Hanukkah, Diane. Yes: a time of love and sadness. Thank you for all you do.
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Merry Christmas and Happy Hannukah to you, Diane.
Our Christmas will be different as my older brother died in September. I am now the oldest sibling, which still feels.. odd. We will celebrate and toast his memory.
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Since Christmas and Hannukah are on the same day this year, I want to wish you a Merry Christmas and a Blessed Hannukah. Our children and grandchildren are spread all over the world. So, we are having a quiet Christmas, as you are.
I sing in our church’s Chancel Choir and we have an elaborate musical celebration on Christmas Eve, which is broadcast on YouTube for our shut-ins and friends. If you want to see it email me and I’ll send the link to you.
Ken
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Ken, send the link and I’ll post it
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Our Christmas eve service from 2nd Reformed Church (RCA) of Zeeland, Michigan. It includes a prelude of nearly 1/2 hour by our Music Directors. It is generally unlike most other Reformed Church services in that we are a liturgical church and we don’t use a “Praise Band” or project the lyrics on the wall. We have a formal Chancel Choir and use a piano and our organ in every 10 AM service. We also always have Communion in every service. I hope you enjoy the service from Christmas Eve. (it is one of two that evening).
SRC Worship 12/24/24
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Thank you, Ken.
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I’m sorry the Chruch only posted the 11 PM service and it didn’t include the Chancel Choir and the rest of the earlier service.
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Thank you for all you do! Funny, but I drove down to San Luis Obispo, CA, to get my parents (in their 80s and too much for them these days) and brought them to our home. I got a room ready downstairs (they can’t climb stairs) and my wife and I made the home nice and cozy. I told my mom, “Relax, I got you covered for whatever you need.” She is the caregiver for my father who can barely walk these days. We talked about the “old days” grandpa and grandma, uncles, aunts, cousins, who are all gone now. I remember when I was little being so excited about getting out the inflatable Rudolph, little paper mache snowman and other things that came from “that” box marked “Xmas.” We didn’t have a ton of money, but a cardboard fort (oh those tabs my dad struggled with) for me with an Army helmet; my sister got her Barbies. Meanwhile, I learned how to fix the toys the spoiled kids through in the alley way and left for trash. Fun times and lots of memories. Now it is just my wife and I, but this time around it is with my parents (might be my dad’s last) and making it as wonderful as it can be. We have a street block that has put up lights (they are PVC hoops that cover the sidewalks) with loads of other decorations. We bundled him up and I wheeled him down to see it all. Later, hot chocolate and some movies. They love to be able to be around family as nearly all the year (unless I can get down there) they are alone. Blessings all around to all who post here.
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