I’m going to take the lazy way out for Christmas Eve and share a card that I placed in Happiness Box 2022. I’m recovering from both Hanukkah and Christmas; please forgive me.
Christmas Day was another day of acceptance. Christmas Day was also the 8th day of Hanukkah. Before we opened gifts, we decided to eat breakfast first. Gluten-free blueberry pancakes and mom made kosher chicken sausage for me. The things we do for our cat. Hanukkah and Christmas breakfast. I gave Gizmo my chair and ate standing up.
On the 8th day of Hanukkah, my parents gave to me: chocolate gelt and a pumpkin spice cocktail mix. So grateful. They combined traditions out of love. My Hanukkah gelt was in my stocking and mom handed me the pumpkin spice latte liquor separately and said, “Happy Hanukkah.” I’m not verklempt, you’re verklempt.
Dad loved his Beavis and Butthead shirt, and wanted a photo with his Snoop on a Stoop. He also loved his Off the Mark book and the Hanukkah card I gave him. Mom loved the books I gave her and the bookmark as well. I also gave her a gift card to Bookish, which ironically, my parents gave me a gift card to Bookish as well. It was a very literary Hanukkah and Christmas.
I made this photo into a card for dad:
Dad thought this was a lovely photo and as he was getting verklempt looking at it, he said he was going to hang it right next to the framed photo I have of him and I. Awww, isn’t that sweet and really nice?
Of course, Gizmo loved his cat toys. He played with them throughout the day, and he was still playing as we sat down to a prime rib dinner.
After dinner, I lit the Menorah. The final candle; the 26th would be the last full day.
Then dad and I had a game of dreidel. We didn’t want to use our gelt, so we used invisible money. 
What fun.
I hope my dear readers had a wonderful Christmas, Hanukkah, and whatever else you may be celebrating. I’m just glad it was a year of co-existence.
The Happiness Box Project 
Hi, Jessica Marie!
Joy to the world, dear friend! I see joy written on the faces of all of the people in these pictures taken at your gathering with your folks, Aunt Kathy, Kaitlyn and others. Everyone looks happy with the gifts they received. I think the greatest joy is not in the receiving, but rather in the feeling you get when you give to others. We give a gift to others by allowing them to give to us and show them our love and gratitude in return. The food you described sounds yummy, and it was so nice of you to give your seat at the table to your kitty. I want the kitty and that cute dog. I want them and need them! That is indeed a wonderful picture of you and David, suitable for framing and worth a thousand words and memories. I am verklempt for you.
Happy new year, dear friend JM. As I expressed to you on my blog, I am thankful for the longevity of our friendship. I wish you health, happiness and many blessings in 2023!
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