A brick row home in Philadelphia set the stage for brilliant excitement of the season. Large bulb colorful lights framed a doorway as a beacon of warmth and love. The chubby Douglas Fir tree was tucked into a corner of the living room as space magically appeared to accommodate. A Lionel train chugged thru the carefully and lovingly placed tiny colorful houses lit from within. “Merry Christmas Happy New Year” banner was anchored over the arch into the dining room announcing a welcome to all and a cardboard fireplace in another corner with stockings attached. Relatives arrived regardless the weather, filling the home with love and cheer Christmas Eve and later in the evening an open house began. Mom passed her homemade pizza and Christmas cookies to joyful neighbors and friends who, in this mostly Jewish neighborhood adopted the holiday for the evening.
Twenty years later while working at Fox Chase Cancer Center in Philly, I witnessed a similar phenomenon. The hospital was well loved and developed a wonderful tradition. Permitting as many staff as possible to be home with families on Christmas, it opened its doors to the community for help. Barreling in, long before ugly Christmas sweaters were a thing, the excited Jewish community arrived in festive attire and joyfilled hearts. There were no HIPPA laws so they could help at the nurses stations, the kitchen was buzzing and no one cared if the orders were correct. Two elderly ladies struggled and giggled to work the industrial bucket wringer until they gave up and swiped the sheet from a gurney for a large spill. Men carved the meat in the busy cafeteria as if they were tailgating, the dessert slices were generous and the festive cafeteria gave the doctors, nurses and staff, who were necessary in a busy hospital, a chance to enjoy the excitement.
I cannot tell you how very grateful I am and I want to personally thank everyone who contributes to helping others treasure their holiday time with family. A colleague from Pakistan routinely covers another physician and I have a wonderful Doc caring for patients so I can visit grandchildren. When I was an intern on call and working 100 hours a week, my request for Christmas day off to be home for my sons and husband was ignored. When the schedule came out, tears sprung to my eyes and I could hardly get thru morning report. I was crushed with one more sacrifice; 36 hours on call. It was all just too much. A fellow intern put a hand on my shoulder as we headed out the door. “Joanne, out of 40 of us, you are the only one with children ( I was 12 years older having started school in my thirties) my girlfriend is out of town for Christmas but wants to celebrate New Year’s Eve. Lets switch!” And just like that my own Christmas was saved by a magical 6’4″ elf.
Christmas isn’t just a religious holiday. It holds excitement as children that evolves as we age, to anticipation of togetherness, gifting our hearts and love to each other. The emotions are fierce.
To those who celebrate and those who make it possible, my heartfelt wishes for every blessing. My thanks for your support, hope for those deployed for safe return, health for those who are ill, comfort for those who suffer, food for those hungry and warmth for those who are cold, memories in our heart for those no longer here to celebrate. Love for us all knowing that we are a community of people faithful to each other and God has given us a season to celebrate the miracle of our sacrifices and love.
Happy Hanukkah, Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays. May your every wish come true.