"And a partridge in a Pear Tree"

“And so this is Christmas,

And what have you done?

Another Year over,

A new one just begun”.

John Lennon

I’ve always been fond of Christmas for some reason. Probably a relic from another life, or a little more likely, the influence of certain TV shows and movies from my early childhood (more in depth here). Still, I’ve never actually lived in a place that celebrated it as fully – until now. True, it’s no Festivus with its idiosyncratic traditions, but the overall cheer pervading the air does get to you, even when you don’t take into account the accompanying days off. It’s not going to be a white Christmas, sadly, (thanks climate change), but it should do.

A misty morning in Tenafly

 I thought I’d try some traditional holiday cuisine like honeyed sliced ham, and found a kit to make it in the grocery store, but it’s for an entire family and I’m not that big an eater. Besides, I understand that the more fitting tradition is going out to a Chinese restaurant. There’s also the likeliest scenario of finally seeing the new Star Wars movie. I can’t keep dodging spoilers forever.

The coming year is going to be very busy. How big corporate America and I are going to treat each other is still a mystery. But I am ready for it.

“A very merry Christmas, and a happy New Year
Let's hope it's a good one, without any fear”.

Washington: the first day

It has been a very long day. I've arrived in the City (the "other "City") at around 11am and immediately began the tourist frenzy. After waving hello to my new neighbors at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue, I proceeded to the Holocaust Memorial Museum. I don't know why I chose to start my tour there. 

The museum is highly recommended, especially if you haven't been to other similar museums (like Yad v'Shem). I definitely got flashbacks from my trip to Poland all those years ago, and I had a few rough minutes. 

After that I needed to clear my head a bit and strolled around the US Capitol. 

From there, I continued to two personally important sites: the Supreme Court of Justice and the Library of Congress. 

Righteously inspired again, I visited the National Museum of the American Indian, where again I saw people dispossessed and persecuted. 

I hate to end on a grim note, but see below. I still have quite a few museums and other things to see and do, but I should have enough time.