Of Meatloaf and Men

So many subtitles I can think of for that one...

A very Merry Christmas to my friends who are celebrating. I do still have some Christian friends… the friends who cut of ties with me because of my support for Israel were all progressive atheists, not Christians. My Christian friends are either Zionists too or just don’t get that deeply into politics, or let it define their friendships. So Merry Christmas, and to my Jewish worldwide family, I hope you are not being excessively annoyed by public displays of Christmas.

I sent Ari in Jerusalem a picture of a giant inflated snowman on a lawn near me with the caption, “In case you miss never ending tacky Christmas decorations!” He was born in Maryland and grew up outside DC, then moved to Israel in his early twenties. He has one of the most beautiful, unplaceable accents I’ve ever heard, and I am something of an expert in accents. He doesn’t sound American and doesn’t sound like Hebrew is his first language either. If I am in a coma, please put Ari on speaker phone reading the Torah or the Jerusalem phone book or anything, it would bring me right back to life. Maybe some day I’ll meet him in person… I have not given up on my dream to go to Israel. Someday.

For Christmas I am going to my mom’s house tomorrow and bringing a meatloaf. I think it is my first time making a meatloaf. I looked up a lot of recipes, asked a bunch of people for their recipes, and made a combination of all the ideas I liked. I have very good instincts when it comes to cooking, and I never really follow a recipe. I’ll tell you what went into this one once we’ve tried it and seen what we think, but here is a hint: Jiffy cornbread mix, mushrooms and red peppers, among other things.

Lots of people say they don’t like the holidays for one reason or another… family stress or lack of family and being alone. I like the holidays well enough. My favorite Christmases were the two when I hosted a Christmas Eve party for ACT UP Philly, largely attended by people living HIV who had been abandoned by their families and had nowhere to go. We had a wonderful time… my then-boyfriend, the trust fund anarchist, and I made a delicious meal, my mom came over and helped, and after everyone ate we turned the place into a dance party and played Michael Jackson on the CD player. My other favorite Christmases were when I cooked for the homeless shelter at my church, Old First Reformed UCC in Center City Philly. I made five desserts and a big spread of homecooked food for thirty men who lived in the church in the winter. It was much more fun than the stressful and materialistic Christmases I’d hear about from friends. My mom and I used to say we felt sorry for people who had to spend Christmas with family they couldn’t be themselves around.

My cupcakes are ready for the Zen sitting party I’m going to tonight, and I’m about to put the meatloaf in the fridge to rest overnight.

Merry Christmas to all if appropriate, and to all a good night. May you be surrounded by friends and sunbeams, like Loviefluffy this afternoon.