Traditions

This year I felt it. More than any other time in the past 5 years. I felt a bit lonely. It was holiday time and we were invited to my son's girlfriend's family for dinner. My mom and I along with my son went for a relaxed dinner around the table of a typical "old-school" Italian NJ family. You know -- when you sit around the table for hours after you've finished eating. They were talking about what they always do around the holidays. And I felt the void. First I felt a loss -- no man in my life sitting beside me, sharing stories. For some reason, this year felt different. And I thought to myself -- we have no traditions any more.

When I got home, I started thinking. And I remembered certain things we, as a family, would do during this fun time of year. We would go out to a Christmas tree farm and trek through hundreds of trees to find IT. One of us would find a tree and stand by it calling out to the rest of the clan to come by and see it. Of course someone else would have found another tree on the opposite side of the field and would be yelling to go over there. We would eventually choose "the perfect tree" and then cut it down and drive home. We would decorate it within the next few days and have popcorn, eggnog and dinner would be -- frozen pizza. We did an annual frozen pizza tasting contest for about five years. I was the only one who knew which pizza was which -- and everyone had to rate them. It was fun and funny too. By the way, the old Grand Union brand usually won.

Another annual tradition was and still is a 'friends' party -- 5 families for almost 30 years have been celebrating Christmas together. We alternate homes annually. Six years ago our family hosted the party at our new house. Last year would have been our turn again, but I asked if someone else could take the turn, as I just wasn't in the mood to do it with all the stuff that was going on in my life. But this year, I said to myself change is good -- do the party, Sharon. And so I planned a Sunday dinner party and loved every minute of it. There were about 30 people at my home and I enjoyed celebrating this tradition of friendship and family.

New Years Eve -- another celebration/tradition. The friends we get together with for Christmas celebrate new year's together -- by going to dinner and a Broadway show then back to someone's house to ring in the new year. This year, we went to see South Pacific at Lincoln Center (terrific production) and Carmine's for dinner. But I opted out of the raising of the champagne with the group at midnight. I invited my friend Kathy to join us for the evening (which she did) and she had to return home soon after midnight (she still has teenagers) and my mom was home alone, so I decided to go home to be with Kathy and my mom. Who knows how many more holidays mom will remember? You know, it felt good to be with her.

Traditions don't have to continue the same way every year to remain traditions -- I realize now that they are the celebrations of life, love, family and friends. Family dynamics have changed. Families are people who care about each other!

Happy New Year everyone!

My recipe this time is a drink I enjoyed this season: Pomegranate Martini

1.5 oz. citron vodka or regular vodka

1 oz. cointreau or triple sec

2 oz. pomegranate juice

Pour ingredients into your shaker, add 6 - 8 ice cubes. Shake it up. Strain into a chilled glass.

I tripled the recipe and made it in a pitcher.