Claire V. Bogdanos

TODAY is one of those days, remarkable and reassuring, a day to renew my connection with American values!  A day to believe that we can rise above the chaos of our declining society with unfailing faith in our humanity.  I have spent a number of hours in the last few days in the company of what I found to be a cohesive  family, gathering for a wedding.  How comfortable to witness old fashioned affection !  It brought back memories of my childhood and those wonderful family togethers by the lake, by the beach, in the park.  Doesn’t everyone recall one magic occasion ?  What is the fascination with immediate gratification of all of our senses when we leave no opening for that spectacular surprise or chance occurrence.  Where did we lose anticipation ?  Oh, Santa will you become the next victim of expediency ?  As a small child, Christmas Eve filled our home with varied relatives, there would be rapping on the front window, a jingling of sleigh bells on the porch and as the curtain was pulled aside, the sight of a jolly person in a red hat waving a big red sack !  It took a few years and a new home before I realised that it was my cuddly and chubby aunt in a homemade costume who came calling, I know, I know, Alice in Wonderland !  I believe HER family WAS dysfunctional !  But aren’t we all just a bit, who wants to be perfect ?  Such a heavy burden to bear !  I found it delightful to wake up to a brief spate of normalcy these few days in the Sheraton on the Hudson.  HAHA !!                                                           Sincerely,                                                            Claire B.