What do Jews do on Christmas Day?

Our once a year invasion of Chinatown got under way in late morning, as it has every year since we were married.

This time, however, with the dramatic change in Diane’s health, we won’t do the window shopping that was richly embedded in our excursion schedule.

When a walker is your main means of remaining mobile, you do not wander in and out of stores.

I was telling a friend that when I see Diane in settings that we have visited for so many years, I forget that we received a devastating diagnosis 262 days ago.

Two nights ago she accompanied me on a rare outing to a CVS outlet. Part of the time she pushed her walker, and when she tired, it was my turn to shlep her. We met up with an old friend from our synagogue. Since we both were on a Chanukah shopping mission, and had not seen her or her husband for months, there was sunny and dark news to exchange.

Last evening we went to our favorite movie theatre while you may have been wrapping or opening presents, or both.

A movie also always is the Christmas Day afternoon capper for us.

We have spent dozens of hours in darkened theatres in recent months for two reasons, to be entertained and to be distracted.

Merry Christmas to everyone.