Last night began the Jewish holiday of Purim. This is a celebration of the book of Esther. The last time I celebrated it was when I was still a member of a Messianic Jewish congregation two years ago, before I came out as an atheist, long before I came out as polyamorous. It was even before all the private drama that separated me from my religious community. But not before my doubts: I had doubts about Purim even then.

But this year, I’m getting closer to the point where I want to be. I miss Purim.

Earlier this year, I shared this funny nativity scene photo on my own Facebook wall (one of 150,000 or so who did), and was soundly thrashed (by someone who is no longer my Facebook friend). And what was supposed to be a cute, fun photo turned into a theological discussion.

I’m noticing that I could say some things with perfect impunity as a “Christian” (even if in name only), which as an atheist almost surely get a Bible verse thrown at me. Almost makes me sorry I came out.

In a series of studies published in the Journal of Social and Personal Relationships, study participants were more satisfied with their lives if they shared good news at least twice a week, with someone who responded positively to the good news.

So take an occasional moment this holiday season to share the good things in your life with those around you.

Around this time of year, I’m invariably reminded of the line Tony Campolo popularized: It’s Friday, but Sunday’s coming. Because Good Friday is the day we remember the Crucifixion; and Easter Sunday, the Resurrection.

But this year, it occurs to me that we’ve focused on only part of the story. Easter Sunday isn’t the end of the story, but the beginning.

The Most Important Lesson I Learned This Christmas

Give the gift you would most like to have for the Yankee Swap. That way, when you get stuck with it at the end, you won’t be so disappointed.

If You Forgot to Get Holiday Gifts for Your Favorite Authors...

I just briefly wanted to wish you a wonderful holiday.

We are planning on joining my parents for their Christmas Eve service later this afternoon. Then we’re all going over to visit my brother and sis-in-law for their Christmas Eve service. Tomorrow, the whole extended family (on my side) is getting together with my kindergartener niece for some good food and fun present-opening. This year, we’re getting together with my Beloved’s family later in the week.

I know visiting with family is not so fun a time for some of you. But it ought to be, especially at the holidays. Here are a few tips for making your family day the most enjoyable it can be.

What are you doing online today?!

As for me, my side of the family is getting together for a big holiday bash tomorrow, and my Beloved’s family on Sunday. So that means I have another day to prepare the big Black Friday/Cyber Monday holiday offer I’ve been working on, which I promise I will not talk about until tomorrow at the earliest. And that’s my excuse for why I’m online today.

First Snow

Or to quote Lorelai Gilmore: “Ladies and gentlemen, we have flakes. Flakes have been sighted. Flakage, if you will, has begun.”

Yesterday afternoon and into the night, the season’s first snow in the Boston area (and if I recall correctly, in New England generally).

I settled in, and popped in Gilmore Girls season 1, disc 2, episode 8, “Love, War, and Snow.” Sigh.

A Motto Worth Remembering

Just a super-quick post today, for my comrade-in-arms and fellow-blogger Jim “Suldog” Sullivan, who reports: “Christmas items have already been spotted on store shelves in the Boston area. GRRRRRRRR… THANKSGIVING COMES FIRST!” (Exclamation point added.)

So I thought he’d really appreciate this photo, for which I actually searched Flickr with especially him in mind. (And now, Jim, you’re free to poke nasty fun at me on this topic… But only this topic! :) )

As for me, I tend to divide the year into two seasons: the birthday season and the holiday season. As soon as the weather begins to get cold, I grow a beard (my face’s winter coat), and my thoughts turn toward cold trips in the car and warm nights sitting before a roaring fire (which I can’t do so much anymore, since none of my close family has a fireplace handy, making a roaring fire slightly inappropriate). The holiday season is full of eating good food, playing fun games, visiting with family, looking back on the previous year and toward the next, putting up decorations, listening to holiday music, and watching football.

Every year around this time, everyone begins talking about Christmas movies that we’ve all seen, some dozens of times. But when NetFlix began highlighting not only Christmas movies but also TV episodes, I began putting together my own list of some of my favorite holiday episodes. (Many of them you can see via NetFlix online streaming.)

In no particular order…