Well, with the onset of the holidays it appears I've fallen down on the blog here -- so busy hosting and partying I've not had time to write about hosting and partying. Horrors!
Its been a great season. Moving into the New Year, I have one observation. Having, on one end of the spectrum, wished a coworker I'd just met a Merry Christmas -- and having them pause, then effusively thank me for my words because, as they'd put it, political correctness has all but eliminated it from our lexicon ... and having, on the other end of the spectrum, attended a party where playing music was encouraged, but I was asked not to play any non-secular Christmas songs because last year some of the guests were offended ...
The observation is this: Altogether too long, mainstream Americans have been bowing and scraping to everyone else's culture and beliefs, while being slammed for any evidence of their own. (The whole ridiculous uproar over SeaTac airport's entirely secular Christmas decorations that one year, anyone?) Being aware and sensitive to another's culture is plain common courtesy, and necessary of course -- but folks, its supposed to cut both ways. A guest who shows up at a Christmas party, then complains that they heard Christmas music there, is a ... yeah, insert colorful term of choice here. If Christmas festivities at a Christmas parties upsets them, they could leave ... or better yet, not taint the event with their presence at all. Though ideally, what they should really be doing if they choose to attend is to learn a bit about someone else's culture in a nonjudgemental manner, and have a good time doing so -- is that too much to ask?
'Nuff said. In 2014, I'll be doing a lot more wishing people a "Merry Christmas" and a whole lot less wishing them a sterile, neutered "Happy Holidays". Let's hear it for real holidays, and being tolerant of other points of view!
Dark and Stormy (from Valerie Petersen's "Petersen's Holiday Helper"
2 oz dark rum (Gosling's Black Seal or Cruzan's Blackstrap Navy rum are good here}
2 oz half and half
1 oz ginger syrup
Shake it up with ice, pour into an Old Fashioned Glass.
