I'm Chinese Jew No More

sienna didn't want to wait longer. without a word, she started decorating one of our house plants, with her hair clips and barrettes. then paula dropped by with her daughter. "we are not celebrating christmas," theadora declared. then, paula confessed that growing up, she was envious of other kids with christmas trees because being jewish, her family never had one.

right there, i want to give up my Chinese Jew status. i don't want to risk my child's mental well-being due to my cultural prejudice against the christmas rituals. besides, we are chinese, what do we get to lose finding another thing to celebrate?

by the end of the day, the tree was all up and shinning. there is nothing fancy about a christmas tree: a 4' structure of wires and leaf-like plastic pieces holding up dozens of multi-colors mini light bulbs and glass balls and toy ornaments. i couldn't help but think of something different to do. for example, cannot we have an all-pink tree? then the tree won't be recognizable to santa claus. what would be the point of having one?

sienna sighs with a relief, "now santa claus is really coming to my house because i have a christmas tree."