For Pete's Sake...

my favorite gnp columnist has a new one out - tell me this isn't the most pathetic column you've ever written. The writing style reminds me of a second grader's attempt at a book report (I like christmas. Christmas is fun. At my house we eat turkey for christmas. Turkey is a type of bird that we cook in the oven. My mother serves it with vegatables). And it goes so off topic - only to make a pathetic attempt to tie it back in at the end (uh, i really mean it when i say pathetic). Enjoy.

WRITING THE RIGHT:
Remembering the absent ones

By ANI AMIRKHANIAN

This year, my family will be celebrating a somber holiday.

With the passing of my grandmother earlier in the year, the family will be in a less festive mood than usual.

Traditionally, Armenian families forgo the celebration of the holidays in times of death and mourning.

A family get-together will often be in the memory of the loved one who passed away, but the celebration of the season will be kept to a minimum.

Family members are not the only ones who are remembered. Close family friends and acquaintances who passed on during the year are also acknowledged.

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The holidays in my household are often less traditionally celebrated than in most family households.

Gifts are opened on Christmas Eve or are saved for New Year's Day. Most Armenian families choose to tear into their gifts on the first day of the new year.

It makes sense really, new gift for the new year, is what I say.

A turkey dinner isn't on the menu and often an alternative meal is served, depending on who prepares it.

Armenian households often keep their Christmas trees in their living rooms after New Year's. The trees are not taken out until the start of Armenian Christmas, which is celebrated on Jan. 6.

The tree may be dry and brittle and the ornaments will be falling off of it, but it will be salvaged and maintained until the 6th.

I remember growing up, I was one of few students at my school who still had a tree after New Year's.

Every time I would come home from school, the tree would be taunting me with its crooked trunk and frail, dry needles.

It would get to the point that I would ask my mother when it was going to be taken away, only because I pitied the condition it was in.

After my mother noticed the physical state of the tree, she resorted to buying an artificial one.

Granted, the artificial tree did not have the same look or feel as the real one, but it served its purpose.

It didn't dry up after the New Year and it definitely lasted all the way through (and beyond) Armenian Christmas.

It is unknown whether a tree will adorn my parents' living room this year. If it does, it will be an artificial one for sure.

Here's to all the dearly departed who will be remembered in spirit. The holidays won't be the same without them.

Happy New Year, too.

---

ANI AMIRKHANIAN covers education. She may be reached at (818) 637-3230 or by e-mail at ani.amirkhanianlatimes.com.

Aww, the Holidays...

So, I was going to post a blog venting about a particular genius i know - who falls into the category of "boys who will never grow up" but instead, as I sat here staring at my computer screen, I realized that I could hear Christmas songs coming from.... somewhere?

My first guess was that it was the landlord (1st floor of the house is where the landlord lives).... but I walked over to the window and cracked it open - sure enough, there were the carolers, standing outside and serenading a household! My window overlooks our back yard and the neighbors on the street behind us (I'm on the 3rd floor)... and from here I could/can see the group of 30 or so people (ALL ages - even little ones all bundled up!).

Isn't that the cutest thing ever? Carolers!?!?! They just finished "Jingle Bells and We Wish You A Merry Christmas!" (they shift houses every few songs) - and a few of them are carrying sleigh bells and someone has a deep santa voice (and keeps saying ho ho ho... Merry Christmas!)

I'm in love. Of course, I'm a little bummed that its December in Massachusetts and I can sit in my room with the window wide open (it was warmer here last night than in so cal! gr!)... but... i still love it here! I wish I had someone to go on carriage rides with - and i cant wait to come back and go ice skating! woohoo.

Anyway, my former bball teammates used to call me the "PTA Mom" since I always organized dorky outings (hey! you all loved them okay...) I've now decided that aside from a fourth of july block party with my neighbors, I'm going to have to also organize a holiday caroling thing :) yay!

back to pretending to study but instead being fuming pissed off at the idiots of the world... great!

Let it snow, let it snow, let it snow...

it's snowing outside!!!

I am so absolutely excited! I mean, just to show you the level of my excitement...

I went to bed late last night - it was around 1:30 am and I didn't really fall asleep right away either - and I had to be up at 6 am today. For those who don't know my sleeping habits... this is absolutely unheard of for me. If I sleep less than 6-7 hours... well, i just don't!

So, 6 am I get up.... its black as night outside. Gr. I'm not a happy person. Then, I notice that I have a runny nose and that headache... that one that you get when you have a cold. Ya, not happy at all. I go downstairs, have breakfast - look outside - no snow :( Sadness.

But it started to look up the second I walked outside. At first glance I thought it was raining but then I noticed that the drops were falling differently - they weren't slamming down they were sorta floating down... like... SNOW!

As I walked to the T stop, the "stuff" became more and more snow-life but the ground was still wet, not white. I reached the T just as the train was pulling away... but, at this point, I was so giddy, I couldn't care less! I was practically skipping as I made my way across the train tracks (who needs singing in the rain when you can be dancing in the snow?). I smiled - ear to ear - the entire way to school... I got to class (1 hr early to do some hmwk) and all i could do is stare out the window... it started to snow harder... and soon the trees and the ground were covered in a thin layer of white. Aw, white!

AND! it wasn't even that cold... well at least its not that cold yet! Although, when the snow collects on your nose, your nose gets a bit cold. Do they sell nose warmers?

As soon as I can get over my frustrated finals mood, I'm sure my IPOD will be filled with Christmas tunes... because, snow and holidays go hand in hand (well, unless your in so cal - where you decorate palm trees instead)

And, I'll try to take pictures too!