Joe Mahay: Hanukkah in Santa Cruz with Micah and Family

We arrived in Santa Cruz on the 17th after a somewhat difficult flight. We were scheduled to transfer planes in Las Vegas but the airport was socked in by a once in three decade snowstorm. We had to divert to Burbank and catch another plane to San Jose where Micah picked us up. There was quite a bit of turbulence on landing and takeoff at Burbank because we came in during a downpour. It is great that the Southwest is getting all this rain and snow, but maybe they could have spared it for our trip?:) Of course our luggage didn't make it until the next day, but we always pack our 'carry-ons' with that in mind. I guess we are really having a semi old fashioned winter. I do understand that, even with all of this snow and cold, we are on track to have the 9th warmest winter on record. I guess we have really forgotten what a 'real' winter is really like.
Santa Cruz is cold and rainy, but compared to the Adirondacks, it is a generous relief.
Pacific Ave. is full of holiday shoppers and street performers. The ethnic, racial, cultural diversity is a pleasant mind opening after the mono-cultural/racial/ethnicity of the Adirondacks. It is sometimes frustrating to deal with the isolated folks who think of the United States as a white anglo protestant country. I wish I could bring them out and spend some time in a place like Santa Cruz with them and talk about what it really means to be an American.

Last night was the first night of Hanukkah and we had a gentle generous celebration with good food, singing, candle lighting and gifts.

Here is a picture of me peeling potatoes for making Latkes.