Holiday Post 2024: Traditions, Manners, and Miscellany

Welcome to the 2024 edition of holiday posts here at The Itinerant Librarian. This is where I take a small break from the usual and look at the holiday season. I make a few lists of links that may be of interest and add a bit of commentary that I hope my four readers find interesting. I do this mainly for a bit of fun during this time of the year. Let's start with traditions, manners, and miscellany of the holidays.

Traditions and Manners 

A small village model under a Christmas tree surrounded by poinsettias.

•  The U.S. Census Bureau has published their "2024 Winter Holiday Season" fact sheet. This is part of their "Facts for Features" series that looks at various holidays and special events over the year and then present various facts and figures drawing from census data. For example, did you know that the value of U.S. imports of Christmas decorations from China for 2023 was $2.82 billion? You can learn that and more by reading the article. 
• PNC Bank continues their annual tradition of compiling the actual costs of the items in the song "The 12 Days of Christmas."  They've been doing their Christmas Price Index now for 41 years. 
• The U.S. Postal Service continues their tradition of Operation Santa. 
• NORAD continues their tradition of tracking Santa Claus around the world as he does his gift deliveries. We discovered this a few years back, and it is a fun thing we do at home on December 24th. We keep the browser open to their tracker, and keep an eye on it over the evening. I am sure this is great for kids, but I think kids of all ages can appreciate it. 
• Some advice for dealing and coping with the holidays. The holidays can be a tense time for some folks. For me, that is part of the reason I avoid traveling to see others and/or hosting other people. We enjoy our quiet time at home. I don't consider spending time with others to be a relaxing activity, less so if it carries a risk of possible toxicity. 2024 is certainly proving to be a toxic year, and I am not saying that just because of the 2024 election season. So for folks who may be stuck with relatives they may rather avoid or other people who add to the toxicity, here are some suggestions for advice. 
• I shared this article from Sojourner's Magazine in the "Thanksgiving Post 2024" last month, and I am sharing it again because it has some useful tips if you dread holiday arguments, especially given this years awful political season. 
• For LGBTQ+ folks, Autostraddle offers "Questions To Ask Yourself Before Going to Your Family’s Super Straight, Potentially Hostile Holiday Gathering." 
• The holidays can also be stressful for children who have divorced and/or separated parents. Here is some advice for helping those kids cope via The Conversation.
  
• Create Write Now suggests a "Mindful Christmas: How Practicing Mindfulness Can Alleviate Holiday Stress." 
• Along with a little mindfulness, perhaps you may want to practice a little gratitude. For example, make a list of things you are grateful for in 2024 like That Artsy Reader Girl did in listing her Top Ten Things she is grateful for in 2024. 
• Maybe to keep the stress down in a holiday family gathering you can all play video games together. The Mary Sue offers a list of "10 best video games to play with your family over the holidays." 
• Are you one of the folks who still send Christmas and/or holidays greeting cards? We do send some cards out during the holidays, though I will admit not as many as in years past. Mental Floss looks at when you should be sending them. A good rule is to start sending them as soon as December comes around, so right about now would be good.
  

 

The Christmas Tree, Decorations, and Other Objects

 

A classic painting. Two rabbits in a forest look out at a large Christmas tree.

• Aww, you think that nice Christmas tree salesperson on a street or some rural place is a local grower? That is cute. Turns out those small, quaint, independent tree farms maybe not be a small and independent as they want us to believe. They are also becoming more rare. Turns out that, like every other bit of business, there is a "Big Christmas Tree" monopoly racket going on. So "let's talk about the big business of Christmas trees." Via Quartz. 
• Reader's Digest looks at the history of candy canes and their invention. I admit that personally I am not a big fan of candy canes nor mint candies in general, but I can appreciate they are part of the holidays traditions for many folks.
   

 

 

Other trivia 

(other topics)

 

Five kittens peeking out of some Christmas stockings.

• Via Mental Floss, learn about 9 people who shaped Christmas as we know it now.
• The Library of Congress looks at a few holidays cocktails gone by. Maybe you want to try making one of these old time libations this year. 

That is all for today. Stay tuned for the next post in the series where I will be looking at "Gifts, Strange Things, and Other Shopping." Thanks for stopping by, and as always comments within reason are always welcome. 

Happy holidays, and remember, when all else fails. . . 

British style sign in red with white letters. Text: Keep calm and drink coquito.

 

 

Holiday Post 2022: Traditions, Manners, and Miscellany

Welcome to the first of my holiday posts for 2022 here at The Itinerant Librarian. For me, on the one hand, this year felt like it has lasted forever, yet month by month it seems months went by quick. It is a weird feeling that I cannot quite describe. Despite most people pretty much declaring the pandemic is over, the fact is the pandemic is certainly not done with us, and as I am writing this the news speak of a tripledemic (link to CBS news) just in time for the holiday season. My family and I continue to do our best to protect ourselves, taking whatever precautions we can. So, tripledemic or not, other bad news or not, because let's be honest, this year has not been that great either, let's take a break and enjoy the holidays. 

As in previous years, my family and I will be staying home for the holidays, and hopefully we will remain safe. As of this post, next week is finals week for the college students. After that, I have to work until the 21st, the Wednesday before the Christmas holiday. The Wednesday is allegedly a half a day. We'll see how that goes. Meanwhile, we will be making coquito at home soon (see below to learn a bit more about coquito).

Traditions and Manners

•  The U.S. Census Bureau has released their 2022 Facts for Features for the Holiday Season. For example, did you know that the value of U.S. imports from China of Christmas decorations for 2021 was $2.9 billion? As I often tell students, the U.S. Government keeps track of a lot of information, and they often put it together in neat reports if you know where to look. 
• Speaking of holiday trivia, PNC, the financial services company, has been calculating the price of the items in the song "The 12 Days of Christmas" for years. They are doing their Christmas Price Index again this year. Find out how much the partridge in the pear tree and other items in the song cost in today's economy. Find out also if the prices have increased or decreased from last year. It's a fun feature that also teaches folks a bit about costs and consumer spending. 
• Via Almanac.com, the nice folks who put out The Old Farmer's Almanac among other publications, we get "The Month of December 2022: Holidays, Fun Facts, Folklore." They do pack a lot of information and holiday trivia, so I'd say it's worth it taking a look. Some of the bits of information included: 
• A December calendar listing various holidays that fall in December.
• Moon and Astronomy information. 
• Some recipes. 
• The Biden White House is decked out for the holidays, and you can take a virtual tour at the White House website. 
• Maybe you want to start some new traditions for the holidays. Here are some more ideas via Good Housekeeping.  From the list I like making hot chocolate (as in homemade, not just from a packet), Christmas morning breakfast, honoring a loved one, and teaching your kids about giving back. On the other hand, I can do without the elf on the shelf.
  
• Some advice on surviving and coping with the holidays. Not everyone is happy about the holidays, and for some folks, this can be a difficult time for various reasons. So here are some items that could be of interest or that I hope might be helpful. Personally, I am glad we do not travel anywhere over the holidays. But if you have to travel, or you have to host travelers, some of this may be useful.
  
• Via Create Write Now, five steps to help you survive the holidays. This article does highlight a bit more advice for folks who may have issues with drinking and/or overindulging. 
• Are you traveling with children? WFTV has some advice on that.
• Sarasota Magazine offers the ultimate survival guide. 
• By the way, the holidays are not just Christmas. Our pagan friends celebrate a holiday or two at this time as well. So here are some items of interest for folks who may celebrate Winter Solstice, Yule, so on, or for folks who wish to learn more about the pagan holidays (you know, the original holidays).
  
• Reader's Digest has a list of 13 Winter Solstice holidays around the world. 
• Amanda Brethauer, The Peculiar Brunette, shares "Yule and Winter Solstice 2022: Meaning and Traditions for Yuletide." This post is generous in terms of information including definitions, rituals, and suggestions for mindfulness.
  

 

Before we go any further, here is a special Christmas and holidays edition of

Great Debates of Our Time

Today's topic: putting the up and putting down the Christmas tree. 

• Architectural Digest jumps in asking "when to put up your Christmas tree." They claim they are just giving suggestions. Back when I was growing up, in our house, mom made sure the tree went up the day after Thanksgiving, i.e. on Black Friday. At our home, we are bit more relaxed  but also busy with work, and we just get to it when we get to it. That means anywhere from a few days after Thanksgiving to about a week or so before Christmas. 
• The Telegraph on the other hand looks at when you need to take the tree down. I am Puerto Rican, and in our house, we keep the tree up well past Three Kings Day (Epiphany) and into the octavitas, which means almost til the end of January at least. I never quite get the rush Americans have to take down the tree pretty much the day after Christmas. I say enjoy it a bit longer. After all, you took the effort to put it up. Enjoy it a bit more before you take it down.
  

 

Now let's get back to the rest of the blog post.

 

Xmas Tree, Decorations, and Other Objects

If you have a cat, you can probably relate.

•  GQ presents the best artificial Christmas trees that will have them all fooled. I have not met an artificial tree that would make me think "oh, how natural it looks," and I doubt the ones here will make me think differently. Still, they show some nice trees in the article.  If you and your family prefer to go out and cut your own tree, that is perfectly OK. But if you prefer to have an artificial tree, this article may be of interest. In our home, we've had an artificial tree for years, and that option works fine for us. 
• Bob Vila offers 12 trends in Christmas decor for 2022. Nostalgia is apparently one of the big trends this year. Things like putting tinsel on your Christmas tree and ceramic trees are making a comeback for some folks. 
• There are still plenty of folks who send out Christmas cards. I still do, though the number of people I send them to has shrunk a bit over the years. The number of senders has gone down a bit too, but overall we do our best to maintain the tradition. If you send out Christmas cards, maybe you want to consider making your own. If that is the case, this article from Good Housekeeping magazine has some ideas to make your own Christmas cards. 
• In addition, here is a link to my holiday post from 2021 season because I posted some additional links related to holiday cards such as etiquette of sending holiday cards and what to write in them if you need a little help with the text. I still find the article on what to write in the card to be useful. Hopefully you find it useful too. Feel free to check out the post. 
•  For some folks, Christmas and holiday themed movies are a tradition. If you want some suggestions of what to watch, Cosmopolitan offers a list of 50 best family Christmas movies. From their list, I've seen the following: 
• The Polar Express (2004).
• How the Grinch Stole Christmas (2000).
• A Christmas Carol (2009, this is the animated one with Jim Carrey as Scrooge).
  
• A Muppet Christmas Carol (1992).
•  The Santa Clause (1994, where Tim Allen portrays Santa).
•  The Nightmare Before Christmas (1993).
•  Home Alone (1990).
• Home Alone 2 (1992). 
• Do note a lot of the films on their list are on Netflix, so if you are one of the few people who do not use nor subscribe to Netflix, you could be out of luck. In that case, may I suggest you do a run to your local public library. Your local public library usually has a good selection of films both in DVD and Blue Ray in the building as well as streaming options through services like Hoopla. Check with your local library. Odds are you will find something you may like. 
•  Need some amusement? The folks of the Smithsonian Libraries have their annual holiday jigsaw puzzles online. Check them out.
  

 

Music and songs

 

• Billboard has a list of new Christmas songs for 2022, and to be honest, I have not heard of a single one of them for the most part before finding the list. 
• Good Housekeeping has a list of 55 modern and new Christmas songs. On a side note, the links here and in Billboard send you to the Big A's music service. If you do not want that, you can always look them up in places like YouTube or your favorite music service. Or again, your local public library may have some options for music too.
   

 

Food and drink

•  Via The Grio, ideas to make a very nice charcuterie board (you know, the crackers and cheese and meats tray). In our home for holidays we do make a charcuterie plate. Maybe not as fancy as some of the ideas in the article, but it is nice, generous, and delicious, especially with a good wine or two. 
• Speaking of wine, you may want some wine, or maybe you prefer cocktails. So here are a couple of places to find some cocktail recipes for the holidays. Just remember if you drink, please do so in moderation and responsibly.
  
• Some easy Christmas cocktails from AllRecipes.com. As often the case, "easy" here can be a relative term. 
• Epicurious.com has their list of 37 festive Christmas cocktails. 

 

If you made it this far, thank you for reading. Stay tuned. Coming up next is the holiday post on "Gifts, strange items, and other shopping" where I like to look at some of those shopping lists out there and maybe poke fun at some of the more ridiculous options. That's coming up next. As always, feel free to comment if so moved. 

Meanwhile, have a safe and happy holidays season. 

P.S. Oh, I almost forgot. I promised you a little something about Puerto Rican coquito. This link from Discover Puerto Rico has the traditional recipe (that is the one I use, or close to it). They also offer a couple of additional flavored coquito recipes. I have not tried those, so I cannot vouch, but the traditional is great and very easy to make. If you want to try an alternative to the usual egg nog, give coquito a try. Oh, and for the love of anything you might consider holy, do not buy it pre-made in a bottle. Make your own. It's not difficult; the ingredients for the most part are relatively inexpensive. You'll thank me later.

 

 

Reading about the reading life: February 23, 2018 edition

Welcome to another edition of "Reading about the reading life" here at The Itinerant Librarian. This is where I collect stories about reading and the reading life. Basically, these are items related to reading, maybe writing and literacy, that I find interesting and think my four readers might find interesting as well with a little commentary. As with other features I do on this blog, I do it when I have time or feel like it. Comments are always welcome (within reason). 

 

I found some interesting things since the previous edition, so let's have a look. 

• A new look at Mario Vargas Llosa. The guy is 81, and he is still writing on. Via The New York Times. 
• Also via The New York Times, a look at the Hyman Archive in London, considered the largest archive of magazines in the world, at least according to Guinness. 
• You know we live in seriously shitty and rude times when a newspaper has to publish a list of etiquette books. Via The New York Times. 
• In Idaho, they recreated a book brigade to move books from one building to another. Via The Idaho Press-Tribune.
• At Lecturalia (Spanish language article), a look at the detectives that gave form to Hercule Poirot. 
• The Associated Press had recently yet another of those "OMG. Libraries are taking old books out" articles. It's called weeding people, and healthy libraries need to do it every so often. 
• Book Riot featured a nice profile of erotica editor and writer Rachel Kramer Bussel. If you want to read good erotica, forget that shady stuff and pick up some of her work instead. 
• The big honcho of some fancy high fallutin' publishing house recently said that e-books are stupid. That is it. Put those damn tablets down, you whippersnappers. Via The Guardian.
• Via The Conversation, how P.T. Barnum may have paved the way for the Pendejo In Chief. Part of this is in light of the recent Barnum biopic, but historically speaking Americans are notorious for embracing all kinds of showmen, con men, snake oil men, so on. Article also highlights a new book on the history of deception that I am thinking of adding to my TBR list. 
• I just found this interesting overall. A look at how American (US) funerary rites may be changing. The book connection comes in part because the article mentions Mitford's The American Way of Death. Via The Conversation. For a more recent look at the death industry in the U.S, I would also recommend Smoke Gets In Your Eyes, which I have read and reviewed.

A few Thanksgiving treats 2017

This week I get to work a short week due to the Turkey Day holiday. I will be working until Wednesday afternoon, then get the holiday and Friday off. Students get the Wednesday as well. We have no major plans to travel or have guests, and we are grateful for that. If you are traveling, I wish you safe journeys. If you are hosting people, I hope it is as stress free as possible and that some peace reigns in your celebration. So, while I am gone, here is a little trivia and entertainment for the holiday.

Pat Nixon with the White House Chefs in the kitchen, viewing the Thanksgiving turkey and vegetables, November 19, 1970. From the Nixon Presidential Library.

• Start with some trivia about the holiday. The U.S. Census Bureau has their Thanksgiving feature out so you can see the holiday by the numbers. 
• USA Today had some features for the holiday that may be of interest: 
• Many folks I have known are extremely informal about the Thanksgiving meal. Apparently, there is some etiquette rules that civilized people mind. Here are some highlights with my comments: 
• "Dress appropriately." Apparently just staying in pajamas is frowned upon. 
• "Never have more than one cocktail before dinner." This must have been proclaimed before the era of the Pendejo In Chief. You know your Trumpista crazy uncle is going to be loud. You are going to need something stronger to ignore him. Bonus if it puts you to sleep. 
• "Avoid discussing controversial or painful family subjects. This is a day to be together in a spirit of generosity and thankfulness for all you do have. Let it be so. Likewise, do not talk about your health — good or bad." This should require no further comment. It is simple: shut the fuck up on anything controversial or painful. The old rule of "avoid politics and religion" in polite company should be in full force.Oh, and Aunt Bertha, shut it about your sister Irma's hemorrhoids. 
•  Are you flying? Here is your reminder of the pains and tribulations you will be suffering unless you own a private jet. The Pendejo In Chief's TSA is certainly making the  airport experience much more invasive. 
• Are you one of those fine souls who likes to help others? You are thinking of going to help out at a soup kitchen or serve Thanksgiving dinner to the less fortunate on the holiday? Good for you, but the service agencies would rather you not. 
• On the positive, if you are running late on getting that turkey, and you are one of those nitpicky people who need it to be organic, antibiotic free, blah blah, Amazon has you covered as they are cutting prices on those at Whole Foods. 
• Is your Thanksgiving kind of blah? Do you need to give it some pizazz?  The Week suggests five ways to class it up. Because you are not showing enough gratitude for the blessings you may have unless you have a $200 gravy boat and a $25 cocotte (whatever the hell that is). 
• Still worried you might screw up the dinner? Don't worry, here is one of those chef articles you get this time of year with his "secrets" to be successful. Via Vox. Joking aside, the book featured in the article does sound interesting. 
• Are you driving there instead of flying? That could be a better option if it is viable for you. However, you may want to keep an eye on traffic conditions.You can also check on traffic trends to know when it may be best to travel, if you must. Via Lifehacker. 
• Need a bit more help with preparing and making the meal? Here is a list of a few books and DVDs that could help. Via Shelf Talk. 
• By the way, did you know turkey is not really responsible for you falling asleep after the meal? Read why here. Story via The Conversation.
• If turkey is not your thing, well, chicken is an option. Here is a bit more radical option. Via Foodiggity.
• As mentioned here and in other places, Thanksgiving dinner can be a stressful time for various reasons. If you must either host or go to someone's home, you may want to take a few deep breaths. Here are also some Buddhist practices to help you get grounded for the event (applicable too for Christmas later on) via Tricycle. 
• Still have to put up with some stubborn Pendejo In Chief fan? There is a hotline you can call to help you out if you need some constructive talking points to deal with them and more. Via SUJR.
• And here is a little something to help you reflect on gratitude, which is a big part of Thanksgiving. If you keep a journal, you may want to consider doing this 31 Days of Gratitude journaling challenge, starting December 1st. Via Writing Through Life. I am seriously thinking about doing it.

Booknote: Yankee Magazine's Living Well on a Shoestring

The Editors of Yankee Magazine, Yankee Magazine's Living Well on Shoestring: 1,501 tried-and-true hints, tips, and secrets to help you reduce your spending and live well every day. Dublin, NH: Yankee Books, 2000.  ISBN: 978-0-965-18894-4.

Genre: nonfiction
Subgenre: home economics, frugality, finance, tips and advice, self-help, Americana
Format: trade paperback
Source: Better Half bought it at Half Price Books on clearance

The Better Half enjoys reading self-help books, and she bought this one cheap. She kept it in the bathroom, so it became bathroom reading for me too. On a side note, I am seriously considering starting a book review feature for old and "vintage" type books, books that may be forgotten, or that "may be a bit past the expiration date." Stay tuned for deity of choice knows I come across plenty of those.

The book is organized  into 30 chapters. It provides tips and advice for frugal folks on topics from budgeting to decorating the house to vacations. If there is a penny to be pinched and saved, the book editors probably found it. The book does deserve credit for being, or attempting to be, very comprehensive. It does include advice and tips even for things you might not think of right away like dealing with some larger expenses and dealing with financial emergencies; it even provides some suggestions on how to hire a lawyer should you need one. There are many things here that no one teaches in home economics (or whatever they call it these days), or just plain do not teach at all. So in that regard, it is a useful book.

A disadvantage of the book is that it is falling out of date at a pretty quick pace on many topics. It was published in 2000, and it shows. For example, there are mentions of the Internet as if it is this new thing; we are way past that stage by now. So if you read this book, do keep an attentive eye. Some tips are still applicable and relevant today. Others, as I said, are out of date. Pick and choose wisely. In addition, some of the tips and ideas they suggest are not always as realistic as they make them sound. They often assume you already have certain supplies in your home, which to be honest is not as likely as they would like to think.

The book overall has its pluses and minuses. It does have a certain folksy charm to it that makes it easy to read. In addition to the tips and strategies, they include some short personal stories from Yankee Magazine readers, some of which are amusing. I liked the book; I think people can still get a some things out of it, but it could use a serious update. These days read it more for the "folksy charm" than for its practicality.

3 out of 5 stars.

* * * * * 

Additional reading notes:

Just some things that caught my eye enough to want to share: 

The wonders of a cordless phone (and by the way, slightly sexist since this seems to be geared a bit more to women. Overall, a lot of the book seems more for housewives. As if men do not cook). So, buy a cordless phone so you can cook hands-free in the kitchen. And you even,

". . .can take the same phone with you while you wash windows, ride your exercise bike, or wind yarn" (163).

Or you can take your cellphone with you to go walking or jogging and leave the house once in a while.

A nice piece of advice, which is making a  comeback, is their suggestion for family game nights. Bring out your board games, some simple snacks, and have a nice time.

* * * * * 

This book qualifies for the following 2017 Reading Challenges:

Holiday Post 2016: Traditions, Manners, and Other Miscellany

The academic semester is over; it ended last Friday. Now I am on the final stretch until Christmas. This week before Christmas I am working through Thursday, December 22, and then I will get a break until a bit after New Year's Day. For the last couple of years or so, it has been a tradition here at The Itinerant Librarian to make a few posts for the holidays. I do these mostly to amuse myself and to give my four readers something for entertainment while I am off celebrating the holidays. So before we get started, let me take this opportunity to wish one and all, near and far, a safe and happy holiday season in whatever way, shape or form you choose to celebrate it or not. Paz y amor.

The Christmas tree is up at our house. We managed to put  it up last weekend. This year, our cat Autumn passed on, and after some mourning, a new cat joined our family: Clio the torbie (a tortie + tabby), who by now is about 2-years old. We got her in April, and the people at the shelter told us she was about year and half at the time. Anyhow, this is her first Christmas in a house, and her first Christmas tree. Lucky for us, she has not gone crazy climbing up the tree. She just nicely lies under it.

The coquito will get made this week. If you are interested, I wrote about that Puerto Rican Christmas tradition last year, including some tips on how to make it.

So let's get on with the stories and links about traditions, manners, and other miscellany:

If you enjoy holiday season trivia, the U.S. Census Bureau always has their Facts for Features series for holidays and observances. Here is their document for the 2016 holiday season.

Christmas cards and greetings

Many people love sending and receiving Christmas/holiday cards. We certainly do. You probably should have gotten them out by now, but I believe you still have today if you are running a bit late so they get there by Christmas. In our house, we also celebrate Three Kings Day, a.k.a. Epiphany, so if a card or two arrives a bit later, it is perfectly fine.

• Via The Pen Company blog, here are a few etiquette tips for writing Christmas/holiday cards.
• The Emily Post Institute also offers plenty of advice on etiquette and manners about holiday cards, notes, newsletters, so on you may find useful. 
• If you have a sense of humor, maybe you want to send one of these humorous holiday cards. Story via Mental Floss.
• Rock and roll more your thing? Dangerous Minds has a few rock-themed cards you could consider.

Decking the halls and adornments

Let's have a look at some of the things people do to decorate and make things more cheerful.

• Some people go all out decorating their homes and putting up light displays. If you like looking at light displays, here are 14 Christmas light shows you can look at. Via Mental Floss.
• Here are some holiday ornaments for book lovers via Book Riot. They also have a few other bookish holiday decorations. 
• Want to put something different on your Christmas tree? How about some Anton LaVey tree decorations? Via Dangerous Minds.
• Some people put a Nativity scene in their homes as part of their holiday decorations. Now anyone can put out the same old creche. This year, how about going with a hipster nativity? Yes, there is such a thing, and you can read about it at Dangerous Minds.
• Here is how you make a simple but nice Christmas wreath out of candy. Via Dollar Store Crafts.
• Now, you may think putting up a few lights and decorations  is not big deal. Turns out there are various risks and hazards in the task such as fall, cuts, and even choking. Via Mental Floss.

Shopping and money

Whether we like it or not, shopping is a big deal of the holidays' season. Some people enjoy it and have fun with it. Others find it to be a big source of stress. Yet others cannot afford to buy gifts for others. In the end, for what it is worth, keep in mind much of the season is supposed to be about peace and goodwill to others. So if what you have to offer is time, or treats you make, or just being there, go with that. Here are some links on shopping and money:

• Some people suggest that you should start your holiday shopping early. This year, I got much of my holiday shopping done early because I bought things gradually and stowed them away for when I needed them. That way, I could avoid shopping out of panic or pressure but rather could take my time finding things and buying them as time and leisure allowed, often at a good price. Plus I could find a few things I might find during the holiday season. However, for some folks, there may be an advantage to shop at the last minute. Wise Bread offers nine reasons to shop at the last minute. One thing I see is the point about discounts. Overall, I am not sure I am totally convinced, but I will leave it to my readers to decide. Feel free to comment. Do you shop early, or do you leave it to the last minute? Why or why not? 
• One of the sources of stress around the holidays are the unexpected expenses. You just when you thought you had everything planned out, something unexpected siphons money from your budget. Via Parenting Squad, here are some ways to deal with  those unexpected expenses. Some of it does boil down to being prepared. I like their idea of, if possible, putting a little money aside just for the little curve balls life has a way of throwing at you.
• I am not honestly sure how many people actually practice holiday tipping. I mean tipping you may do for folks that provide you regular service over the year such  as your postal carrier or delivery person, your baby or pet sitter, and your hair stylist. I remember growing up, my parents did some of that with our local garbage collector (this was back when garbage collectors were municipal employees you got to know personally and not the corporate drones  you got now who just drive the mechanized truck and do not pick up anything extra) and some others that, again, they knew personally. In my case, I am not well enough to employ most of those people on a regular basis. A housekeeper? Bitch, please. But if you do, and you want  to tip but are not sure how much, here is a handy infographic with a guide of  what is  customary to  tip for certain regular services. Via Mental Floss. Again, question for the readers: anyone  out there tip any folks for regular services like housekeepers, sitters kids and/or pets, hair stylists, other service providers? Feel free to comment.
• I do not know about you, but I am not a huge fan of holiday parties, especially office parties where one or two people who happen to love partying and gossiping guilt trip the rest of of the office into some potluck. However, if you must bring some treat, you are not the incarnation of Martha Stewart, and you do not want to break the bank, here are some suggestions for no-bake holiday treats. Via Wise Bread.
• Side note: Here are some additional thoughts on the whole office party and office gift giving dynamic via Library Lost and Found. For me, much like the blogger, holidays at the office are more of a minefield to be avoided at all costs. I prefer celebrating with family and actual friends in private.

Other miscellaneous things

This is where I am putting everything else I found of interest, but I was not sure how to sort it out.

• Perhaps you need to take little time for yourself, or you want to reflect a bit. If you want to start a journal, or you already have one, this season is a good time to write in that journal. Via CreateWriteNow, here are some journaling ideas for the holiday season. For some introverts, this may be specially helpful.
• Are you having people over for the holidays? Did you clean the house? If you did, good for you. Whether you did or not, here are some last minute tips and ideas to get your house clean for guests. Via A Debt Free Mess Free Life. 
• For those of you hosting folks, here are some simple kitchen hacks to help you out if you are cooking. Infographic via Mental Floss. I admit the gravy in the thermos thing did not occur to me, but I am sure some old hands out there knew that trick.
• If you are hosting, you might offer chips and dips as part of the snacks. However, I might urge you to reconsider if you are tempted to serve the Pringles holiday flavors. Read about them at Foodiggity.
• Need some music? Here are some vintage Christmas classics, via Mental Floss.
• Want to do something different? How about a few Christmas horror films? Via BuzzyMag.
• The holidays a bit too much? Do you feel overextended? Taking on too much? May you want to consider some ways to simplify your life during the holidays. Via Get Organized Wizard.
• And as the year ends, you may want to consider doing a little end of year reflection. Here is an interesting suggestion via Zen Habits.
• Finally, this season can be very rough on introverts like me. So, after you are done with dealing with people sucking the energy out of you, here are some ways for you to recharge. Via PopSugar.

And if you happen to have people over, and it turns out there are way too many of them, you can do what El Gran Combo de Puerto Rico does: once they get too obnoxious, "pa' fuera!" ("out you go!"):





Have a safe and happy holiday season. Stay tuned this week for other holiday posts including things about weird gifts and reading suggestions. Hope you will come back,

Booknote: True Ladies and Proper Gentlemen

Sarah A. Chrisman and Thomas E. Hill, True Ladies and Proper Gentlemen: Victorian Etiquette for Modern-Day Mothers and Fathers, Husbands and Wives, Teachers and Students and More. New York: Skyhorse Publishing, 2015. ISBN: 978-1-63220-582-7.

Genre: nonfiction
Subgenre: etiquette and manners, Victoriana
Format: hardcover
Source: Berea branch of the Madison County (KY) Public Library

This is basically a compilation of Victorian-era etiquette rules, tips, and advice. The author seeks to show how much of those rules is still relevant  and applicable to this day. After reading the book, I agree that the Victorians still have much to offer us in terms of etiquette and social behavior. Many of the rules they had back then are still with us today, plus there are a few that would be very applicable in today's lax and often rude society.

The book is arranged in ten chapters covering topics from romance and courting to health to table etiquette and behavior on the street. Each chapter features a list of rules and advice plus some kind of  fiction piece from the time to illustrate the rules of behavior. The fiction pieces felt more like filler. After reading the first fiction piece, I just skimmed or skipped the others as they were not as interesting. I felt those pieces detracted from the rest of the book. As for the rules, they vary. Some are still good and relevant. A few may strike some readers as odd or quirky, and they may be glad those rules are gone. Overall, we get a good picture of rules and behavior in Victorian times.

Keep in mind, these rules are mostly for the privileged and those of means. Those who aspired to move up also read them and tried to follow them. Even though the author draws much material from Hill's Manual, an 1873 etiquette book aimed at the American middle class, the material is mainly to help the upwardly mobile so they knew how to behave among the rich and privileged. In the late 19th century United States, social mobility upwards seemed very possible (very unlike today), so etiquette manuals were written with  that in mind:

"Class status was a more malleable  idea than it had ever been before-- after all, both President Lincoln and President Garfield had been born in log cabins. In an era when it seemed a very definite possibility that the person who served as a waiter in a fine restaurant one day might well be an honored guest at the same table a week later, one of the most important things people could learn was the right way to treat each other" (viii). 

As I mentioned, there is a lot of privilege here. The Victorian era in  the United States was also its Gilded Age, the era of robber barons. A popular narrative of the time were the Horatio Alger myths and his (mostly unrealistic but very popular) tales of Ragged Dick.

I liked the book, but it did have hits and misses. Still, it is worth a look, and it does have a few lessons for folks today.

3 out of 5 stars.

* * * * * 

Additional reading notes:

Some advice for  husbands and wives:

"Never deceive; confidence, once lost, can never be wholly regained" (39).

"Always leave home with a tender goodbye and loving words. They may be the last" (39). 

Advice for parents:

"Teach your children those things which they will need when they become men and women. Think what a man and woman need to know in order to be healthy, happy, prosperous and successful, and teach them that" (91).

A pity this is not done in schools anymore, teaching etiquette. Parents these days certainly do not bother teaching it to their kids anymore, and it shows. So, on classrooms and etiquette:

"At least a portion of each day should be set apart by the teacher to impart to the pupils a knowledge of etiquette. Students should be trained to enter the room quietly, to always close without noise the door through which they pass, to make introductions gracefully, to bow with ease and dignity, to shake hands properly, to address others courteously, to make a polite reply when spoken to, to sit and stand gracefully, to do the right thing in the right place, and thus, upon all occasions, to appear to advantage" (102). 

There is a reason why  many colleges and universities, including mine, have career workshops on topics like how to dress and how to behave at a business dinner. Otherwise, a lot of those graduates would have no clue.

Hey, even then, the Victorians said to shop local:

"Purchasers should, as far as possible, patronize the merchants of their own town. It is poor policy to send money  abroad for articles which can be bought as cheaply at home" (111).

Some things to avoid in social conversation, still very applicable today:

"Do not engage in argument" (127).

"Do not interrupt another when speaking" (127).

"Do not talk of your private, personal, and family matters" (127).

"Do not make a pretense of gentility, nor parade the fact that you are a descendant of any notable family. You must pass for just what you are, and must stand on your own merit" (130).

"Do not discuss politics or religion in general company. You probably would not convert your opponent, and he will not convert you. To discuss these topics is to arouse feeling without any  good result" (130-131). 

This next piece goes to certain people who just love to brag and showoff. These days, they are the ones who constantly fill our social media  feeds with unwanted photos of expensive trips, etc. This also applies to various snooty academics:

"Do not make a parade of being acquainted with distinguished or wealthy people, of having been to college, or of having visited foreign lands. All this is no evidence of any real genuine worth on your part" (131). 

And finally, once more on keeping religion out of polite company:

"Do not take it upon yourself to admonish comparative strangers on religious topics; the persons to whom you speak may have decided convictions of their own in opposition to yours, and your over-zeal may seem to them an impertinence" (132). 

* * * * * 

This book qualifies for these 2016 Reading Challenges:

Booknote: Best Sex Writing of the Year, Volume 1

Jon Pressick, ed., Best Sex Writing of the Year, Volume 1: On Consent, BDSM, Porn, Race, Sex Work, and More. Berkeley, CA: Cleis Press, 2015. ISBN: 9781627780865.

Want to buy it? You can get it from the publisher here (which also has links to buy as e-book if preferred). 
Want to borrow it? Find it in your local library via WorldCat.

Genre: nonfiction
Subgenre: LGBTQIA, Gender Studies, essay, relationships, sexual politics
Format: trade paperback
Source: Provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

"We all still censor ourselves when we talk about sex--a bad habit we need to break" (20), --Epiphora, "What Should We Call Sex Toys?", from the book Best Sex Writing of the Year, Volume 1. 

This is a nonfiction collection of essays and other pieces on various topics somehow related to sex. What makes this a great read and a solid collection is the diversity of topics presented. Some of the topics included are:

• consent and disability
• sex work, in various forms
• sex toys
• sex education
• BDSM and sobriety

The book opens with a foreword by porn actress and activist Belle Knox that serves to put the book in context.  She reminds us of our fascination with sex, but just as people are fascinated they also have a complex reactions to sex ranging from curiosity, acceptance, and enjoyment to suppression and repression. Sex can be a polarizing topic. It is also something that has a myriad of expressions and forms. Way I see it, sex can be this fantastic voyage into a land of many experiences, forms, shapes, and expressions, and even a taboo or two. As Knox writes,

"It's easy to forget that outside of our own, seemingly normal sex lives, the world has thousands of different stories and experiences to share with we may not otherwise have imagined" (ix). 

The book provides a small but very good sampling of those different stories and experiences we may have not even considered. I also believe after reading it the book may provide validation and reassurance to some regarding their experiences and feelings.

After the foreword, editor Jon Pressick writes an introduction where he tells a bit about the state of sex writing and media. Sex is not as hidden as it used to be, and yes, the Internet's expansion has had a role in that. This book reflects that. The selections come from books and magazines, and they also come from various online sources. This is how Pressick describes it:

"Sure, magazines and books are still tremendous sources of content about the wild world of sex. But more and more, those blogs, information sites, daily digests and much more are becoming the must reads. Which is why the writers and curators of online content figure so significantly in this collection" (xiii-xiv). 

Both as librarian and reader, I know that to be true. When it comes to sex, erotica, some porn even, I read and acquire some books, magazines, and media. I also read and follow regularly various blogs and sites, many of them via my RSS feed reader, to stay informed and entertained. And these days you can find a lot from educational material to porn and erotica for every niche to essays and personal pieces. As a librarian, one of my skills is evaluating and curating content. I can certainly appreciate the hard work Pressick must have done in selecting the pieces for this volume given so many choices. He has done an excellent job selecting great nonfiction on sex with pieces that are timely, informative, moving at times, and accessible. If you have not done much reading of nonfiction sex writing, or you have not read it at all, this book is a great introduction to the genre.

It is a very accessible book, and that is strength. Some other nonfiction books on sex I've felt that you already have to be "in the know," be part of the club, clique, collective, whatever you wish to call it. Not here. Whether you are a beginner satisfying your curiosity or an advanced reader checking out what is the best on the topic, there is something here for you. There are 29 essays of varying length addressing a broad range of topics and issues. You can certainly read the book cover to cover, but you can also browse and pick and choose what to read and in what order to read it.

You will also find a range of emotions in the readings. Some pieces are light, even humorous. One or two may upset you, and some may even move you, maybe even make you shed a tear or two. That's because the writers here are exposing deep parts of their souls; they are very often opening themselves, making themselves vulnerable so that we may learn from their experiences, so that we may open our minds to many possibilities and experiences. Often it is so we may see life as it is, the reality behind the fantasy. These are all brave writers, and I am grateful they have chosen to share their worlds and experiences. Many of them are explorers who go out to the edge then return to tell us about it. In some instances, maybe you feel like you are doing a little exploring as well. As Pressick writes in his introduction, and this is something I agree with, "after reading these works, maybe you'll open a few doors of your own" (xv).

Overall, this is an excellent book. Most anthologies vary in quality with some pieces better than others. Here I can safely say the majority of selections are great, and you can't really go wrong here. There really is something for every reader. Though I got this copy for review, I would say this is one I would have been happy to get for my collection. I will probably reread parts of it here and there.

I do recommend it for libraries, both public and academic. It can be a risque book, so for public libraries you will have to assess how open minded or not your community is. For academic libraries, especially if you have strong women and gender studies programs and/or health and sexual education programs, this is one you should have. I'd certainly consider it for my library.

I am definitely recommending and talking about it with others. I noticed this is volume one. I certainly hope there will be a volume two, three, so on.

5 out of 5 stars.

* * * * * 

Let me take a moment and highlight some of the selections. There are many choices I could have made here, but I am choosing a few to keep this part of the post brief. Plus, I do want you to read the book and find your own favorites:

• Fiona Helmsley's "Captain Save-A-Ho" is a good opening piece. It is both moving and humorous. You may smile, but it will be bittersweet. 
• Ember Swift frankly discusses a topic many women and couples often try to hide or avoid in "Pregger Libido." It is a short, concise piece that can serve as a conversation starter for many folks out there. 
• For me, Joan Price's "Sharing Body Heat" was one of the most moving pieces in this anthology. As someone who has been married for many years, it spoke to me. Also, it reminded me of my father's pain when my mother, the love of his life, passed. This was the essay that made me hold back a tear. 
• Rachel Kramer Bussel's piece, "Kinky, Sober, and Free; BDSM in Recovery" is a must read, whether BDSM is your interest or not. She provides an honest and revealing look at the BDSM world. It is not always pretty and glamorous, given the presence of drugs and alcohol in many places where it may well be taken for granted. But in the end, you can (and probably should) navigate and enjoy this world sober and safe. After all, safe is part of "safe, sane, and consensual." 
• Finally, I cannot wrap up without mentioning Lynn Comella's account of the failures of sex education in Nevada high schools. If this does not outrage you, you are either one of those willfully repressed and ignorant people part of the problem or just plain blind. The author highlights high school students' own stories, often filled with a sense of betrayal because educators and parents failed them and neglected to give them the essential health and sexuality information they needed. This is a solid piece of reporting folks in other school districts ought to read. 

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This book qualifies for the following 2015 Reading Challenges:

Reading about the reading life: June 26, 2015

Welcome to another edition of "Reading about the reading life" here at The Itinerant Librarian. This is where I collect stories about reading and the reading life. Basically, these are items related to reading, maybe writing and literacy, that I find interesting and think my four readers might find interesting as well with a little commentary.As with other features I do on this blog, I do it when I have time or feel like it. Comments are always welcome (within reason). 

• Are you looking for some manly reading ideas? The Art of Manliness has a list of "36 Books for Ambitious Men." I must not be terribly ambitious, as I have only read one or two, and I have no interest in the rest. But hey, I am sure others may find the list of interest. If you do read from it, feel free to come back and let me know your thoughts.
• Now this story about the urban fiction writer Zane caught my eye. It turns out that even though she has been very successful as a writer, well, as a manager of her finances she is not so good. Add to it that she has made some really bad decisions, and apparently surrounded herself with one or two dishonest persons, and you get a recipe for the disaster she is facing now, including being labeled as Maryland's top tax deadbeat. The story comes from The Washingtonian. I admit that I have been curious about her books and the urban fiction (often also known as "ghetto lit") genre, but I have not gotten around to reading any of her books yet. My local public library has some, so I may give one a try down the road.
• Here is a little tidbit on etiquette and matters. Via 365 Letters, learn a bit on "How to Write a Thank-You Note."
• Those who know me know that I try to read widely. They also know that I rarely read bestseller stuff. Shane Parrish makes an argument for avoiding best-selling books if you want to read more. Why? Well, in brief, "Avoid most best-selling books. These books are not fertile ground for learning and acquiring knowledge. In fact, most are forgotten within a year or two. Why learn something that expires so quickly?" I can certainly concur with that, especially when it comes to nonfiction books on topics that are pretty ephemeral. This is a topic that I could reflect upon further, so stay tuned. I might write more on it down the road. In the meantime, you can read the full essay via The Week. 
• Need some ideas on how you can read more books? Zen Habits published a post that is "The Delightfully Short Guide to Reading More Books." It really is short, so you can absorb the advice then get to reading those books. 
• Here is an older piece via Rhodia Drive on commonplace books and a suggestion for readers to start one if they do not have one. I do not have a formal commonplace book, but my personal journal at times does serve the function of a commonplace book. The definition of what a commonplace book is from the article is: ". . .essentially handwritten scrapbooks filled with items of every kind: recipes, quotes, letters, poems, tables of weights and measures, proverbs, prayers, legal formulas, etc. These commonplaces were used by readers, writers, students, and scholars as an aid for remembering useful concepts, or facts they had learned and each book would be unique to its owners particular interests." Along with my musings, parts of my journals do contain some of the elements listed in the definition such as quotes, proverbs, and other concepts I want to remember. I also keep a form of an online commonplace book with my blog Alchemical Thoughts.
• This is an item I have had sitting on my feed reader cue for a while, and I think it is a good reference source for readers' advisers as well as readers who want to learn more on the topic. A while back, The Advocate published "Yaoi: The Art of Japanese Gay Comics." The article provides a bit of a primer on yaoi manga and offers some titles to read. 
• Another item that has been sitting on my feed reader cue, but an interesting one. Via Global Voices, a look at "Indigenous Libraries as Social Venues." 
• On a note of interest that should get the attention of more than just librarians and researchers, The New York Times featured an editorial last week calling for the Congressional Research Service (CRS) to make its reports open and fully available to the public. Read the article, then you may want to contact your representatives and legislators to help implement this. Right now, few private nonprofits collect these reports and make them available, such as the Federation of American Scientists, and the only ones who often know about this are librarians. This is material that belongs to the people, and thus the people need to demand free and open access to it.
• Also via The New York Times, an interesting piece about Malaysians discovering and reading more pulp fiction, usually via alternative sources like "pop-up" book markets since the regular bookstores rarely if not all carry those newer titles. Titles include topics such as "risqué tales of crime, horror and gritty young love that are written in Malay and aimed at young Muslim Malaysians."
• And this is an oldie, but given today's historic decision given how we like graphic novels here, here are some notes via Lambda Literary on comic books embracing LGBTQIA characters.

Booknote: Being Dead Is No Excuse

Gayden Metcalfe and Charlotte Hays,  Being Dead Is No Excuse: the Official Southern Ladies Guide to Hosting the Perfect Funeral. New York: Miramax Books, 2005. ISBN: 9781401359348.

Genre: Nonfiction
Subgenre: regional, etiquette and manners, funerary customs,  food, Southern  U.S., humor (well, there is some humor.)
Format: Hardcover.
Source: My local public library.

This book may sound morbid on the surface, but this guide to U.S. southern manners and behavior for funerals, using Greenville, Mississippi as model, has amusing moments and humor. Food is a big part of southern funerals, so the book also includes some authentic southern recipes. Funerals in the Delta are not just funerals; they are full-blown social events. As the authors write,

"A nice funeral is good for everybody. If the family has been through a long, painful sickness, it's a chance to pull themselves together, spruce up, sober up, and put on their best dark clothes (white is acceptable during the Delta summer) and bid the dearly departed a formal farewell" (28). 

The book strives to settle some deep questions, such as who does better food for funerals. Is it the Episcopalian ladies or the Methodist ladies? This is discussed in the second chapter of the book.  On the one hand, Methodists seem to have the upper hand in covered dish casseroles, and "historically, Methodists are better behaved than Episcopalians" (33). On the other hand, Episcopalians do drink and do so more openly. Yet, if you are not too pretentious, given that being pretentious is apparently a requirement of a southern funeral, then Methodist cooking may be for you. Heck, "when polled anonymously, many Episcopalians admit to a secret preference for the eclectic Methodist goo" (35). I do think the use of the word "goo" may reveal the authors' biases a bit.

Chapter 3 discusses the delicate art and taste of having a good obituary, an obituary that tastefully focuses on your positives. However, you do have to do it right:

"There is a difference between touching up a few details and an extreme make-over. In an obituary, you must strive to make the deceased look their best-- but not look like somebody else. After all, this is a moment for which they've been waiting all their lives. Selectivity is the key to success in this delicate undertaking" (68). 

This can include what can, politely at best, be called a white lie or two. Are you a lady who did not finish college because going to parties and dating boys and taking hard classes were a problem? You made a choice, and the choice was dropping out of college for boys and parties? Not a problem. You can go to college and graduate posthumously. That's Southern right there just as long as you have the right obituary writer.

In the end, the book is quite a look at aristocratic southern culture via its funerary rituals. Well, aristocratic or pretending to maintain that image. There a lot of rituals and details in a good southern funeral. At times, I found amusing some of the rituals and details, but there are also things that struck me as a bit ridiculous. Chalk it up to them being southern I suppose (versus me not being southern, i.e. to them I suppose I would not "get it.").

The book overall was a good read. It does have a lot of recipes included, which makes sense since food is such a big part of the funerals. A lot of the recipes are what I would describe as very "old school," but this is about tradition after all. I am just saying you won't see these recipes on cooking television unless it's some show with some modern chef coming to yell at them for serving Civil War era food in the 21st century. The book was entertaining, but it was also a bit stuffy at times. In the end, I liked it, but it was not a big deal.

I am giving it 3 out of 5 stars.

* * * 

Here are a few more notes of things I wanted to remember or found amusing in the book:

In the South,  good note writing skills and manners are crucial. You do not want to be the woman that others say "I bet her mother wasn't a Southern girl" (75). It is a Southern mother's duty to make sure her children (and we assume here this means her girls) can write good notes. So, how does a note from a Southern girl work?

"A note from a Southern girl never has a fill-in-the-blank feel. There is nothing generic about it. A Southern girl has to stop herself from gushing more than Old Faithful. If she is writing a thank-you note for a toaster, she doesn't just say thank you. She tells you about every little ol' thing she's ever toasted in it or is likely to toast in it. In a sympathy note, she doesn't say that Uncle Willie who has been lost will now be missed-- she recalls the cute bow ties Uncle Willie always wore. She does not recall that he also had a cute mistress named Lorene" (75). 

The book speaks further on the importance of stationery. Monograms on stationery do need to be really engraved so they pass the "finger test." An exception could be made, but otherwise, do not go cheap:

"Of course, we invented shabby genteel down here, and we really don't mind if a family scrimps because of actual economic hardship. We are not pleased, however, when somebody who made a good crop last year resorts to that cheesy, pre-printed stationery supplied by the funeral home. A death is the time for the best stationery  you can afford" (76). 

However, there may be moments to be glad you live in a small town. A sudden death can be a reminder of this:

"People in small towns instinctively want to help each other through a crisis. In good times, you're always complaining that everybody knows your business. In bad times, you know that the covered dishes are on the way. The smaller the town, the more food you will get" (143). 

As a private introvert, people all wanting to know my business in a small town has been a bit of an adjustment, balancing between being open and friendly and setting boundaries without appearing to be rude. Part of me wonders if I get to live here (Berea, KY) long enough if a covered dish or two might show up at my funeral (it is not as Southern as the Deep South here, but they still have enough Southern here at the edge of Appalachia).

And speaking of funeral food in the South, here is a not-so-secret secret:

"A cardinal rule of Southern funeral cooking: Fresh is not best" (145).

So expect casseroles, carbs, and things made with a base of mushroom soup. For many, that is definitely comfort food. For me, it's pizza and pasta, so feel free to bring plenty to my funeral.

Now, funeral food comes friends, family, so on. A lot of covered dishes come in. How do you, the recipient, keep track of who brought what and where to return the empty dish? There is a solution for that too: calling cards. No, they are not just for leaving in the little silver tray when you visit:

". . . attaching them to the funeral food offering. We write what we brought on the other side. This not because we insist upon being thanked but because we know we will be, and we want to make it as easy as possible for the family member in charge of notes to do so without being embarrassed by not having the foggiest what we brought" (210). 

And after the funeral, a restorative cocktail is a good thing. It might even help folks finish off that pineapple casserole. Right after a funeral you need two things to celebrate life, and those are friends and alcohol. I can certainly agree with that. Such time for friends and drinking after the funeral is "also a good time to reminisce about the person who has died and to celebrate life" (213). I know when mom passed away, we did some good drinking back home, and we did reminisce quite a bit while were at it. Because in the end, whether you have a big fancy funeral or a small simple ritual, it is about celebrating life, the life of the one dearly departed and the lives of those who remain.

* * * 

This book qualifies for the following 2015 Reading Challenges: