in the season, obligations

happy december! one of the things that i like best about this month is the multitude of celebrations, something for nearly everyone: hanukah, the end of the fall semester, winter solstice, christmas, kwanzaa, new year's eve. i always vow to be better prepared to enjoy the season with friends and family, but somehow never quite get it together in time. nevertheless, i still like the end of the year.

i just finished a great book, bought on a whim in chicago o'hare after i missed my flight: the namesake. in this simple, textured novel by jhumpa lahiri, a bengali-american man, the son of immigrant parents, grows up trying to negotiate his way between two cultures of which he is both a part of and somewhat marginalized by. the story highlights this son's obligations to his family, both the ones he fulfills and shuns. it made me wonder about my own sense of obligation to my family, in particular, my mother. let's see...it is understood that we will talk once every two weeks at a minimum, that i will visit her at home at least once a year, that i will be honest, and that i will help when called. is that it? under what circumstances would i, like some of the characters in the book, put aside my personal comfort and ambitions in order to serve my family? hmmm...

just something to think about as i look forward to spending christmas with my peoples.