Dear Friend,
I hope you are able to enjoy and spend time with friends, family, and your community. From our family to yours, we wish you a very happy holiday season. Earlier this year, I shared that I am very big on hobbies like biking. But did you know, I also enjoy writing poetry? Before we sign off for the holidays, I wanted to share something I wrote especially for the occasion.
Fishes and Wishes
Everyday people interrupt their everyday lives to eat, play board games, eat again, watch Elf, Die Hard and It’s a Wonderful Life -- eating again before closing their eyes and going to bed, then awakening and eating to start the next day.
Together, distant family, joy, presents, ham, cookies, overstuffed sox by the fireplace, underwear wrapped as if it where the most necessary gift and relatable common threads are the blocks that build the days that honor our faiths, spirituality, and New Year’s hope.
From latkes fried to golden perfection in miracle oil and guiding light to brown sugar glazed walnuts on top of sweat potatoes, every celebration is a personality, not really a meal. Every memory warmly retold to countless audiences and every chestnut, cheese, plate, napkin, and spoon revered, earning tradition status to be repeated just so year after year.
A uniqueness and eager recollections make us long to go back in time and determined to share the religious celebration and bountiful exercise with new participants and growing families.
Often, it is an inquiring Italian or Catholic wanting to compare notes, tails of abundance and a romantic celebration of times gone by but always the question brings a smile to my face - do you eat seven fishes on Christmas Eve?
Baked, fried, steamed, sautéed, seared, cocktailed, and filleted, one by one the fishes come and all at once the serving platters join the party for a miracle on every street leaving a mess in every kitchen. Eating seven of anything in one-night sounds arduous but on Christmas Eve it is done with little effort and robust energy.
A church visit, a bright magnificent star, immaculate birth, and inspirational story coexisting with despair, worry and fear. Imagine a menu that included seven wishes served alongside the culinary courses. Savor the taste of peace, love and civility rising off the charcuterie to titillate the pallet appetizing. Smiles and laughter warmed to perfection, becoming a gourmet chef’s main course dreams filling our souls. A family’s acceptance, a sibling’s forgiveness a new day baked, scooped and frosted as the sweetest desserts.
Thank you for your support always. I am very grateful for the year that we had. As we kick off into the new year, I am excited to make many more memories.
Be well my friend,
Anthony Portantino
