MERRY CHRISTMAS AND HAPPY HANUKKAH!!!

Best wishes to everyone celebrating Christmas. This year, we are celebrating in North Carolina for the first time. My four children and Luna drove down with us two days ago.

As many on the blog know, we have always gone to Chicago for Christmas. However, the illness of a loved one in Durham led us to change our plans at the last minute. The four kids came through like champions. We rented a house in Durham near my inlaws.

Due to my Catholic and my wife’s Jewish traditions, we celebrate both Christmas and Hanukkah today — a double header! With the holidays falling on the same day this year, it will be latkes and log cakes for the Turleys.

I was lamenting when we arrived that we could not have a tree due to the last minute change. Then, yesterday, a tree suddenly appeared on the porch. Two of the kids were able to find one lot still open and literally bought the last tree. It was not exactly the Rockefeller Center tree, but it was a real, honest-to-God Christmas tree. We were able to find a few lights, a dozen ornaments, and a cinder block to use as a stand. The kids made a paper angel for the top of the tree. It is a bit of a Charlie Brown tree, but we love it. We are here with each other and I have never been more proud of my family.

Last night, I made our traditional Cioppino soup — a tradition started by my late father, Jack Turley. It is a spicy mix of mussels, shrimp, sea bass, clams, crab meat, and other ingredients. I have previously written how I grew up hating the soup but the tradition fell to me when my father became ill. I am now as addicted to the soup as my father was. When I make the soup each year, it continues an indelible connection to my Dad and best friend.

Santa did come this morning despite our sudden change in plans. Tonight we will be having our usual beef, gravy, Yorkshire pudding, and fresh grounded horseradish sauce.  We also have a Turley Zinfandel to enjoy with dinner. We also have a great Bûche de Noël (or yule log cake) and other delights for dessert.

The Turley family wishes everyone a happy and safe holiday. I will be toasting our blog family tonight and giving thanks for the wonderful community we have created at this site.

Best wishes,

Jonathan Turley