Hopes First Hanukah

We would have posted sooner but someone has been "busy"? Hint: Three letters--starts with "M" then an "O" and then another "m". Anyway, tonight I thought I would let Hope tell you about her experiences with yet another first in her life called Hanukah. She's had a lot since Jan. 20th when she found mom and us and decided to adopt us .

Hi, Hope here. At first, this first didn't seem like that big of a deal. I've seen mom light candles almost every friday night...but this was different. First, she lit candles and then she had this big candelabra she called a "Menorah" near the usual friday candles.

Mom lit one candle and said it was the "helper candle" that lights the other candles. Then she only lit one more. But the menorah could hold so many more candles...why just one? Mom said it's because we will add one light each night until all eight (plus the helper candle) are lit. Below is a picture of the candles on the first night when they were almost burned out.

O.K. So then I found out that watching the candles burn all down is not all there is to this holiday. Which is a good thing...cuz that would be pretty pitiful and boring. There are also some smells that come with the holiday. Mom makes something called Latkes. Basically they are "fried round greasy things" that any cat in its right mind would never want to even think about eating.

But, there is something else that is sort of fascinating. It's called a driedle. According to mom, children and sometimes grownups play a game with it. A driedle is a top that spins but when Tommy and Shilgiah showed me how they said the best way to play with it (since we don't have opposible thumbs) is to bat it.

I have to look real close to make sure it's on the side to give me "gimmel" so I can win.


O.K. I think I have it now! Here I go...whap! (Driedle zooms across the table and whacks the wall) I win!!

Hope you all have a wonderful and winning week!