Easter...Passover...Holidays...Oh My!!!

I am in the midst of a family dilemma. Its called obligations! Oh..you too? You see, when you are a product of multi ethnicities and religions, there are certain rituals one must endure. I don't mean the ethnic ones or even the religious ones...I mean the family ones. Mom celebrates Passover and so do we. Aunt Rose celebrates Easter and so do we. Confusing? You bet it is. We have separate houses for these extravagant gatherings and although all are meaningful and enlightening, they can also be very time consuming and simple cloning wouldn't help much. I have given notice to all family that I will do my best to attend all such celebrations but I am truly just one human being and the fact that the locations are very far apart. ( one in Santa Barbara and one in LosAngeles) makes it all the harder to attend. I don't know why that helicopter I ordered hasn't come through yet! So my children and I will pack lunches and drinks for the trips and eat before we get to our destinations because by the time traffic allows us to arrive...all food and drink will probably be consumed...maybe not. Who knows! The most important thing to remember with all this is family...forget the rituals, the food, the prayers and yes even the car trips and focus on the people. My dear mom who can make any meal a celebration and Auntie Rose whose fantabulous stories are memorable at any setting...these are worth the hassles we endure. Memories of all of these gatherings will last long after the Roast and the Chicken are gone. Memories of being together as family. And that I truly cherish!