Another blogger's article on not celebrating Halloween got me to thinking about a subject that has been enar and dear to us for years.

We're holiday cheapskates. Sure, we celebrate, but in a very simple way. Our presents are not lavish tributes to our indebtedness, and we focus far more on togetherness than anything material.

BUT...the fun begins in the days AFTER the "big holidays". See, as I have detailed regularly, I have a VERY staunch rule of never paying retail. The idea of paying full price for holiday treats is appalling to me, and so we hit the stores right afterwards in a near religious fervor, looking for yesterday's essentials that are now utterly useless to the retailer. Decorations and nonperishables go into storage for next year's holiday, and perishable foods go straight to the table.

My joke has long revolved around telling our children that we celebrate the holiday "clearance" which comes around several times a year. My only fear (apologies to Mano and MM and anyone else who might be offended) is that, when our children get older, they'll ask the inevitable question: "Are we Jewish?"