The Sports Club's

belong to, wherever life takes
., you.
For the third night, we give
you family. This is the other part
of your roots, the groundednesss
you get when you know who you
are and whose example you can
follow. This is your four beloved
grandparents. This is all the de-
parted family members you hear
us talk about with them. This is
what you will be to your children.
This is the crowd around the
menorah and the Shabbat table.
This is growing up in a setting
where we try hard every day to
show you how a husband and
wife, a grandparent and a parent
and a child, should treat each
other.
For the fourth night, we give
you home. As in, you
can always come
home. As in, you can
bring your friends
home. As in, this is
your home. You have
a place in the world,
with us, a shelter, both
physical and psychological. It
looks like just another
house, more beat up than
some, but it is your home.
For the fifth night, we give you
security, at least as much as we
le can. Your true, long-range secu-
rity has to come from within
yourselves, from being and be-
coming trustworthy. Meanwhile,
we will do all we can to give you
the foundation of composure, of
knowing without question that
you are capable, competent and
smart. We are proud of your in-
lb nate abilities, your goodness and
your good sense, of your willing-
ness to try. You do not need to
compete or to follow the crowd to
gain self-esteem because you al-
ready have, from us, from with-
in yourself, the seeds of true
confidence: Just nurture them.
For the sixth night of
Chanukah, we give you freedom,
within boundaries that stretch
broader and broader as you get
older, and within guidelines you
can keep using as you mature.
This gift comes, for now, in mea-
sured doses, so that by the time
you are an adult out in the world
of unlimited independence, you
will know how to use it, how to
be true to your own standards.
For the seventh night, we give
you optimism. This includes both

a sense of perspective and a sense
of joy. Life will be hard enough,
so relish the good moments. Our
other gifts will help you stay
strong in the face of adversity,
this one will help you savor its
absence. Focus on hope, equa-
nimity, and a positive outlook, in-
stead of on worry and pessimism.
Be a glad presence in the world.
Count your blessings. Have fun.
For the eighth night, we give
you knowledge. This includes
both schooling and street smarts,
the house full of books and
the give and take of active, in-
formed debate. This covers the
constant reading aloud, and the
tutors and classes, but it also
includes all the background mu-
sic: the trips to the ballet, to
museums, to theater,
to Washington, D.C.,
to Shabbatons. This
includes the full rich-
ness of every experi-
ence, from how to build
a campfire and appreci-
ate the outdoor world, to
how to hammer a nail, bake a
cake, and launder a shirt, or
how to give to charity and ex-
plain a Torah portion. We are
filling your minds all the time,
even when you don't know it —
even when we don't know it. This
gift of knowledge is one you can
keep giving yourself, the rest of
your life.
So there you are, little ones, all
eight candles blazing. Do you like
your presents?
Yes.
What?
No, it's OK. Speak up.
You want presents, too? Real
packages? Toys, games, choco-
lates? You mean I didn't mention
that part? Oh, well, these great
big gifts are only good when they
are actual, alive, being used every
moment. Give us a kiss and come
on. Your packages are in the din-
ing room, tucked under the table-
cloth like Mema used to do it.
Just wait for me a minute while
I get the latkes and say one word
to the nice reader:
Ah, dear reader, thank you
again for sharing the holidays
with our family. From our house
to your house, I wish you every
gift of Chanukah, the little ones
and the big ones and all your
heart desires. ❑

Publicity Deadlines

The normal deadline for local news and publicity items is
noon Thursday, eight days prior to issue date. The deadline
for birth announcements is 10 a.m. Monday, four days pri-
or to issue date; out-of-town obituaries, 10 a.m. Tuesday,
three days prior to issue date.

All material mxust be typewritten, double-spaced, on 8V2x
11 paper and include the name and daytime telephone num-
ber of sender.

fitness Open House

Sunday, November 24, 1996 10am to 3pm

ONE MONTH AREE

No Initiation fees

(offer valid on one and three year fitness memberships purchased at open house)

Workout with fitness Celebrity

Victoria Johnson

Join us for an 11:00 High Low Workout or a 1:00 Technifunk Workout

Star of PRig Sports Network's "Victoria's Body Shoppe."
Producer and spar of 23 fitness videos.
Host and executive producer of "Celebrity Health and fitness,"
a national health, fitness and lifestyle show.

The
Sports
Club

of West Bloomfield

The Sports Club of West Bloomfield
6343 farmington Rd., just north of Maple Rd.
West Bloomfield

810-626-9880