One day, John came home from Kindergarten

and asked if we were Jewish. Well, I said, your grandma Lil is Jewish, so you could be.... (trailing off here...) - - why do you ask?

Turns out that as part of his class's discussions about holiday traditions and stories, his teacher Mrs. Chew had told them all the story of Hanukkah, including what must have been a very moving account of the miraculous oil that lasted eight days during the revolt of the Maccabees. Hence his strong desire to light a menorah in our home.

John did not covert to Judaism, but we did get him a menorah, which we've lit every year since then, going on twenty years now. Not saying it's much more than a secular family ritual at this point, but, hey, we light candles, we hug....I'll take it.