This morning one of my errands included the pet store, a business owned and run by an extremely sweet and handsome Israeli man;  we briefly dated years ago, until he became more religious, and we remain friends.  (I seem to have that effect on men I date; inspired by me, they become more observant than me and thus become "not my type anymore.")

I asked him whether he was enjoying himself this Chanukah and he sighed, explaining that he had no one with whom to celebrate the holiday, and thus he found it uneventful and lonely.

There is nothing I have enjoyed more this year than sitting with Raphaela, snuggling, and watching the candles quietly burn, and listening to this friend, I appreciate it even more.  And so I invited him to join us one evening, though I don't know if he will accept the offer.