A Letter to Santa from a Jewish Diabetic

I posted this last year and have decided to make it an annual post because it makes me laugh, and humor can't be overrated living with diabetes.

Dear Santa,

All I'd like this Christmas is for you to take this diabetes away. I'm so tired of it already. All the time stabbing my fingers for blood and guessing when my sugar's too high or too low.

Now that I'm in menopause I can barely tell whether I'm sweating because I'm losing estrogen or because my blood sugar's crashing at 50 mg/dl!

And, can we talk... I mean the constant figuring out how many carbs are in a ravioli or bread stick or that fried calamari that will be at the company Christmas party. Some days I just want to lie down and shoot myself. Please, please, Santa, would you take this diabetes away?

Sincerely,
Riva

***
Dear Riva,

I'm very sorry you're having a tough time during my favorite season. I only want people to be singing carols and drinking eggnog and feeling good cheer. Unfortunately, it says in my contract that I'm not allowed to interfere with life's natural occurrences. So here's my suggestion: although you've already opened your holiday gifts, go back and look under your Hanukkah bush for the gift in having diabetes.

You may have to spend a few days looking, so why don't you schedule it for the week between Christmas and New Year's while you have some down time? Then you can start the new year fresh.

Best wishes,
Santa and the gang

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Dear Santa,

A gift in my diabetes? What are you, crazy? Meshuggah? Thanks, but no thanks!

Riva

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Dear Rabbi,

I seek your wise counsel. I wrote to Santa to take away my diabetes, but he wasn't helpful at all. Surely you who have studied the Torah and represent our people who have suffered throughout history can help me with this awful diabetes.

It's such a strain, Rabbi. I have to test my blood sugar when I really want to be lighting the sabbath candles. I forgot all about the High Holy Days this year because I was so busy counting carbs in the Challah, bagels and honey cake.

Rabbi, please, what solace can you offer me? What words of wisdom? Surely you would tell me to just forget about this diabetes thing and go shopping, right?

Please write soon,
Riva

***
Dear Riva,

Santa and I just returned from the Caribbean, and he told me about your difficulty. He said he told you to look for the gift in your diabetes. I concur with Santa; there are many gifts to be found in diabetes, if you look. For one, my child, you won't have to drink the traditional Manishewitz holiday wine anymore. The Counsel all agree that it is much too sweet. Bring out the Chardonnay!

When Santa asks you to look for a gift in your diabetes, he is not saying this because you are not Catholic and he is not bringing you anything, although this is true. He is speaking like our brothers the Buddhists, who profess that there is a gift in everything if you look for something positive that it can bring into your life.

Let me tell you a story, my child. My own Aunt Sheila had diabetes, and after she stopped kvetching, she went to a spa and learned how to eat healthfully. She shopped along Rodeo Drive and bought a cute little jogging outfit and started running. On her jog along the ocean she met her fourth husband, Marvin, and they're very happy. They just moved into a $6 million mansion in Jupiter, Fla. -- right next to Burt Reynolds! Everyone's plotzing! The house was in foreclosure so they have even more money to decorate!

Darling girl, find a gift in your diabetes, because to be honest, since you're not orthodox, and all I have are these great wigs I got on sale from my cousin Schlomo, I'm not bringing you anything, either. And really, it's not very pleasant to whine.

Shabbat Shalom
Rabbi, Local Union 107

***
Dear Rabbi,

I thought about what you and Santa said and have decided to become a Buddhist. I picked up the Dalai Lama's book, "The Art of Happiness." He says, "Happiness is a butterfly, which when pursued, is always just beyond your grasp, but which, if you will sit down quietly, may alight upon you." I told my friend Joe I like butterflies, and I like the robe, so these aren't bad gifts.

Joe said the quote meant that we are the source of our happiness, that happiness can only come from inside us, regardless of what happens in our lives. Hmm, I said, maybe I need to learn more. So I booked a flight to Tibet.

Now if only I didn't have to drag all this damn diabetes stuff with me.... ohm... ohm... oy.

I also posted this on a great diabetes newsmagazine you should check out if you haven't already, asweetlife.org. I just returned from Tel Aviv where Jessica Apple and her husband Mike Aviad, who run a sweet life live and made me feel royally welcome.

Hi Riva-I love it !!! Since we are in the same boat (so to speak,) let me wish you a Happy Chanukah.

Love it Riva!!!

That is outstanding. It's probably silly to ask but can I share this with some friends who are Jewish and have the big D?

Thanks for making me laugh. In return, I give you my recipe for Cheese Latkes, even though you are now Buddhist. Potatoes are of course a new world food, and truly traditional latkes must be made form cheese. My recipe is slightly different than the one from Tory Avey.

Cheese Latkes

1 15-ounce container ricotta cheese
4 eggs
6 tablespoons all-purpose flour
2 tablespoons butter, melted and cooled
2 tablespoons sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Butter and/or vegetable oil for frying (I clarify the butter and use a butter/oil mixture)

Mix cheese, eggs, flour, melted butter, sugar and vanilla in a food processor

In a heavy griddle, heat oil (or butter) and cook the latkes similar to how you would cook pancakes, usually about 4-5 minutes

The estimated carb content for the entire batch is 85g, about 35g of which comes from the flour. You could readily substitute for the flour and get it even lower, but as written, this ends up with about 10g carbs for 2-3 latkes. Also, you could substitute for the sugar, but actually I found that the sugar made a big difference in how well the latkes fried, becoming carmelized and forming a crispy crust, hence I keep the vile sugar. If you really want low carb, substitute almond meal for the flour and splenda for the sugar.

Chag Sameach

Ah, yes, how well I remember not being able to tell the difference between a hot flash and a low!!! So glad to be past that!! :-)

bsc,

My grandmother made cheese latkes. She used farmer's cheese or pot cheese. May need less flour with one of those because they're a lot drier & firmer than ricotta. Ricotta takes so long to drain. She also breaded them with matzo meal. I loved them as a kid because they were like dessert.

Riva,

Love it! Should be annual post. Thanks for the smiles again.

Dear Riva, may you find peace and contentment in your Buddhist life. Hugs from Maureen :-)

Great post Riva! Very funny. Best wishes w/ the Buddhist thing and the butterflies ;)

Bsc, I'm not a cook by any means, but you may just have tempted me to try the cheese latkes. Mostly because they don't look all that complicated to make, and SOUND good. Meanwhile, does anyone have a regular latke recipe? I have some former (non-Jewish) students coming over next week who want to learn about Chanukah, and what's Chanukah without latkes? Although In Israel the custom is sufganiot, which are jelly donuts! :-)

Yes, brokenpole, please share away and thank you all for the recipes. Having just returned from Israel I found a little too much hummus and falafel is hard on the blood sugar - and staying awake - but from time to time definitely worth it! ;-)

I think that as a Jew, food is an integral part of the religion and culture. Although I can't really have potato latkes much anymore, but it is still important to my family.

Potato Latke Recipe

1 lb Potatoes, whole
1/2 c finely chopped onion
1 teaspoon salt
1 large egg, beaten
1/2 to 3/4 c olive oil (or 1/2 olive oil 1/2 butter)

Coarsely grate potatoes (I use a food processor). In a bowl completely mix the salt throughout the grated potatoes. Place potatoes in a collander and allow to drain (perhaps 1/2 hr). Heat heavy frying pan and when hot coat with 1-2 tablespoons oil. Mix with onion and egg and mix completely. Use a 1/4 c measure and form a pancake 3-4 inches across, flatten with a spatula. Cook 3-4 at a time and turn as they brown, 3-5 minutes per side. Don't cook too fast as they wil be raw in middle. Place cooked latkes on wire rack on a baking pan in the oven at 250 deg. Serve with a topping of applesauce or sour cream.

Riva, you're beyond awesome! Thank you so much for making this post an annual tradition, because otherwise I would have missed it. I must say, though, that although I, also, find myself ohm-ing for dear life sometimes, there's just nothing quite like a good kvetch :)

I'm gonna send bsc's latke recipe to my mom and hope she makes them for me. I'm no cook.

There are lots of diabetic-friendly recipes, and holiday recipes including latkes, on asweetlife.org hosted by Jessica Apple and Mike Aviad from Tel Aviv. I got to taste Mike's zuccini soup and roasted cauliflower while just in Israel. yum!