I have been asked how I got started collecting odd ornaments. To be fair, I’ve always been prone to collecting odd things, mostly books, but the ornament thing began in 2006. Mrs. Elfenstein and I weren’t yet married, and it was our first Christmas together.
At the time, I was not a big fan of celebrating holidays in general, and was very resistant to getting a tree and decking out the apartment with Christmas bling. The future Mrs. Elfenstein would have none of that, however, and so we got a tree and combed a few thrift stores to find ornaments.
And that was when we found this:
The skies opened, the angels sang, and the Christmas spirit flew up my tuckus like a thunderbolt. I realized that I lived in a world where shiny plastic Christmas ornaments can depict smooth Jewish crooners with curly white afros. I realized that there was a good chance that there is a Styx-themed ornament out there somewhere. All of those $1.00 grab bags in thrift stores and antique shops all have the potential to contain a holiday gem.
And so I say thank you, Michael Bolton, for releasing the 1996 Limited Edition ornament. Those of us who own them feel a special sense of ownership and pride. And Happy Hanukkah, my friend.
