The Central Coast (CA) Syrian Catholic community comes of age.

Literally.

A Syrian family runs a small market near my house. I'm often in there early for kick ass coffee and homemade baklava. Went in Thursday morning - the town was practically empty so it was really slow at the market. Had some time for a brief neighborly back-and-forth.

I asked Tony "How was your Christmas?", expecting something along the line of a good one, big meal, great to sit around the table with family, etc.

He said, "We've made it. There's a third generation being borne up and down the coast." Turns out the extended families, cousins, in-laws, friends all got together and rented a hall just outside of town.

BBQ'd a lamb outside, everyone brought their own favorite Middle Eastern dish, Tony provided the libations, the older generation brought hookahs to have tobacco on the deck. He said it was not only a feast but a celebration of a long journey.

Most of them took a circuitous route to CA. Emigrated to Europe under refugee status. Established citizenship there and emigrated to the US.

Some went to midnight Mass this Christmas, some didn't. It was all OK. Yet they chose Christmas for the get-together. Catholics are having a hard time in Iraq, Syria and even Lebanon.

We never talk politics or Mid East issues. But we do talk culture and our different backgrounds. One common thread is community, whether it's religious, ethnic or familial. They all matter, day-to-day.