Hey... There's no diploma in that big thing they gave you...!!

I can remember as if it were yesterday, Erica's high school graduation. It was about an hour after the recessional. She had already changed out of her gown. We had all enjoyed the post graduation refreshments offered to family and friends. Erica looked at us pleadingly and said, "Let's stay just a few minutes longer, please....as soon as I leave this hall, it's all over".

It was such a poignant thought. High school was the "safe zone" that she knew. Once that safety net was removed, what was ahead of her - the unknown - loomed large. She had chosen her seminary, but beyond that, her future was uncertain.

Yesterday's graduation was a totally different scenario. Seminary is a distant memory. Erica's future is now such a wonderous landscape before her. She has a field of study that she loves, a husband she ADORES, and a most miraculous little life on the way. She was not at all hesitant after all the pomp and circumstance to remove her graduation gown and step forward into her future with her friends and family beside her.

We cheered. We cried. We celebrated. May life always be so rosy!!!

This space is reserved....

Nothing much to say here, except that this spot is reserved for my "Erica's Graduation" post. I'm so excited that I'm holding the spot. Please stay tuned. Tomorrow is the big day.

Memorial Day Update

Well, my grand plans for another Memorial Day boat trip never materialized, but Avram and I decided instead to walk across the George Washington Bridge. It was a perfect day for it. We went to the Ft. Lee Historical Park Overlook once we got across and I even came home with souveniers! (Don't get too excited.... one blister on each foot....). I work out at the gym four days a week and at home every day (well... nearly) and one little trek from New York to New Jersey and my knees are shot, my feet are blistered.... boy, I'm feeling old!!!

You don't have to roll in the mud with pigs

I want to work on becoming one of those people who, when faced with a pile of manure someone shovelled on to his backyard, sees it as an opportunity to plant a vegetable garden.
I don't think I'll ever be an optimist but I suppose I'd settle for a hopeful realist.
There will always be people shovelling manure. I don't want to throw it back - I want to grow enough tomatoes to share with the whole neighborhood.

Still Counting with the Bracha!

It's only the day after Rosh Chodesh and I miss the music already! Now bear in mind that yekkes only "hold" from Rosh Chodesh Iyar until Rosh Chodesh Sivan, not including Rosh Chodesh itself....

On the bright side though, I'm still "earning my cheesecake" and counting with the brocho. This is due, in no small part to the daily sefirah reminder email which I leave as "unread" until I have made the brocho each evening. If you don't get this free subscription I highly recommend it!

Jewish Logic

(Another one sent to me by Ricki....)
Moshe is waiting on the platform at the station. He notices a Jewish man standing nearby and asks him for the time. But the man ignores him. Moshe then asks him again, and the man responds in the same way. Frustrated, Moshe asks 'Excuse me, but I've asked you for the time twice, why are you ignoring me' Suddenly, the man looks up and says, 'We're both waiting for the train, if I answer you, then when we get on the train you will come and sit next to me, we will probably start talking, and I may invite you to my house for Shabbat, there you will meet my daughter, you will probably like her, you may eventually want to marry her, and to be honest with you, WHY WOULD I WANT A SON IN LAW WHO CAN'T AFFORD A WATCH?'