A 50th Anniversary Party

I had the honor of blessing a couple at Shabbat services this morning - they were celebrating their fiftieth wedding anniversary. Isn't that amazing? I was just in awe and completely inspired by this couple. They are so in love, so devoted to each other, and so kind to those around them. I learn a lot by watching them.

So, this morning, I called them to Torah, gave them the aliyah before I read today's portion, and followed the reading with a blessing. I, little ole me, had the privilege of blessing this couple. It felt like it should have been the other way around - they should have been blessing me, and sharing their wisdom with me. I was, needless to say, incredibly humbled and honored by this experience. And then, to show how kind they truly are, they sponsored a lovely luncheon after services for all of us at Minyan. What a treat! May we all have the blessing of spending at least fifty years with a loved one.

The morning also taught me to be sure to find someone that I can imagine spending that much time with! Oh, to be a fly on the wall throughout their marriage! I am sure that they have been through much - many trials, many joys and simchas, and probably plenty of challenges.

Well, I wish them many more years of love, friendship, and blessing. And may we all find ourselves surrounded by the same.

Revenge?

I hope that your house loses power
that your computer catches a virus
that you get an itch on your back
on that one spot you can't reach.

I wish that a tree would fall on your parked car
that you would get a bad haircut
that a zit would grow on your nose
and get infected and last for weeks

I pray that your exciting plans get cancelled
that you catch a case of pink eye
that a beautiful framed print
falls on the tile floor and shatters.

Alas, I can barely wish you harm
Even in spite of myself.
The most I can wish for you, however:
I hope you one day feel what I feel.

Top Five Break-Up Songs

As you know, I am a bit of a pop culture fiend (haha - I just accidentally typed poop culture - that is HILARIOUS!!). Anyway, I've been pondering the way in which we rely on music to convey our moods in ways that we often cannot. So, this is, perhaps, the first in a series of lists of themed countdowns. Totally my humble opinion, and you can, of course, feel free to disagree.

1. I Never Really Loved You Anyway..... The Corrs
2. All You Want...... Dido
3. Stronger...... Britney Spears
4. Fighter....... Christina Aguilera
5. Every Rose Has its Thorn...... Poison


There are probably songs I am totally forgetting, so I am counting on all y'all to help me out here. Let the lists begin!

The Country's Rudest Drivers

I just had a chance to read an article about which cities have the rudest drivers. I was a bit surprised by the results! In order, the top five were:

1) Miami
2) New York
3) Boston
4) Los Angeles
5) Washington, D.C.

My beloved Chicago was number 7 on the list. I think that it is funny that I have lived in two of the top "rudest" cities, and grew up in the seventh rudest city. I am now doing some soul searching - am I a rude driver? Have I created road rage in my fellow drivers? Alas!

So, then, I thought, maybe I will move to Arizona, where the drivers MUST be calmer. I mean, they get to live in the sun and move at a slower pace in general. But, NOOOO, Phoenix is ranked number SIX! It is ruder than Chicago!

What to do with this information? I just don't know.

Ode to the Man Playing the Accordian in the Tunnel Connecting Port Authority and the 7 Train

"Do Mi Sol"

Oh, Happy Accordian Man
A scant five feet of pure polka delight
Oblivious straphangers sail past you
Yet you soldier on, providing
A melodic opium opus for the masses

But, Happy Accordian Man,
Where have you gone?
A disheveled shaggy maiden tonelessly
Huffing on her harmonica
Has attempted to take your place

I await your joyful jaunts
Your smiling, swaying music
Far beneath the streets of the city
Bringing the anonymous together
At last.

Speaking a Different Language

I remember, a few years ago at a CCAR convention, hearing Rabbi Lawrence Hoffman speak. He was a professor of mine while in rabbinical school, and he is just a brilliant, wonderful person. Rabbi Hoffman has had a really challenging homelife for many years. His delightful daughter became quite ill a few years ago, and it has been, from what we were able to see, an immense struggle to keep her healthy and keep searching for answers.

Well, anyway, in this lecture he gave at the convention, he spoke about the language of illness. He said that those who are in pain, who are suffering, or who are ill, speak a completely different language from those who are healthy. It is like being from a foreign country, and there is a total communication breakdown. When you are in pain, only those who have experienced that level of suffering can really hear you and understand you.

That is where I am today. I am really feeling like it is hard to speak to those who don't understand what I am going through. I don't want advice, I don't want someone to tell me what to do. I just want someone to listen. I just want to acknowledge my pain, honor it, and have it validated.

I am seriously considering going home for the next few days. I need some parental TLC, and I need someone to take over the reins and take care of me for a little while.

This totally sucks.