Let’s blog

Those of you who are polite and respectful are asking when I will be writing again. Thought I’d do it before now, but seems I have been so wrapped in myself, and just d i d n ’ t . . . . . . . w a n t . . . . . . . .t o. . . . . . . s h a r e. . . . . . . . . ANYTHING!

Sooner or later you come to realize that this may well be cathartic, almost like paying a therapist $100.- an hour, and just keeping the money for myself. So I guess I owe myself a couple of hours of therapy, so here goes.

There was the wedding in March, dear Ita married her intended, a really sweet guy, Aaron. It was hard keeping up with them during those first 6 months. He was finishing somethin’ or another, and so was she. There was a rapid run to live in NY for a couple of months, back to Toronto. Now I know clearly where they are: right here in Jerusalem, a local call from where I am.

Summer was quiet, except for the double whammy from the Avi household. ALIYAH. Carrie stunned me in the spring when she did the ‘virage’ (look it up, it’s French), actually more than that, a complete U turn: NO I absolutely wouldn’t think of Aliyah. . . . . . . and then last winter it turned into definitive thinking: YES I want to live in Israel; and then ACTION. WOW! They are in Israel. Surely, this has to qualify for a double whammy.

Going back to the Chagim, I got this email from Emanuel:

“I had an amazing Yom Kippur w Arye and Leora . . . . . yeshivat hesder Otniel . . . . . . . . not far from Hevron . . . . known to have beautiful davening. . . . . . . The place is rockin . . . . dancing wild in the aisles from kol nidrei until the end which by the way is long, since in the morning it starts at 6:15 am . . . . no break and they finish on time but dance for another half hour . Kind of neo hippie-hasidic type of place; lots of fun; very different Yom Kippur experience. . . . .

Highlight . . . . my nephew, Yedidiya . . . . . . a soldier, came in a few times when he had breaks from patrols to catch a bit of davening . . . his base is Otniel. At the end, after a full day of patrols he comes in on a short break to catch shofar in his full military gear and all 500 kids are singing and dancing l’shana haba beyerushalim and I see my nephew there in his gear –it was a very emotional moment.

You can be proud of him –he did not eat just drank and any free moment was trying to be in shul although he was doing God’s work the whole day in any event.
(BTW,he looks mean in his full gear)”

Emanuel - please excuse my editing.

I was emotional reading this extraordinary description of Emanuel’s experience, and even more so as he described MY grandson, Yedidya, and his remarkable devotion to G-d and country.

I am beginning to understand that blogging is more like writing a diary. Well I never did that in my tween/teen years, so why would now be any different? Since 'blogging' is such a contemporary, still evolving concept, I don't have to accept Webster's definition, and can simply define it to my convenience, right? Blogging: verb - writing when moved or inspired to do so.

Well, I have, again, been touched by my muse, and am compelled to blog again. More accurately, I was touched by a young couple, Ita and Aaron, who went under the Chupah this past Sunday, each escorted separately as singles, and as individuals. After much ceremony and blessing; speaking and singing, they emerged as a married couple: Mr. & Mrs.

That is when the dancing and singing really began.

This was my granddaughter's wedding, Last time I blogged it was her engagement, and now I can tell you about the wedding. It was a wonderful experience. They made a lovely couple, Ita tall and gracious, very pretty; Aaron also tall, handsome and always smiling. I have gotten to know Aaron just a little bit, since first meeting him in January, and I must say, Aaron: I like you.

More about the wedding party. My daughter-in-law looked amazing. Ita's sister was a stunner, in her elegant gown, and hair styled beautifully in a 'half up do' (don't ask, I don't quite get that either). Otherwise, parents, siblings were all dressed to the 'nines', with special mention of the grandmothers, we all put our best foot forward, and looked spectacular - OK, not me, someone else would have to comment on how I looked.

The ballroom was all dressed up, too. I have used up all my superlatives, so not wanting to be repetitive (it is bad form, after all) please, use your imagination. It is a very large hall that shows well, when all done up. The chairs were dressed in 'gowns and bows' and each table had a tall centered standard, low candles, and so on and so forth. There was much white tulle draped about, and many magnificent flower arrangements. Anyone who knows me, will understand that I don't do well in remembering this kind of thing, so I am very proud that I noticed as much as I did. I remembered to focus and make mental notes, I could tell the world; well, at least, those people who read my blog.

And the partying, which started with the bride on the Shabbat before, continues. We are enjoying a week of Sheva Brachot, each one given by varying groups of freinds and family. Monday night 3 of my kids hosted a lovely supper. It like the Shabbat before, was, of course, more relaxed than the wedding, so it was a different kind of enjoyment.

For me, the special pleasure was to have all my kids and their kids together for a lovely long week-end - extraordinary & special.

I think you get the idea. I had a grand time, and am ready for the next.

Wishing all, at this time, a Chag Kasher veSameach