My boys...

Some would say we were inseparable. We were always together -- and when we were, there was really no separating us, so I'd say it was true. We had our moments, two against two, one against three, but really, we were the best.

I can still remember how I met each of them. Brett was the first. I was a peer advisor and he a new freshman. We went around the room during the college meeting and he caught my eye. I knew he was Jewish - not a bad thing, of course. We then broke out at the end of the meeting to ask questions and he asked about Hebrew. He knew he was more advanced than the first or second semester, but didn't know what to do. I knew just what he needed to do. He was the last student out of our office the next morning and it was then I knew we'd be friends forever.

Harry was next. Harry claims we also met during orientation, transfer orientation, though I don't so much remember him from then. I remember Harry from my Jewish Studies class. I was in love with the professor and though this kid (Harry) was so smart, knew everything there was to know, and yes, was kind of cute. We studied a lot together, watched a hockey game or two, really truly learned about each other -- and now we too are forever friends.

Then there was Nathan. There's not really much more to say than that. We met one night while Harry and I were working on an article I was writing for a magazine at Starbucks. Though that was the actual first encounter we had, we are pretty sure we knew each other from somewhere before. That's when I knew we'd forever be better friends than anyone would fully understand. I can't really say much more than that about how I met Nathan and the extent of our relationship -- whatever I say here no one will really understand. Nathan and I have been through a lot together -- on both our behalves -- and I would not change one moment of it. The turn of events we've been through has taught me more than I ever would have expected and I love him more and more every day for our friendship. (I love Harry and Brett too, but I think they'd all agree Nathan and I have been through a lot more together and will understand.)

I met my three boys at three different times, and over the past seven months, I've had to say goodbye to each of them. Nathan was the first to leave. I'm not going to lie -- it was one of the hardest things I've ever had to do, saying goodbye to him. I'm choking up with tears in my eyes even thinking about it now, seven months later... Nathan is one of the most important people in my life, to watch him go away to figure things out is something I am so proud of him for doing. Never will I ever be more proud of Nathan than I have been in the last year. ... and I am going to leave it at that. I love you.

Brett left next. Now Brett's departure was two-fold for me. Brett left me in Minneapolis, showed up randomly at my door one night, and then met up with my sister and me in New York City over the summer. Brett and my relationship has been one of openness. We talked about everything. Saying goodbye to Brett was hard, yes -- but I know he's going to be where his heart is - in Eretz Yisrael - and no one was going to stop him. Certainly not me.

Last night I said goodbye to Harry. He was the third and final boy to leave. Harry too is off to Israel for a year to start his studies in Rabbinical School. He'll be in Israel for a little over a year, and the back to the states, I think in California, to finish up and become an ordained rabbi. After dinner at Emily's I hopped in my car and Harry in his and we both headed off to my new apartment. On the way home I realized I had to say goodbye to Harry and that I really didn't want to do it. We sat around my apartment as if nothing unusual would transpire later. Finally, Harry looked at me and told me he was going to miss me. I brushed it off -- I didn't want to say goodbye because I knew he was the last to go. I know I have Greenberg (I'll always have Greenberg) and there are many others in line to try and step in for my boys who are off doing there things, being who they are... but it'll never be the same. I gave Harry a hug, told him to be safe and have fun, and keep in touch. I know he will. I closed the door and went to bed. I left it at that.

I have to stop since I can't really see clearly through the tears... I love the three of you more than each of you will ever know. I hope you realize each of you are my family and I truly love and miss you each and every day.

***

I'm not sure this is where I was going with this when I sat down to write tonight.. but this is what came out and I'm not going to rethink it. And for the record, I mean every word of it.

Moving: Spiritual and Physical

Rosh Hashanah:
Last year I had Rosh Hashanah in Minneapolis. My parents, my grandparents, and my uncle and his wife came up to Minneapolis; we went to shul at Beth Jacob and had a feast at my apartment. It was awesome. This year, my dad didn’t have enough vacation time left to make the trip back here, so I gave my grandparents a choice: they would drive to Appleton and I’d take a week off and spend it at home, or they would stay in Detroit and I would go stay there for a week. They, knowing the drive, thought it’d be nice to stay in Detroit – so off I went. It was an amazing week – exactly what I wanted. I spent a lot of time in the kitchen with my grandma, helping her cook, helped around the house getting ready for the big Rosh Hashanah meal, spent Rosh Hashanah at my grandparents’ shul (horrible cantor and choir, but I got over it), and was able to read an entire book. It was just what I needed.

Yom Kippur:
Yom Kippur is one of those days where you know it’s going to be hard, but it’s something you know you have to do. Fasting, sitting in shul for what seems like an eternity, it’s really not one of the more fun Jewish Holydays. However, we must do it. It’s the most integral date on the Jewish calendar and for those as observant as I, it’s quite the experience.

This year I spent Yom Kippur at my shul here. It was awesome. Thanks to Joe who toughed out my crazy “have to be there for the ENTIRE thing” mentality – we really had a good time. We fasted, boy did we fast; calculating the fast, both Joe and I went food- and water-free for a solid 28.5 hours. It was crazy. We also spent a good 14 hours in shul. It was about as intense as it gets.

While the fast was tough and our feet and tushes were sore, it was a meaningful Yom Kippur. The sounds in the sanctuary, the people, and Rabbi Allen’s sermon on Kol Nidre – the entire span was really moving. A Yom Kippur well-dovened.

Moving:
… is not fun. I have a lot of stuff. So much stuff, in fact, I am still not done. While I still have another carload or two to go, today my furniture made the pilgrimage and I am happy to announce the new place is coming along. In a one week I will be out of the downtown apartment and into the new one. “A new year, a new apartment,” my mom said today.


It’s been a moving two weeks – with Rosh Hashanah, Yom Kippur, and an actual move, my dad’s treatments moving along*… it’s a moving season for me.

L’shana tova u’metuka – I hope your holydays were as moving as mine.



* Dad started his chemo last week. So far, so good. He says his stomach feeding tube is still a little sore and hard to get used to, but he knows he’ll appreciate it when his neck is “sunburned on the inside”. Everyone’s spirits are high. He starts radiation on Thursday of this week. Thanks to all of you for keeping he and my family in your prayers.

National Talk Like a Pirate Day gone bad...

Today is National Talk Like a Pirate Day, so naturally my marketing department is having a good time with it.

Tom needs something from Peggy. Because it's Talk Like a Pirate Day, Tom calls Peggy "Peg Leg".

Peggy, in response to Tom says, "Tom, I wish I could come up with a good name for you, but 'asshole' just keeps coming to mind."

It was the funniest thing ever.

(though, you probably had to be here)

Now THIS would be fun!

When Nathan sent me this one, he sent a message along with it: "got room for this?". HELL YEAH I DO!

I am pretty sure this would fit in my new living room, as long as I don't move in my couch, tv unit, and get a bookself for the many many many bags of books.

Check it out people: a four-person hot tub complete with a 61" tv:
Seriously -- how awesome. Check out all the jets! Talk about fun. Complete with DVD, CD, AM-FM radio, and 2 pop-up speakers, this would be the ultimate entertainment center. And much much more ;o)

This I really do need!

This one's on wheels!

With this one, I could wheel around my apartment!
(Ok, so I don't really want this one, but it IS pretty cool! How awesome would it be to be reading, have to pee, and just roll down the hall to the bathroom, without having to stop reading until you transfer to the toilet.... or to the kitchen to get a beer!)

Yet another...

It's been a while since we've seen a bookshelf I need, but alas, Nathan has found me another:
Check out this one, for only $1800. Certainly it would look awesome in my new apartment... and I do need a bookshelf.

Grammatically incorrect?

As I watched the news Labor Day morning, I saw this headline (printed as-is) across the bottom of the television.

Correct me if I am wrong, but I am pretty sure this is grammatically incorrect:

LABOR DAY: THE NEW NEW YEAR'S

Wouldn't that be saying New Year's something? That something belongs to the New Year? Try and prove me wrong, but I am pretty certain the above headline is grammatically incorrect.