Wednesday night, after resting all day, I still felt exhausted! I could feel a cold coming on: my nose was stuffy, I had post nasal drip and the accompanying cough, I had a sinus headache, and my muscles, especially my thighs muscles, hurt so much!
Since it is only the second day after chag (the holiday), and the first day after vacation, it sort of feels like a Sunday or Monday. As I rested in bed this evening, all of a sudden, I realized Shabbat was only two days away!
Our vacation bags are still strewn all over the house, and I haven't even begun to attack the laundry. How was I going to manage Shabbat if I was sick and tired??
I called a friend and neighbor who had told me several times that she likes it when people call to invite themselves. I really enjoy hanging out with her and we have not had so many opportunities since she returned to work full-(+)-time. I actually would have preferred to host her and her family, since we have been their guests several times, but that was not a viable option. So, I called her and asked if she would like guests for lunch. Not only did she invite us, she THANKED ME!
Imagine that!
She thanked me!
She made me feel so welcome!!
I really wanted to be home at night, so I could go to sleep early! So, I called another friend who had also told me several times that she is happy to cook a meal for us on Shabbat (weekday cooking is extremely difficult for her). She jumped at the opportunity, and she also THANKED ME!!
Cooking is such a burden for me. It is difficult for me to fathom that other people do not dread it as much as I do.
The only reason I ever started cooking is because I like food.
Now, I do not even eat. Not to mention that many smells, especially of cooked food, make me nauseus.
Still, for Shabbt, I cook for my family, and for guests, when I have them.
I love having guests on Shabbat. These days, since I never know how tired I will be, I often am afraid to invite people I do not know so well, lest I not be up for hosting.
Occasionally, I have even gone to sleep and skipped dinner. I try not to, because Moshe and my kids really miss me. So, usually, I push myself to at least sit at the table through the main part of the meal. But, there is a good chance that this Shabbat I will not last the whole meal.
It took me only a few minutes, and just two phone calls, to pull together Shabbat for my family.
I feel so blessed!!
Please daven (or send happy, healing thoughts) for RivkA bat Teirtzel.
With love and optimism,
RivkA
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I am so happy to read this post!
I hope you have a wonderful Shabbat!
I'm glad you have friends who are nearby who are able to help you. I have to say that cooking has never been a big deal for me either, but I never make very much.
This Shabbat, for example, we'll be having salad, chicken, and rice for supper and salad and cold cut sandwiches for lunch.
I'm thinking of making jello for dessert.
(note that it's three and nothing is in the oven or on the stove yet.)
I'm glad your needs and your solutions jived together - such a beracha from Hashem.
What I did not mention, is that on Thursday, I got REALLY sick. I must have felt it coming on, because I rarely ask people to cook for me for Shabbat.
I went to the doctor on Thursday morning. I thought I must have a virus, but my doctor diagnosed a bacterial infection, so he prescribed this super-duper antibiotic. Well, by the time I got to the pharmacy and found out that it was full price unless I purchased it at Maccabi, I just felt so awful that I paid full price, just so I could go home and sleep.
I couldn't even stand up at the pharmacy; they had to bring me a chair so I could sit down!
When I got home, I crawled into bed and slept ALL DAY!
When I finally awoke, I still felt pretty awful, and yet so much better than I had felt earlier that day.
Today I felt even better, but still weak and tired.
Yesterday, I was so tired, I couldn't even talk on the phone!
Liba -- still planning to call you today....
LeahGG -- when I make Shabbat, I also make a very simple and easy meal: chicken soup, chicken (pulled out from the soup, placed in a roasting pan, spinkled with flavoring, and baked for an additional 1/2 an hour to 45 minutes, depending on how long they were boiled), rice and, if I am really ambitious, frozen broccoli or cauliflower, sprinkled with olive oil, salt and pepper, and baked in the oven.
The thing I hate is cleaning up after the raw chicken. I am a little salmonella-phobic and have to scrub everything down afterwards with chlorox and boiling water.
I think it's the cleaning up before and after that makes cooking so hard. But, try as I might, I cannot keep my kitchen clean.
Jello is always a big hit in my home. It is so quick and easy, I don't know why I don't make it more often.
Anyway, my kids make the rice and help cut up the vegetables for soup, so I really just have to make the chicken soup stock and roast the chickens.
Sometimes, even that is too much for me!
Mikimi -- it sure is!!
lovely post about true, kind, reciprocal, heartfelt friendship. thank you and, as always, good thoughts. many, many good thoughts to you and yours.
Oh Rivka, I wish I had known you were sick. I hope you are feeling better. Refuah shelayma.
Refuah shelayma. Hope the antibiotics and sleep have helped.
Minnesotah Mamaleh -- I'm not so sure about reciprical....
So long as we're all putting something out there in the universe, it all balances out, even when favors are not directly reciprocated....
Liba -- nothing you could have done.....
Michele -- they did. thanks
It's wonderful that you know how to ask for help. People love to help, everyone according to their specialties. I'll need your spirit and experience to help a friend of mine who is having surgery this week. Please pray for Rut Rachel bat Ekye
Please let me know how your friend is doing? I am happy to help in whatever way I can. Call me.
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