Yom Yerushalayim & Getting Older

This is the third year in a row that I did not participate in the rikudgalim (dance/parade of flags). That is it. I am done. Three times is a chazakah.
(off topic: it is SO COOL that I can link to a definition of chazakah on Wikipedia!!!)

Two years ago, the pouring rain helped me to justify still being too tired to participate (even though my last surgery was over half a year earlier).

Last year, I determined to push myself and do it, until I realized there really were other options.

Finally, this year, I did not even consider it. OK, I considered it, but for only a fraction of a minute, so that does not really count.

I am just too tired, my feet are too swollen, and the kids are old enough to be doing their own thing (at least the older kids are).

Like last year, my eldest went with her friends, my son went on a tiyul (hike) with Sayarut (scouts) (after attending the Bat Mitzvah of one of the girls from his class), and that left my youngest, who went to Zam Zam and did not even miss the parade.

I was all set to attend our community davening (praying) -- this year, all the Batei K'nesset (shuls/synagogues) prayed together in one minyan (quorum), in the large, neighborhood schoolyard (down the block from us).

Moshe wanted to attend a film about the battle for the Old City in the War of Independence, followed by a talk given by Natan Gini, one of the children who fought to defent the Old City during the War of Independence.

My daughter's fifth grade class had done a play about his brother, Nissim Gini, the youngest fighter to fall in defense of our country. He was only ten. His big brother, Natan, was all of twelve at the time. Afterwards, the kids all wrote letters to his sister, sharing what the story meant to them.

Though I was inclined to attend the davening and then come home and rest (let's not forget that I had chemo today -- though I only had Herceptin since the doctor is giving my gastrointestinal tract a rest for a week, before he lowers the dosage in an attempt to alleviate, or at least significantly lesson, my stomach troubles).

"Why would you send me the information if you do not want to go?" my husband asked, perplexed.

When my youngest heard that Natan Gini would be speaking, she also wanted to go. That tipped the balance.

Both the film and the presentation were interesting and informative.

On the way back to our car (there was terrible traffic, so we parked pretty far away), I met an older friend, returning from the Old City.

I felt a brief pang of regret that I had not participated, but it did not last long.

I was tired enough.

And ready to go home.....



Please daven (or send happy, healing thoughts) for RivkA bat Teirtzel.

With love and optimism,
RivkA

Moments of Joy

My son just joined Sayarut (like the Boy Scouts, but without badges, and coed).

Today, he came home from a Sayarut tiyul (hike), tired and hungry.

Moshe brought him straight to the pool, for his swimming lesson; which would have been great, except he got there too late, and had to wait around until we were ready to leave.

At first, he sat next to me, as I watched my final class finish swimming laps. It was sweet. He held my hand, and told me all about the tiyul. (shhhhh, don't tell!! He's too "cool" to hold his mommy's hand! But, sometimes, he forgets....)

Anyway, after ten minutes, he got bored and, understandably, a little grumpy. OK, a lot grumpy.

I knew that I had to get him home, fed, and into bed.

So, imagine my surprise, when, even before we got home, he started offering to help, at every possible opportunity! He even helped his little sister, who was a total grumpy-head!!

I thought, Moshiah (the Messiah), must be coming!! (and I don't usually think he (or she) is about to get off the plane anytime soon...)

He was a perfect little gentleman throughout dinner. He was generous, and patient, and helpful, and more. I asked him for a cup of water and he jumped up and got water for everyone! (Usually, his little sister does that, but she was still sulking. Thank God, she got over it (whatever "it" was), by the end of supper)

Anyway, back to my unexpected angel: When I asked him to load the dishwasher, he asked permission to go to the bathroom first! And then, when he came back, he loaded the dishwasher without being reminded!!

I don't know how many of you have 11 year old boys, but I have never seen my 11 year old boy act this way.

Before my son was born, I had all sorts of egalitarian ideas about raising boys.

Let me tell you, those dolls didn't make a bit of difference!

I have a stereotypical BOY! He builds spaceships out of LEGO, climbs trees so high that I can't look, plays soccer every recess, and even does the "Tom Sawyer thing" and gets his little sister (you know, the one with whom he bickers all the time) to clean his room for him!

My son can run around for hours, and not get tired. But, ask him to help around the house and then he is "too tired."

Not tonight!

After he had done everything, and more, he headed off to bed. As he was about to round the corner, he turned and asked: "was I good?"

"You were great!" I answered, enthusiastically.

He raised his arms like he'd won the soccer championship and his face was beaming!

When he was all ready for bed, he came over and started philosophizing about behavior and how what we do makes us feel. Clearly, his change in attitude was the result of a conscious decision.

He's definitely a boy, but he's on his way to being the Philosopher King....

That's fine with me....just as long as he helps with the dishes!


Please daven (or send happy, healing thoughts) for RivkA bat Teirtzel.

With love and optimism,
RivkA