And we're having a tashlich on the lake tonight!
Even though I was attending temple during the High Holy Days last year, I wasn't able to go on Rosh Hashanah, so this year was my first time. It was very different from regular services. There was a lot more structure and singing (it actually reminded me of a Catholic Mass) and our temple had a guest rabbi from Dallas. I did some soul-searching, and (also like a Mass) it left me feeling a little guilty. I realized that there's so much in my life that I'm not really grateful for, because I'm too busy bitching, moaning, and whining about the things I don't have. So in an effort to make this journal a more positive place and get 5772 off to a good start, I'm making this a Thankful Thursday. Things I'm thankful today:
~ My sister bought me an order of cheesey bread from Little Ceasar's. I had a craving (I might be addicted to that stuff) but my new debit card still hasn't come in, and I didn't have enough cash on me.
~ I bought a new pair of shoes! They are cute, cheap, and fit with the uniform code at work. They are also much lighter than the old two-ton shoes I had been wearing. I try to practice "Use it up, wear it out, make it do, do without" as much as I can, so I wore my old shoes until they were literally coming apart at the seams.
~ The dessert oneg after Rosh Hashanah services last night was so delicious! We had pumpkin bread, lemon squares, a very rich crumb cake, cookies, brownies, a fruit tray, and of course, apples and honey. I dropped an apple slice in the honey pot and had to dig it out with a fork. I'm so grateful that our small, aging congregation has kept a vibrant Jewish community alive. I'm also grateful that my bad-ass Cajun grandma baked pumpkin bread on my behalf. Everyone loved it.
~ I canted the Torah blessing at services this morning and didn't mess it up! I even wore a skirt since I was going up on the bema (and I haven't worn a skirt since 2007). But I don't know what I was thinking wearing a sleeveless shirt. They keep it so darn cold in the sanctuary, so I was freezing by the time services were over. I'm considering buying a tallis (a Jewish prayer shawl), not because I'm pious, but just to keep me warm.
And last, a funny exchange to remember... Michael [Sassy Jewish Grandfather #1] helping me practice the Torah blessing: "You know, nobody in the congregation really knows the Torah blessing. If you mess up, no one will be able to tell." Me: "But Jacob [Sassy Jewish Grandfather #3] knows it. He said it that one day, and he knew the whole thing." Michael: "Jacob is a Jew by choice, and you guys make the rest of us look bad." Jacob: "Well, that's not our intention, but sometimes it does happen." Haha.
~ My sister bought me an order of cheesey bread from Little Ceasar's. I had a craving (I might be addicted to that stuff) but my new debit card still hasn't come in, and I didn't have enough cash on me.
~ I bought a new pair of shoes! They are cute, cheap, and fit with the uniform code at work. They are also much lighter than the old two-ton shoes I had been wearing. I try to practice "Use it up, wear it out, make it do, do without" as much as I can, so I wore my old shoes until they were literally coming apart at the seams.
~ The dessert oneg after Rosh Hashanah services last night was so delicious! We had pumpkin bread, lemon squares, a very rich crumb cake, cookies, brownies, a fruit tray, and of course, apples and honey. I dropped an apple slice in the honey pot and had to dig it out with a fork. I'm so grateful that our small, aging congregation has kept a vibrant Jewish community alive. I'm also grateful that my bad-ass Cajun grandma baked pumpkin bread on my behalf. Everyone loved it.
~ I canted the Torah blessing at services this morning and didn't mess it up! I even wore a skirt since I was going up on the bema (and I haven't worn a skirt since 2007). But I don't know what I was thinking wearing a sleeveless shirt. They keep it so darn cold in the sanctuary, so I was freezing by the time services were over. I'm considering buying a tallis (a Jewish prayer shawl), not because I'm pious, but just to keep me warm.
And last, a funny exchange to remember... Michael [Sassy Jewish Grandfather #1] helping me practice the Torah blessing: "You know, nobody in the congregation really knows the Torah blessing. If you mess up, no one will be able to tell." Me: "But Jacob [Sassy Jewish Grandfather #3] knows it. He said it that one day, and he knew the whole thing." Michael: "Jacob is a Jew by choice, and you guys make the rest of us look bad." Jacob: "Well, that's not our intention, but sometimes it does happen." Haha.