![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
lagilmanWarning: family stuff which may be endlessly boring to others. Or not. Who knows.
Friday morning was spent running about Getting Things Half-Done before we hit the road, which we did right on schedule, heading up the Usual Route to Boston. Or, more specifically, Newton, MA, where my eldest nephew was getting bar mitzvahed, the ritual recognition of a child reaching the age of moral adulthood, at which point s/he is considered an adult within the religious community and no longer solely the parental responsibility, etc. Two years of study, leading the torah reading in front of the congregation, and then a party and and lots of checks which go towards the college fund).
Anyway. We arrived early, and as per usual with anything having to do with my sister's family, we hit snow once we got to the Mass Pike. But unlike the blizzard before the baby shower for Dan almost 14 years ago, or the blizzard before their wedding almost 15 years ago, it was just a flurry of white in the air. So we arrive at the hotel, and check in. And I keep thinking "It's a hotel on a Friday. Aren't I supposed to go to the bar to see who's here?" Heh.
Dinner, then over to Friday night services, where among other things the synagogue has a prayer-of-healing where people with loved ones in need are asked to speak their names so the congregation can add them to their own prayers. I offer up Charlie Grant's name. I didn't know, at the time, that Charlie was going into the hospital. I can only hope there's something to this prayer thing... damn it. Oneg shabbat afterward, and how can people who deal with ritual purity their entire lives not understand the concept of making and serving tea in a container that didn't previously hold coffee? Is it really that much more difficult that having two sets of plates for meat and dairy? Sheesh.
Saturday morning was the bar mitzvah itself. My sister and I had been invited up to recite the prayer before and after Dan read his Torah portion. This is a prayer we've all had drummed into us since we were thirteen. We know it cold. Plus, I've been obsessively (moi?) practicing all morning.
Of course we screw it up. The lesson I learn from this? When Sue says "follow my lead," don't. I'm thirty-six. You'd think I'd have learned this by now, no?
But Dan performed exceptionally well, and his brother Evan was about as well-behaved as you can ask of any sibling when their elder sibling is getting all the attention. And then there was a party, with good food and dancing (including a great "adults vs. kids" 'Soul Train" style dance off. Adults won by three points, at least one of which was due to me. *preen* My cousin's daughter A. and I were paired at one point, and she gave me some tough competition. She's eleven. I've already tendered my sympathies to my cousin.
(and yes, at this point, application of the massage stick [thanks again, Dianora2, it was a very good present] and several glasses of wine had relaxed me enough that I was able to dance without too much pain. Although I was careful about how much time I spent on the dance floor. And the Limbo contest was Right Out. Besides, no way you can compete with kids who haven't hit any growth spurt yet. *grin*
Afterwards, spent an hour or so with my folks, unwinding (well, spent it with my mom, as my dad has this tendency to go to sleep whenever presented with a comfortable flat surface like a hotel room bed). And then over to my sister's for an after-the-party gathering of out-of-towners. They'd gotten platters of food, and I sat on the floor in the living room and consumed The Perfect Sandwhich (roast beef and swiss with lettuce and russian dressing on rye) with a dill pickle, and followed by one of my mom's decadent and truly evil brownies (which I first spent five minutes just smelling,then devoured nibble by nibble, making it into a religious experience all its own. My mom makes eeeeevil brownies).
And then, around 8pm, we hit the road (we had originally intended to stay over another night, but the thought of actually waking up at home, with the ability to get work done, was too much for me to resist when the spousal suggested heading home that night). And except for almost getting killed when the Idiots going 80mph decided that they Absolutely Had to See the accident on the other side of the road and slowed to about 20mph without warning (I. Hate. Rubberneckers.) it wasn't too bad a drive home. Well, for me, anyway, since I wasn't driving. If my car hadn't been in the shop thanks to the Spouse's inability to see a mailbox behind... but anyway. Fell over went thud a little after midnight.
Came home to news that we finally have a title for Book 2 that everyone thinks doens't suck (yay!) and the earlier mentioned news about Charlie Grant (*sadness*) and far too much backlog of e-mail and lj posts and newsgroup entries for me to catch up on even if I took all day. Which I can't. So if there was something you think I needed to see, send me a pointer, okay?
Friday morning was spent running about Getting Things Half-Done before we hit the road, which we did right on schedule, heading up the Usual Route to Boston. Or, more specifically, Newton, MA, where my eldest nephew was getting bar mitzvahed, the ritual recognition of a child reaching the age of moral adulthood, at which point s/he is considered an adult within the religious community and no longer solely the parental responsibility, etc. Two years of study, leading the torah reading in front of the congregation, and then a party and and lots of checks which go towards the college fund).
Anyway. We arrived early, and as per usual with anything having to do with my sister's family, we hit snow once we got to the Mass Pike. But unlike the blizzard before the baby shower for Dan almost 14 years ago, or the blizzard before their wedding almost 15 years ago, it was just a flurry of white in the air. So we arrive at the hotel, and check in. And I keep thinking "It's a hotel on a Friday. Aren't I supposed to go to the bar to see who's here?" Heh.
Dinner, then over to Friday night services, where among other things the synagogue has a prayer-of-healing where people with loved ones in need are asked to speak their names so the congregation can add them to their own prayers. I offer up Charlie Grant's name. I didn't know, at the time, that Charlie was going into the hospital. I can only hope there's something to this prayer thing... damn it. Oneg shabbat afterward, and how can people who deal with ritual purity their entire lives not understand the concept of making and serving tea in a container that didn't previously hold coffee? Is it really that much more difficult that having two sets of plates for meat and dairy? Sheesh.
Saturday morning was the bar mitzvah itself. My sister and I had been invited up to recite the prayer before and after Dan read his Torah portion. This is a prayer we've all had drummed into us since we were thirteen. We know it cold. Plus, I've been obsessively (moi?) practicing all morning.
Of course we screw it up. The lesson I learn from this? When Sue says "follow my lead," don't. I'm thirty-six. You'd think I'd have learned this by now, no?
But Dan performed exceptionally well, and his brother Evan was about as well-behaved as you can ask of any sibling when their elder sibling is getting all the attention. And then there was a party, with good food and dancing (including a great "adults vs. kids" 'Soul Train" style dance off. Adults won by three points, at least one of which was due to me. *preen* My cousin's daughter A. and I were paired at one point, and she gave me some tough competition. She's eleven. I've already tendered my sympathies to my cousin.
(and yes, at this point, application of the massage stick [thanks again, Dianora2, it was a very good present] and several glasses of wine had relaxed me enough that I was able to dance without too much pain. Although I was careful about how much time I spent on the dance floor. And the Limbo contest was Right Out. Besides, no way you can compete with kids who haven't hit any growth spurt yet. *grin*
Afterwards, spent an hour or so with my folks, unwinding (well, spent it with my mom, as my dad has this tendency to go to sleep whenever presented with a comfortable flat surface like a hotel room bed). And then over to my sister's for an after-the-party gathering of out-of-towners. They'd gotten platters of food, and I sat on the floor in the living room and consumed The Perfect Sandwhich (roast beef and swiss with lettuce and russian dressing on rye) with a dill pickle, and followed by one of my mom's decadent and truly evil brownies (which I first spent five minutes just smelling,then devoured nibble by nibble, making it into a religious experience all its own. My mom makes eeeeevil brownies).
And then, around 8pm, we hit the road (we had originally intended to stay over another night, but the thought of actually waking up at home, with the ability to get work done, was too much for me to resist when the spousal suggested heading home that night). And except for almost getting killed when the Idiots going 80mph decided that they Absolutely Had to See the accident on the other side of the road and slowed to about 20mph without warning (I. Hate. Rubberneckers.) it wasn't too bad a drive home. Well, for me, anyway, since I wasn't driving. If my car hadn't been in the shop thanks to the Spouse's inability to see a mailbox behind... but anyway. Fell over went thud a little after midnight.
Came home to news that we finally have a title for Book 2 that everyone thinks doens't suck (yay!) and the earlier mentioned news about Charlie Grant (*sadness*) and far too much backlog of e-mail and lj posts and newsgroup entries for me to catch up on even if I took all day. Which I can't. So if there was something you think I needed to see, send me a pointer, okay?
![[identity profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/openid.png){kind=small}
no subject
Date: 2004-03-14 08:01 am (UTC)And I'm so sorry to hear about Charlie. Could I ask a favor? If you wouldn't mind posting updates here, I would appreciate it. This is the only place I know to get such info and I'm very concerned (and keeping him in my prayers). Thanks.
no subject
Date: 2004-03-14 11:55 am (UTC)And hope to get some great single malt scotch?? I'm sure Tom and I will be bringing some to Lunacon, hope to share with you again. :)
and how can people who deal with ritual purity their entire lives not understand the concept of making and serving tea in a container that didn't previously hold coffee?
The Perfect Sandwhich (roast beef and swiss with lettuce and russian dressing on rye) with a dill pickle
After the second comment I can understand why they can't keep tea and coffee seperate. :)
no subject
Date: 2004-03-14 12:31 pm (UTC)And actually, I brought some Balvine Double Wood for my sister to have as soon as we were sure she'd survive. It was muchly appreciated, although now there will be stories floating around the synagoge about those Gilman Girls and their booze...
no subject
Date: 2004-03-15 03:10 am (UTC)Mazel tov to Dan on the happy occasion, and to yourself for the dancing. Sounds like fun was had by all, which is a general Good Thing.
Katie