August Panorama

Just stealing a few minutes before going home. Abby is up at North soccer game and Sue will give both Talia and Abby rides home.

Later tonight, Sue says she will give me a call and she and I will WALK!

I really like the class I'm taking -- F358 -- Jewish Identity. The prof is funny and interesting and really nice -- he spills over with fascinating stuff.

So, I have reading to do for the class, it's already 6:30 and I haven't left work, the bed in my office is full of clean laundry waiting for me to sort it and put it away...

But it is better to be busy.

I was thinking about that issue because two of us moms were standing around talking about how we were going to take some food to a friend who needs some loving care right now. And another person was telling us how she could not find time to help out, but maybe in the future. Not that we asked for help -- but evidently there was a need to make excuses. And both of us have husbands and kids and pets and work full-time and participate a lot in our respective faith communities...

I actually had a talk with Abby about that. About how life is always busy, but it's better to say "yes" when an opportunity for service is put in front of you. I don't know if that's a Jewish thing, but it feels like it is...

Of course, Abby is the kind of kid who, when she and Jordie came to help out with the Welcome Back Brunch at synagogue Sunday morning (I was chairing and so they automatically volunteered to come early with me and help set up) -- anyway, I said to her "Can you go handle the table in the front hall and greet people, help them make nametags?" And she just said "Sure" and went to do it. I was so grateful to have that kind of kid -- all three kids are that kind -- and several people said nice things to me about our beautiful and gracious daughter.

But there is a thing -- Jewish or not -- that, if one if fortunate in life -- you owe it to life to give back.

Anyway, August has been a colorful and interesting and busy and good and bad and happy and sad panorama.

The Jeffersons came and that was good in so many ways. Our house was full -- but it was relaxing and joyful. Nora and Rita have diamonds in their noses! It was just perfect to hang out with them.

One of my best friends, Vicki, had to have a mastectomy and I've been thinking about her all the time. She just found out the other day that it has NOT metasticized (sp?) and I realized I had been carrying a huge ball of dread around all week, waiting to hear the news. So, she will have to have chemo and radiation, but at least, a good prognosis for recovery.

And another good friend, Shirley, my retired boss who basically taught me everything about pagination and made my current life so enjoyable by hiring me and making this job possible for me...she fell down the stairs at home and hurt her head and I have been so worried about her. Jordie has been helping out by stopping by their house, too, as well as some other good friends of hers.

We drove to Chicago and met Amalia at O'Hare -- she and the younger kids took the train into town to Lollopalooza and Jordie and I took her suitcase and headed up to Ika and Shlomo's. We went out for a relaxed meal with them and spent the next couple of days with them...picking up the kids at the Deerfield train station after midnight, when they would return from Lollopalooza...and we went to IKEA and got some chairs, and we all went on a architectural river tour in downtown Chicago...and after we were home, we went to Clifty Falls for a night and Jordie and I took a canoe and the kids, all in kayaks, paddled for SEVEN MILES down the Blue River...it was so much fun. At one point, Abby was alone on the river ahead of us. She was singing the Three Dog Night version of "Joy to the World, all you boys and girls..."and keeping time with her kayak paddle...later in the week we rented a pontoon boat and spent the afternoon on Lake Monroe. Then a really great 25th anniversary party that Saturday night! So much fun for lots of friends to come and share food and memories and see the house...

A busy and happy month that slipped by in the blink of an eye (Adam would call me "oldie" for saying that!)

OK. Time for me to get home.