The Jewish holiday of
Passover (Pesach) begins in just a
few short hours. Our preparations are complete, so I am able to sit here and
think about things.
Unfortunately,
thinking about things often involves being overwhelmed by the sorrow of missed
opportunities. This year in particular, we are spending the holiday here at our
home in Riverdale, without our children and grandchildren. Our younger daughter
and her family are spending the first part of the week with her in-laws in
Baltimore. Our older daughter will be home in Sharon and we thought about going
to her but we have to be in New York before the end of the holiday for my next
treatment, and the idea of preparing two houses and kitchens for the holiday
was simply overwhelming to me. We have a lot of help with all this in Riverdale
because the woman who has been cleaning for us for over twenty years knows the
drill. Even with that, it is still a lot of work. To take care of the Sharon
apartment for just a few days was simply using energy I do not have.
Tonight, we are
spending the first Seder at the home of our friends Judy and Lanny with a few
other couples who are in similar situations: their married children are with
the in-law families. We have not spent a Seder night with just other couples our
age in a very long time. Something I found especially heartwarming was earlier
today when Judy told me that they had figured out a seating arrangement that
provides me with easy access to the restroom, something that is still a major
issue despite numerous medications to ameliorate. Judy is a very special
person.
I am going to try to
get a little rest this afternoon so I can be awake for this evenings’
festivities. For those of you who are celebrating, have a chag kasher v’sameach!
Love,
Rebecca
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