Rosh Hashanah Round Up of Sorts

Rosh Hashana was just ok. TG and I went to a dinner in our neig hborhood. The dinner was delicious but the vibe was a bit off. I had a woman sitting next to me who was less than pleasant. I seemed to have upset her when I suggested waiting to eat her challah so we could do it as a table. I think she just misunderstood me. Her reply was quite shocking, "Maybe I did it myself!".  The rest of the evening everything I did the woman made a comment such as, "You're unbelievable" or "What did you say!".  Sitting right next to her, and her continuing this behavior the whole evening and it spilling over to others at the table, was no fun. BUT, I was cordial, I passed food politely and I quietly wished her a better year. 

The next morning we went to Rosh Hashana services   which were nice but I don't think I came mentally  prepared because meaning was lacking a bit for me.  I did however connect to the feeling of Rosh Hashana through some cooking. Cooking can be quite cathartic. Alone, in a kitchen, keeping busy, letting the mind do it's thing. And so, I baked my very first challah ever, Cinnamon Raisin.  I also baked a lukshen kugel. 

The remainder of the holiday was relaxed and we had our neighbor over for a pre-Shabbat/Rosh Hashanah lunch of kugel, challah, fruit salad, broccoflower salad and good company. That was quite nice and hopefully a first of many. 

Saturday after Shabbat TG and I went to the Grove for a bookstore trip and kosher hot dogs.  We had a nice, and for me much needed, evening roaming about.  Yes, it was quite crowded but I truly enjoyed it and bought a great book called "Grandpa's Mountain".  I LOVE the book. Although it is quite easily a young adult book, I suggest everyone read it. The basic premise of the book is it is a series of letters between a grandson in New Jersey and a grandfather whom he has never met in a border town in Israel.   Their correspondences are touching and amazing. They are filled with hope and healing.

Sunday we did Tashlich with VBS.  The lake was quite pretty. However, we didn't know where around the lake it was so we did a lap and a quarter before we found everyone. It was a bit, or seemed anyway, disorganized. I tried to step off to the side to have some quiet serious reflective time which was good for me. After TG and I got home we read Jack's Shack and discovered we had been found out. :)  We're still waiting to do coffee with Jack at this point.

I'm really glad Yom Kippur falls on Shabbat so we don't have an extra long holiday again. After Yom Kippur, on Monday, TG's mom will be here for a visit and so we can introduce our parents to each other for the first time. Both TG's mom and step dad, and my dad and step mom are looking forward to meeting. Earlier in the year his mom made my step mom a beautiful quilt which she regularly uses. They have also exchanged a couple of nice emails so I'm sure all will go pleasant. Both TG and I are looking forward to the week they are here.

May your week be full of forgiveness and I do wish everyone a meaningful and solemn Yom Kippur.