The Voodoo that Jew do

I'm officially Jewish! I am so terribly excited. This means I can tell Jewish jokes now without being accused of being bigoted. Because, hello? I'm JEWISH! (to wit: My GFIL, upon being told that I had FINALLY converted asked me, "How do you feel?" My response? "Well, I'm feeling a bit oppressed.")

Anyway, all kidding aside, it was really an interesting process. Yesterday morning I met with three Rabbis - a Beit Din - and spent about 45 minutes talking with them. I had to answer a bunch of questions in writing (and one of the Rabbis LOVED my answers. Whee!) and a lot of the questions were in response to things I had written. It was really much easier than I had imagined. My Rabbi had told me what to expect - that it would just be a conversation. I couldn't shake the picture that I was going to be sitting in a straight-backed chair 10 feet from a long table with 3 elderly men, all with long white beards and dressed in black, while they asked me obscure questions about Judaism. Just in case, I researched the next holiday (Tisha B'Av) and other stuff.

But, they didn't ask me about that. And I passed! Then, it was off to another state to dip into the Mikveh, which wasn't nearly as terrifying as I had imagined it would be. The Mikveh at my temple was unusable so we had to travel. The mikveh we ended up using was much more comfortable to me because I was pretty much hidden from the mikveh lady. Of course, I couldn't go in with my glasses on so she had to hold the blessings I had to say. I had to submerge myself and then swim over to where she was and squint my eyes to read the blessings. But actually, it was quite an amazing experience (after I got over the fact that there were 3 men in the room with me - even though they couldn't see me). The water was incredibly warm. It wasn't really anything like when I was baptized twenty years ago. Maybe because it was a choice *I* made.

So, now I'm Jewish. And I make a mean Matzo Ball Soup!

My Heart Hurts

I just heard from a lost, but not forgotten, friend and former colleague. Turns out he has Leukemia and has about 6 months to live. He wasn't calling me to give me the bad news, he just came across my number and realized it had been forever since we had spoken and he decided to give me a ring. I'm so thankful that he did. I lost track of him two years ago when the company we both worked for was sold. The new company didn't have much use for him and I quit soon after. I had an old number and tried to call him several times but couldn't get through. I even tried to track him down through the Internet but no luck. I've thought about him many, many times and wished there was a way to find him. Fortunately, he found me. He had to sell his house and is now living in an assisted living facility.

He's only 59.

I met P in 1997, soon after I started working at my 7-year job. At that time he was a client and was thrilled that I had been hired. He didn't like the other woman working there and made no bones about it. Of course, it didn't help that she was rude and unprofessional. (She would answer the phone with "What do you want?" rather than "Company Name, how can I help you?")

P had been in the military - working logistics - so he always wanted to make sure everything was done and in place. Have the books been ordered? Is the instructor scheduled? He was quick to fuss if something wasn't done correctly but he was even quicker to compliment me on a job well done.

After he left the client, P came onboard with us as a freelancer. I sent him all over the country and he was always glad to go. I most enjoyed bringing him to New York because he would always stop by the office. He always knew when I was stressed out and would offer words of encouragement, not to mention a Diet Dr. Pepper. He often told me I was being wasted at the job (which was true) and he offered to work on my resume (which he did).

Even though there were times when he would tax my patience with his logistical questions (what time does the plane arrive? How far is the airport from the hotel? How long does it take to get there?) he was my favorite. I did everything I could to keep him busy and it broke my heart when his marriage ended and then the company was sold and I couldn't send him anywhere anymore.

Diabetes also runs in his family and his two older brothers were already blind and had limbs amputated. P is also diabetic but kept it under control - except for his love of Snickers. If he was coming in, we always made sure there were mini Snickers around for him. At least one or two.

And then I lost track of him. And now he has Leukemia. And I will call him and write him often. He has no children and no wife. I don't know if he has any family near by. I think that's what hurts the most - knowing this energetic, funny, caring, and intelligent man is battling a life-taking illness alone. And I didn't realize how much I missed him until I spoke to him tonight and I'll probably never see him again.

My heart hurts.



At least there will always be Snickers.

Wedding Stuff - Entries #2-10

Oh the drama, the DRAMA of it all.

1. THE DRESS

I bought a dress. Then tried the dress on and decided it looked horrible. I mean HORRIBLE! Hated the dress but didn't have time to go buy a new one. Went to David's Bridals today. In and out in 1.5 hours with a dress, veil, shoes and strapless bra. It took me longer to pick out the shoes than to pick the dress (really wanted the wedge or the clear platforms - neither pair worked with the dress, though. Must go pick up some wedges for every day wear. Where did my inner shoe maven go?)

2. THE RINGS

There is just too much to go into about these darn rings. I just hope we have something on our wedding day to give each other. Right now it's looking like they're gonna be aluminum foil.

3. THE CONVERSION

When? Where? Who knows! All I know is that it MUST be done in the next two weeks or the wedding isn't happening. It was supposed to be done today but the mikveh wasn't working. Hopefully Friday is the day.

4. THE LICENSE

Birth certificate? I know it's here somewhere. Yes, I've seen it here. No, I don't know exactly where it is but I have a pretty good idea where to look. Yes, I know perfectly well if I can't find it I'll have to call my home town. I'm really NOT an idiot.

5. THE GUESTS

So College Roomate doesn't know if she's coming with the kids or with her husband. So FBIL hasn't made up his mind if he's coming or not. WHO CARES??? We aren't paying by head so it doesn't really matter. All we need to do is give a ball-park headcount and we're fine. Really, we'll be fine. Breathe. Please.

6. THE MUSICIANS

Finally, found a harpist and a violinist. Waiting on the contract. Two weeks away and I need to pay them a deposit but, don't have the money yet. Must wait for FGIL to decide exactly how he wants to pay. Cash? AMEX? Check? *Sigh*

7. THE GRANDFATHER

Don't get me wrong. I love the guy. He has been so generous to me, and I'm amazingly grateful that he volunteered to fund this event. We've been able to do much more than we had planned. Actual flowers. Musicians. A Photographer. I'm amazed and overwhelmed by his generosity. And I'm frustrated and frantic by his constant phone calls, "advice", and jump-through-the-hoops "suggestions." I only need to make it through two more weeks.

8. THE PARENTS

Have not met yet. Probably won't meet until the wedding day. It's a shame but not much can be done about it. DF stressed and annoyed by this. Have no suggestions as his parents are coming in a day before mine and are staying in the city while my parents are coming in the afternoon before the wedding and staying in the county. No way are we all getting together Saturday night. That's my time to have a major freak-out/melt-down that my fabulous MOH will deal with and then put me back together. 'Coz that's what she does.

9. THE HONEYMOON

Where are we going? What are we doing? We need to get away but where should we go? How are we paying for it? Who will take care of the cats? I'm taking the week off. I don't care if we don't go anywhere. Just let me sleep (among other things) for the week and I'll be fine.

10. THE CAKE

Ooh, finally. No DRAMA! The cake is going to beautiful and delicious. Truffles galore all around and the truffles are to DIE for. Chocolate infused with cinnamon. Chocolate infused with orange. Chocolate infused with raspberry. Chocolate infusion STAT!!!!