September 23, 2016 – Sarasota, FL
This Shabbat ritual began for two reasons: the Schneiders included us in their Shabbat dinners on a regular basis and my mom needed to connect with something pleasant at least once a week as her Parkinson’s and Lewy Body diseases continue to ramp up, and it was joyful for Steve’s mom too. As the summer has progressed, we remain grateful to the Schneider’s for their inclusion, however, both moms have become unable to attend the dinners. Perhaps this blog is just a marking of the passage of time as their lives becomes more difficult or what we perceive to be difficult.
Steve and I took a Shabbat detour tonight. While I still prepared dinner, the main course of fish was rather unsavory. I suppose my experimentation with garlic and peach jelly was a fail! The medley of potatoes was appetizing as were the stuffed colored peppers, but the mushroom caps glazed with buttery clams didn’t satisfy the palate too much. No worries as Steve made his Shabbat cocktail concoction of Mount Gay Rum with a tropical fruity juice. He saved the moment!
While recorded Shabbat music from our Temple’s Shabbat band hummed from my MacBook, we eagerly focused on our theme of the night – Financial Friday. I am well aware that as a part of our Jewish heritage, we are suppose to cease from “work,” but we just needed to cease from everything else and budget. While financial planning might sound like it could strike an emotional chord for a couple, it is actually freeing because we were able to really understand our expenses versus income. Thanks to online banking products and spreadsheets, we know where to make our shifts. You should really try it!
We did connect via FaceTime with our cousins: Noreen And Steve Berger and Annette and Warren Jasper, their son, Sam, and of course our Aunt Retha. We somehow missed the first call but virtually caught up with them for coffee and dessert!
Steve and I capped the night with the movie Manchurian Candidate and awaited our son’s arrival home from his rotation at the ER for EMT school. Not a typical focus for a Shabbat, but effervescent, productive, joyful, and calming – the other necessary Shabbat props! Good Shabbat!