Sarasota, FL – Friday Night – Well, we started at Temple for the Brotherhood Shabbat and broke bread at the table with our friends the Warren’s, Klaber’s, Levitt’s, and the Silverberg’s, but my stay was brief as I had been sweetly invited to Cardinal Mooney’s 2017 High School Graduation at the Van Wezel by Reagan Seyer and her family. Reagan has been my student since 5th grade, so these invitations are very special. In addition, there were two other students to celebrate on this night: Jesse Maun and Hannah Carlo. Sarasota has been experiencing a drought, but not on this night. The heavens rained down on us. Graduation plans were definitely dampened, but once inside, the ceremony commemorated the milestone. The crowd was rowdy as parents blew airhorns, raised monogrammed signage of their kids’ faces, and shouted as their proteges’ names were called one at a time to receive their diplomas. Once stats of the class and speeches were delivered, the Class of 2017 closed another chapter. The Seyer family and guests met up at D’Corato Ristorante downtown where I was treated to solid Catholic/Jewish jokes such as “What do you get when a Catholic and Jew have children?” – Cath Jews or “Cashews” and a delicious mean entitled “Vongole – Fresh clams sautéed with extra virgin olive oil and garlic served on a bed of linguine pasta with your choice of light red sauce or a white wine clam sauce topped with fresh parsley and a touch of red pepper.”

The atmosphere was quaint, food delicious, and company just right. We were there to celebrate the culmination of years of schooling for Reagan, and her sister, Alexa, was right behind her as a rising junior. Alexa graciously introduced me to the score of the Broadway Musical, Hamilton, years ago. She one of my students who keeps me hip, young and in the know! Reagan will be headed to Furman University as a double major – theater and business. She was nominated for best actress in Seeking Solace, a “short film focuses on how to cope with the loss of a loved one by drawing on faith in God to help heal the pains and scars which develops.” Her next appearance is in Captives which was recently selected to show at the Inspired Faith Film Festival in Atlanta. In addition, Reagan was part of the Sarasota Crew Team! So proud to be a part of Reagan’s educational journey. Thank you and what a special Shabbat dinner!

Saturday – I visited with my mom in the early afternoon. For mother’s day previously, I had found the book by Jamie Lee Curtis, I Feel Silly Today, sitting in my personal library, and used it as the focus of memory pictures for my mom. She loves to read, but as her brain has been plagued by dementia and her body by Parkinson’s, reading has been thwarted. Children books are colorful, usually filled with manageable large print sentences and just feel joyful. When I arrived, she was reading it. So, I was glad to see that she could enjoy reading again and “see” herself with her parents. I left and headed to another milestone of another one of my student’s – Emma Stock.  She had recently been nominated for a Golden Herald Award. She is also slated to crew with Drake University in the Fall while she majors in kinesiology. I was so thrilled to be celebrating with Emma as well. I began as her educational coach when she was in 5th grade. She has always been diligent and has kept her eye on the prize. She has become quite a mathematician and scientist! And like Reagan, I have watched them evolve into beautiful young women.

I am blessed to have celebrated this Shabbat with two of my students who enrich my life and remind me why I show up to work each day and on the weekends sometimes. If it happen on Shabbat, then it goes in the blog! Good Shabbat.