Sarasota, FL – Sometimes you just got to get back to the original Shabbat – table clothes, fancy wine glass goblets with new wine choices, Shabbat dinner plates, challah, candles,  cloth napkins, home cooking and some friends who might say “yes.”

We got lucky for this Shabbat as four sets of our friends were able to join us. Each chipped in – fresh flowers from Sarah’s garden, an assortment of wine particularly the one from Monica and John – Old Soul that is described as “vessels of an eternal soul that offer wisdom, strength, and stability,” challah from Jamie and Neil as well as some homemade chocolate chip cookies for good measure, Ed’s amazing fish fry, and Lori and Bruce’s dessert.

Conversations sprang up from the extra kids who seem to show up in our homes, the dementia that some of our mom’s are experiencing, Erin Weinberger’s announcement of signing her contract for the National Tour of Cinderella, Sam Dorman’s college graduation, upcoming traveling adventures, the pregnancy announcement of Shayna Shefrin, wife of Rabbi Michael Shefrin from Temple Emanu-El, and other assorted talk. Jake, our son, was even home enjoying conversation with Aunt Kala and Uncle Ken. It was just delightful. We are blessed.