ROSH HASHANAH + HAPPY BIRTHDAY

THE BOBBSEY TWINS

On every Jewish holiday, a blessing is said, thanking whatever power in the universe "...that has helped us to reach this occasion..."- the She-hech-i-yanu - after all the events of the summer, Shirley's passing, barry's hospitalization, it is incredulous that we lived to sit around the table with my friends, paula, dorothy and jane. At the last minute, Barry announced he wanted to make a brisket. I am very tired; I still have not recovered from all the events of the summer leading into the fall. I was planning on a very low key, quiet 'holiday' but instead I had four guests. Every year my birthday falls somewhere around the Jewish holidays - this year it was on Rosh Hashanah. 

PAULA AND BARRY IN FRONT OF BOBY + OLD FAMILY PHOTOS

After I told barry that dorothy suggested he open a restaurant and play the piano, he said, "for the being the one millionth person to say that, "she gets a brisket" and then the fun ensued. Dorothy brought a delicious salad - arugula, avocado, tomatoes, lettuce - 

barry cooked up a storm - the brisket was so tender it fell over while cutting it - he tried his hand at making a kugel; everybody loved it - 

For the dessert part of the evening, Jane created my birthday cake using my 100% organic chocolate, no sugar, no dairy and organic raspberries and shells - 

For the entertainment part of the evening, barry agreed to play piano so I was treated to a jazzy rendition of Happy Birthday and some other songs from the Cole Porter, '40's era - it was good to see him playing.......for awhile there, we all held our breath.....

Blessed are You, Force/Energy of the universe, who has kept us alive, and has preserved us, and enabled us to reach this season. 

(Interpretive version)

For more information about this blessing click here;

THINGS ARE LOOKING UP

After a long time of no blogging, things have settled down to a dull roar. I needed some time to decompress from being in 'crisis mode' for most of the summer. Of course I am still processing the loss of Shirley....words fail........more on that later.

The upside right now is Barry. He completed two and a half weeks of Rehab at McClean. He's been home for a couple of weeks and is going to meetings near his house. But the best news is that he was referred to an outpatient Rehab place in Arlington, Right Turn (righturn.org) which caters to musicians primarily. He just emailed me his schedule - monday, tuesday, wednesday, and friday, 9-1. It's a big schlep to get there from where he lives in the South Shore in Canton, but he went yesterday, he went to groups, met some nice people....it's all good !  One day at at time.

Here comes the best news of all: last night he received his 60 day chip ! He is so excited about it it's fabulous ! I am too !

Also, he's already played two gigs in the last week and as I write this, he is on his way to play a "Bereavement Luncheon" in a trio which will go for five hours.......