Jay and Lauren’s Bar and Bat Mitzvah
Bat Mitzvah , we were in the temple and I was so touched by the surroundings and being with my family that I was brought to tears. Jessica and Lauren who were sitting in front of me turned around and asked me what was wrong. I couldn’t speak I was so overwhelmed. I turned to my brother, Marvin, who had come from New York for the Bar Mitzvah and said, “Marvin, you had a mitzvah coming down and God is going to reward you for this.” Then I noticed that tears were rolling down his cheeks as well. I don’t know the real reasons but I tried to interpret them in my own way. Marvin never goes out of his apartment in New York. And here he was, surrounded by everyone, feeling happy that he was there. It could have been the rabbi’s services that affected him. Then, he knows he is very sick. He misses his wife, Fran. And he misses his friend, Lorraine Wilson, who passed away recently. Whatever it was I will never forget the moment and how it affect- ed me. The poet John Keats said, “Oh moments
Herman and Dorothy re-new vows
party but I knew nothing about it. I saw friends and relatives from all over at the party. It was terrific. But the lead up to it wasn’t nearly as much fun. Six weeks earlier Herman and I had dinner with Ted and Shirley Scatcherd and another couple at the Eagle Trace club. When we finished dinner Herman went to get the car. I walked out into the night with Ted and Shirley. Just as we were leaving the clubhouse onto the foot path I said to Ted, “Do you mind if I hold on . . .” I never got the rest out. There was a long brick path and then a low brick step that I didn’t see. As I was falling it occurred to me that if Ted tries to catch me and falls on me I will be crushed. Fortunately he didn’t. I fractured my left foot and spent six weeks wearing a boot on my foot while it healed. The day of the party I said to Wendy, “I don’t want a party. Look at me. I look terrible. And I won’t be able to wear decent shoes.” Wendy just said, “Sorry, Mom, you are coming and that’s all there is to it.” That after- noon my sister, Pearl, pushed me around the Festival Flea Market in a wheelchair because I couldn’t walk. But I was determined that
big as years.” He was right. AN ANNIVERSARY TO REMEMBER
Our children planned a fortieth anniversary surprise party for us. I knew there was going to be a
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