Having your skirt fall off isn’t the worst thing that can happen to you. Our grand- daughter, Abigail , Wendy’s daughter, decided to become a Bat Mitzvah girl. If you are lucky you have never planned a big event like a Bat Mitzvah. It is something like planning the invasion of Normandy Beach in World War II. You have to put together a list of guests from all over the country, arrange for places for them to stay, order invitations, hire a photographer, study for the prayers, prepare for Friday night services and dinner, arrange the Sunday brunch and dinner, hire a party planner, schedule a whole weekend of entertainment, limo service to and from the airport, hire a band, send out the invitations, take phone calls from all over – someone is sick and can’t make it, someone is now better and can make it, beauty parlor appointments, hotel reservations, arrange and rearrange the table seating, and buy something to wear. In between you still have to work and take care of your usual routine. I looked at and decided against two gowns. Then I decided that since our lifestyle was such that an expensive gown would only be worn once that I couldn’t justify the cost to myself. I went shopping in my own closet. It was a beautiful weekend. We were all excited about seeing friends and relatives including kids coming home from colleges. The evening of the dance everyone was on the dance floor having a great time. So was I, espe- cially when I saw Herman coming onto the dance floor for a Hora dance. I was so excited I went to reach for his hand. I never noticed the six inch difference between the dance floor and the floor. I stepped backward and just kept
going, head over heels. I fell straight back and heard my head crack as it hit the floor. I was numb with shock. I actually thought it was the end of me. “GET AN AMBULANCE” While I was lying there dazed the whole room went silent as people tried to see what had happened to me. One relative leaned over and presented his credentials – he was an ophthal- mologist he said, but still a doctor. Another friend said he was a male nurse. Someone was pushing people back so I could breathe. Some- one said, “She’s dead.” Then I heard my sister, Pearl, shout, “Get an ambulance.” I don’t know what it was that enabled me to recover except the idea of ruining Abigail’s party but I shout- ed, “No.” Abigail was standing over me with tears streaming down her face. I was not going to go to any hospital and put a damper on this party. Herman would have to go to the hospital with me and we would be a source of worry for everyone. A couple of people helped me up. I seemed to be okay. I had a problem a few years earlier with blood clots in my legs and lung. I was hoping there wouldn’t be a repetition of the problem. I sat down at our table and got myself together. After a while I really did feel better and even got up for a last dance. You can’t keep a good woman down. I was happy the party and the weekend was a success but I was also glad when it was all over and I was in one piece, more or less. A MOTHER DAUGHTER BAT MITZVAH Speaking of Bat Mitzvahs – years earlier,
Jessica’s Bat Mitzvah - Traditional Chair Dance
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