And It's Only The Giving That Makes You What You Are

I truly wonder who reads this. I have gotten true confessions from ladies I once worked with that I bumped into online at the schwarma place. Also from former Yeshiva friends that I bumped into in the cave next to the kotel. Then there's the occasional guy at shul who tells me he likes my blog, or the student who tells me his mother's friend reads it. There's the old childhood friend from the neighborhood, and the high school friend and Israel room-mate. There are those who have made their presence known, like the kind, talented journalist in Rhode Island, the kind, talented computer person in Texas, and the kind, talented editor in Toronto. Now that I've started this I fear the old problem of leaving someone out. When I do games with my students, whatever the exact format or context, I always tell the that the name of the game is It's Not Fair (credit where it's due department - I once saw Marc Weiner do a mock game show on stage, which he called It's Not Fair). because I feel that's always the case. (Which reminds me of the time I performed in a neighborhood in Connecticut and one guy was real excited about my act and told me that there's a running theme of things not being fair and that I should name the act accordingly). Let me say - at the fear of leaving someone out that I do appreciate all who read. There's the talented writer, soon to be counselor of Pasaic. There's the anonymous kind souls Maayan, and Bob and RR. There's Jack, who I'm always thankful for because he makes me feel like I don't post that often. There's the one time commenter who once thanked me for decreasing pain in his/her life - which I very much appreciated. There's the colleague who left my workplace due to personal reasons who found this blog because I once used the computer when it was under his log in. There's mom and dad. There's the colleague who ran off a test last minute the other day and then that test ate up my period with the same students and she just won a bet with her husband - if it's still on. There's Uri, the ever helpful, whom I just realized recently probably teaches many of my students after I do. There are those who let me know off blog what they've seen and what they think. Of course there's kishke who has become quite a haiku writer and whose presence is appreciated. I wonder if psychotoddler still reads. I wonder if Seraphic Secret has ever glanced. Quinn Cummings recently wrote that if you've ever commented on her blog then she's probably looked at yours. That would be an honor in a cool way. Author Tim Madigan told me that he googled me before replying to me and subsequently citing me in the softcover version of his book. Then there's the author of the book, whose name eludes me, who has a google thing that tells him when his name's mentioned on line so he emailed after I'd said I liked his book. I'm not peeking by the way - doing this from memory. There's Amy Krouse Rosenthal who wrote me that she read and that she liked my post which included Raymond Carver's Rain. And there are a few improv people who take a look from time to time. I wonder who else.

PS - If you want a headstart on the parsha and a new look at slavery go to parshapost.