24

6:42 AM - There are writers in this world and I am one of them. I am not now using the word in reference to a vocation or a claim to fame but as an adjective, an inclination. I'm a writer type. I wake up and want to write, and so I just did.

7:40 AM - As I type kids complain and contrive over homework, the first pre-davening bell rings. It's time to go take attendance and pray.

8:40 AM - I have those first throat scratches of a cold. Just led davening in school for what will be final time of Shloshim. The pre-class bell just rang, five minutes...

1:42 PM - Taught five classes. Alana gave a speech about right and left side of the brain. My ratio based on the test she used was 6:1 right side. Yep. Another student spoke about a rare illness which causes him to have to wear a chest brace. He's so well adjusted, it was a surprise.

Have another class in about five minutes. Prepping and breathing.

2:32 PM - Just had my Gemorah class for the second period today. First period we did Mishnah and this time we did pre-vacation related discussion and parshah. Now I'm waiting for two students, one who wants help with something he's writing and another who wants to discuss Judaism and life's meaning.

Robert Klein had a routine about a life insurance commercial in which thy paint a scene of family life and then a deep voiced announcer breaks the peace and practically shouts, "Suddenly you're not there." And then they put a Hollywood Squares style giant X over your body in the picture. He played it for laughs, but that's what it is. Someone's there, and then suddenly they're not. They're not there either to visit or call or to not visit or not call. They're not there.

3:54 PM - Led minchah for the last time in school during Shloshim. Am getting a ride at the end of the day to the ShopRite bus stop from a dear colleague (Anthony Debartolo) who for years has driven the opposite direction for me out of kindness.

6:10 PM - Just got home. Stopped in ShopRite and got brown rice sushi, ate it on the bus.

6:38 PM - Spent a little time in the hall with neighbors old and new.

On Chanukah we ate out as a family at my mom's (HKM) favorite restaurant, Chosen Gardens in Forest Hills. My mom was self conscious about pictures and wary of cameras. On that night she was very excited about new shoes which were special for Diabetes (r"l) and were actually comfortable. Since she kept singing their praises I asked if I could take a picture of the shoes. Mom posed her feet playfully a few different ways and allowed me to capture the shoes on film. I'm glad they brought her pleasure. This picture of mom in her new shoes is the last picture taken of her.

7:15 PM - One of these days I need to buy a big and tall pot; until then I'll make two batches at a time. A dear friend of mine just lost his mother. I hope to visit soon and bring some chicken soup. I also have the ticklish beginnings of a cold and am a big believer in the medicinal power of chicken soup. So the soup is filling the house with fragrance. There's something hopeful about chicken soup.

7:32 PM - Is it called being in the moment if at the moment you choose to revisit the past? How far back is the past? Is earlier today gone or still part of now? Are years ago part of now?

Earlier today I was on my way to class. The students actually wanted me to be on time. It was the last day of the one semester public speaking class. One super student brought food for everyone in honor of the occasions and many students brought their fourth and final presentation.

I was about to enter the elevator when a kind colleague asked with true compassion, "How are you doing?" I appreciated the question and it didn't seem right to say anything remotely resembling, "How am I doing? How about rushing, as usual?" We chatted a bit about me and my matzav and her and her upcoming vacation trip. And then Israel schools came up (I think I brought it up) and I had to speak my mind. Long story short, my colleague's parting words to me spoken sincerely and without sarcasm were, "One day you'll open the Israel school that's built on midot." Sigh and a half.

8:53 PM - "I'm cutting you off," he said to himself. And with that he stopped blogging for the night.

Good night and G-d bless

I wonder what you're thinking

I can't help confess