My story for the last couple of months has truly been not that different in some ways, while in others it has chapters that I would never have imagined would have been in my life. What has always and continues to bring me joy is to be an educator, advisor, mentor. To have my students current and past arrive and spend time with me on my front lawn while maintaining social distancing and masks has brought me immense joy. To find the words that will keep our younger generation supported, spirited, strong, and socially connected gives me also hope in our future. To be able to see the eyes of my students twinkling with excitement and happiness at seeing each other and all of us, their teachers brought me such pleasure.
To spend time at home seeing my surroundings that I have been far too busy to notice proved also a great highlight in these last months. Rather than focusing on what was wrong, broken, or not to my liking, I created a space that brought color, joy, and nature to not only my soul but those who walked by.
What has brought me continued joy is to be blessed to be alive, have mobility, have breath, and feel connected.
What has challenged me is the immense feeling powerless to take the pain, sickness, Covid, and death that has impacted far too many. What has challenged me most is not hugging or seeing my son and his husband for 7 months. To not travel to Philadelphia, a city I would travel bimonthly, to not see family, to not be in person at funerals, shivas, and wedding has challenged my soul.
Loss has challenged me. So many dear wonderful wise people gone, not just from natural age. Why? To lose our first Jewish Massachussetts Supreme Court Justice, a man who worked tirelessly to ensure equality for all, while becoming my son’s greatest mentor again brought endless challenges and questions.
Yet to begin Rosh Hashannah and hearing of the death of RBG, one of my sources of strength shook and challenged me to my very core. Yet in that moment of disbelief and questioning, an eighth grader phoned to check on me. That student then offered me these words, “Well we can’t let this set us back. If anything we should be pushing forward even more so than before.” My spirit and joy are back. The sun is shining and I woke to begin with some yoga with my temple community. I had a connection. I have breath. I have strength to move forward. I am eternally appreciative of TBE and a Rabbi, clergy, and temple staff, especially Susan Karon who makes each of us feel not alone in these challenging times.
