A WHOLE LOTTA' LITTLE

  'A lotta' little' and 'a little a lot' have become a family joke, often referred to or used at appropriate times. Generally, the second version was asked in tiny voices when told they had to visit the doctor or eat a food they did not particularly like. The first statement was generally said in a hopeful voice or supplemented with a real time example par excellence. Having a little ice cream became a lotta' little, supported by graphic presentation of a lotta' little - drips and tiny pieces of ice cream, a lotta' little becoming a much better quantity in the eyes of the clever little one. We thank our oldest for introducing these phrases, their appropriate usage, and many moments of laughter into the family's lexicon and memories.

Unfortunately, the phrase of a lotta little can also be used in negative times. Today we have a lotta' little - in the lotta' tiny minds barely there and/or functioning in a whole lotta' little minded characters masquerading as political representatives of the nation. Poor us. Nor does it help any when these lotta' little minds are given a whole lotta' publicity, encouraging more little smallminded people to speak out when they should so obviously, greatly to be wished, simply shut up. Keep a whole lotta' pieces of quiet and better the world.

Who are the lotta' little minds we have going for us? Easy. Those who cannot see their way to appropriate gun safety laws - with teeth and sense. Those who celebrate the J6 insurrectionists as heroes. Those who refuse to admit that oh yes indeed, the environment has changed, so not for the better. Those who refuse to recognize the shared humanity we are, the shared values we have, and the necessity to share the world if we are all to keep the planet and the human race on a steady footing. And by the way, that last one is desperately in a losing battle for us, for a whole lotta' people. One little person and another and another and another till all these little people add up to a huge crowd of existentially threatened people.

I do not understand why we tolerate these little minded people, those who cannot see past the ugliness of their hatreds. On both extremes and even in the middle, as some purport to be, particularly in the GOP. Nor are the Democrats immune from the lotta' little syndrome, as too many little minds are present, particularly on the left. A hate filled Tlaib is an example, as she ranted and raved, denying historical truth, claiming no proof of any Jewish presence at all in the lands of and around present day Israel. A whole lotta' little minds going here and the end is not good unless we cut it off mid-sentence - midword, mid syllable!

While a whole lotta' little in the case of ice cream or time at the beach or amusement park, or time to cuddle up with a good book, or reading time to the kids - even the bigger ones -all that and more is a lotta' little we definitely want. There are so many good little things, neither expensive nor grandiose to do with our kids. Somehow, though, in the tiny minutiae of daily life a whole lotta' little things, become lost, swallowed up by the lotta' load of distractors. So we shoo away the kids, the spouse, the parents with a 'Later" or a "Maybe" or the dreaded "We'll see." And we are the losers for it.

Today, in our family, our crowd of friends and well-wishers, we find a lotta' joy and hope via a lotta' little good deeds. Or, little advances in this horrid so difficult battle Yitzy is fighting. Or the little actions of parents, as they become fierce determined generals refusing to give up and resist any and all setbacks. Thus, a little - dropping of fever, or lessening nausea, or an appetite for more than a bite, or an ability to have a chat - any and all of these little pieces of hope and encouragement add up to a lotta' little. We are ever so happy to add them up, to count and cherish them. A lotta' little indeed. Keep it coming is our hope and prayer until all this little adds up to a lot and a cure, a healing.

In the interim, we must keep praying, keep sending the good thoughts, and make sure our steps go forward on a good path, one to be trusted.

All of us with the same goal and motive.

HEAL THE WORLD.

HEAL YITZY!

Yitzchak Elimelech ben Chana Sarah

May he be granted refuah shelaymah bimheyrah beyameinu. 

May he be granted a timely and complete healing.

May Hashem hear all our voices raised in prayer. 

Amen. Amen.