Actually, I wonder if that adage of the title has a meaningful place any more within the lexicon of adages. Though we are plagued by countless emails ranging from actual ones to spam and to absolute filth, there actually are no more excuses to be late on or for anything. Too many reminder emails cancel any "I forgot or had no clue". As for the dollar short well, it is more and more difficult to find vendors who will even accept cash! That stash of emergency cash on hand for power outages and disasters will come in handy but till then - keep your cards ready and belong to several pay sites.
As for the dollar - soon people will consign it to the status of the penny. It will remain on the ground, deemed unworthy of the expenditure of energy to pick it up. In fact, in many stores today the clerk will ask if you wish to roundup and donate the change to one charity or another. Most agree, relieved to be free of the noisy, heavy coins. But I still bend to pick up, for all does accumulate. I can remember when finding a penny or whoa! a larger coin made a kid's day. Why skip that memory. Pick it up, smile at the memory and then donate. Simple.
Much has changed over the years. I can recall, not so long ago, how I was pressed for time, harried and pressured to be ready for Passover on time. The complications and hassles of being a working mother and wife - ugh!! Do not miss that - for sure. Life changes. Yesterday, as all around scrambled to fulfil their roles in the preparations, I sat there, like a queen, albeit a damaged one, healing from yet another fall, more broken ribs, a bloody black and blue eye, a bum leg, and the aches and pains of the previous fall still hanging around. Oy!! The pleasures of aging. However full disclosure, supervising is lots of fun.
Much has changed. I never thought I would ever see that man indicted on anything and be brought to court for arraignment. I look forward to seeing a replication of that scene, that wee little perp walk, only this time for heavier charges - like treason. Now that would be nice. A lesson to all -adults and kids alike that no one, absolutely no one is above the law. A lesson we all seem to have missed, been absent that day.
The Democrats won yesterday in Wisconsin but the speech of the loser, though quite skilled in alliteration, evidently, was rank with insults and sore loser status. Handshakes? Being a grown up? Gone with the wind. Our latest crops of wannabe leaders and rulers have much left behind. Morals, values, proper behavior, decency and respect discarded, and nastiness full steam ahead. Trust in our institutions has been heavily eroded.
But tonight, we will sit at the seder remembering a time when life was awful. We were slaves, fearing for our lives and for our families, subject to physical abuse along with the rest of it all. Then we were freed. And then began the process wherein we remembered and forgot, time and time again. We lost faith and trust in our institutions, were lost in a forest unable to see an end to it. The latest reminder was six million plus reminders, and I hope, truly, that this time around we remember and share those memories with all. A world remembering, recalling, worse times and how we came back from them and perhaps we can do the same again. If we improve our recall. If we dredge up the courage and sense of right and wrong, all of which seems to have been covered over by layers of muck and grime. Then encased in cement to be sure.
This holiday time around, be it Passover, or Ramadan, or Easter, let us remember the truth of these holidays. Not the violence of modern times but the peace and unity which should be clearly seen in true religious observance. Not the violence of the past, greatly erroneously interpreted and perverted, but the ones that preached peace, shared values, strong belief and trust in whatever Power we worship, whatever name given. That is how we honor and commemorate these sacred times.
And for the sake of all those in need, including my Yitzy, all sick children, all adults needing help let us raise our voices in sincere prayer and let the power of those prayers
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.
Please, a reminder of my own - for the next three days I will not post due to the holidays. Be back on Sunday. Enjoy your holidays, whatever they are. Take the time to catch up with postings that you might have missed.
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