Monday, September 23, 2002

a special note of appreciation

a special note of appreciation for dr. andy and mrs heidi, and their lovely succot party atop the berkeley hills yesterday.  for three hours we shmoozed, met new friends, ate ourselves silly with sausages and burgers and kel’s magnificent lemon bars, and fulfilled the mitzvah of sitting in a crude fruit-laden booth out-of-doors with the ancient and mysterious symbols of the season.  both brian and jon were there to see the rapid pace of my recovery (they’d been with me for the accident too), and i got to brag to strangers about my genius friends and the compassion and care they have shown me.  i was even permitted to offer a few words on the history, traditions and technicalities of the festival.  small children swarmed underfoot with glee, and the sun shone through schach on my pallid face.  it was one of those events that makes people more alive; anyway that’s how it worked for me.  it wasn’t a religious event, though it was a religious occasion - it just felt good and helped us all heal and grow a bit closer.  may it ever be thus.