It’s getting started
Already my calendar is full till the end of the year – well not quite – but almost. Now that is scary. I was speaking to a friend who said a young woman in the Bywater has started an open Shabbat service at her house. I can remember when we were young always being home on Friday nights, my mother lighting the candles, my dad saying the prayers over the wine and the Challah – dipping the little pieces in salt and passing them around, looking for his reflection in the inky sweet wine.
Another friend was telling me about his Quaker upbringing where twice a week there was a gathering of everyone in one room for 45 minutes of silence – the kids did their homework, but still it was a time of just being together, being still, being quiet.
We cut a lot out over here, our friends we see not often enough, I can’t tell you the last time we went out to dinner although we did stop and check out Serendipity (just two apps at the bar) the other night before heading off to the Tiki Party, so many movement classes, music classes, gymnastics and stuff that Tin could be doing round the clock – we do say no a lot. But take tonight – two panels – one on Lafitte In Exile (the book that I am in) being discussed at the LGBT center at Tulane, and directly afterwards E.O. Wilson appearing himself to speak. I have missed the In Exile book signings one after another, but truly want to hear Wilson so it’s hard to say no.
Then there is parent night and annual appeal committee meeting and then the Breast Cancer walk, but what about a pumpkin patch – something to really mark the season besides the sugar orgy of Halloween. And let’s not even talk about the fact that I have a weekend pass to Voodoo Fest. Lord Today!
Yes, the season is grinding into high gear as it always does in New Orleans around this time – just this past weekend was the Film Festival and the Blues Festival vying for attendance.
Onward, upward, weary soldiers.