This poem was written by one of my mother’s ancestors. The surnames I know from her family are Godwin, Easton, Falconer and Button. It was written by a woman. That is all I remember.
I don’t want this poem forgotten, so I publish it here.
Twelve
When I was twelve, my sister was sick.
So I made a cross of two straight sticks,
And I made an altar under a tree,
Hidden by brambles so no one could see.
She was so sick – I prayed inside,
“God, make her well” – and my sister died.
My First Menorah
My immediate family are Episcopalians (as I was raised). The daughter of my heart says she’s “pretty much an atheist.” The son of my heart is Jewish. I am none of these, and have no holidays that correspond with my rather inchoate beliefs, so I have, since the death of our mother, celebrated Christmas (and sometimes Easter) with my brother who lives nearby and his family.
Joey’s Gift – the fantasy Menorah
But over the last few years my son Joey’s Jewish faith has become more important to him, and what matters to him becomes important to me. I had been looking for a menorah but hadn’t found one I liked; then last year he sent me a small pixie-ish menorah for Hanukkah. That settled it. This year I would celebrate this winter holiday with him and his family from afar.
Hanukkah is not an important holiday – it just gets extra press because people feel like Jews ought to get some attention at this time of year, too. But it is the first Jewish holiday this year that I’ve been able to celebrate. It’s not that I am converting to Judaism. I am honoring my son’s faith. I hope to celebrate the much more important Passover with him in person next year.
As I said on Facebook earlier today, “It will be odd to celebrate a religious holiday alone when I have never even done it before. But because one of the children of my heart takes his Jewish faith seriously, it is important to me to celebrate as I know he is doing so far away. I have no religious holidays of my own, so those of my family become important.” Continue reading
A tribute to Dr. Seuss
A doctor SOON I have to see
But where’s the ring with my car key?
I had to wash my favorite jacket
And my key ring was in the pocket
I can’t remember where I put it
And doctor’s too far off to foot it
Now all my keys are off in limbo
I wrack my brain with arms akimbo
I did not put them in a box
I did not give them to a fox
I did not put them on the piano
I did not squish them in a b’nana
They are not on the dining table
I did not give them to Clark Gable
I did not hide them by a package
I did not put them in some sackage