One More before I Leave...

I know I said I wouldn't be posting again before I left, but I just had to comment on this very special day I had, the day before our aliyah. It was, in many ways a really tough day, but also beautiful and inspiring. Saying good-bye to my parents tore me to shreds. My parents understand how important this is to us, and never once told us not to go, or made us feel guilty for taking their grandchildren away from them. They have always been totally supportive of any decisions we have made and if they disapprove in any way, never ever say so. I'm lucky to have them.

The rest of the day was filled with more good-byes at our annual shul barb-b-q, and then in our home. Many tears were shed--by me. The kids seem to have inherited Isaac's ability to remain dry and are somewhat amused by me. But even though it was so difficult to say good-bye, I felt so much love surrounding me. I know that love will continue to surround me from near and far.

It was a day I will always remember, with joy, in spite of the tears that still threaten to fall.

In a few hours the adventure begins. I can't wait to let you all know how it unfolds.

Stay tuned....

Last Post Before I Leave, or the Things I'll Miss About America

Things are getting into crazy hectic mode. Last night Isaac and I were up til 3 a.m. basically going through old files and tearing up anything that had our social security or any account numbers on it. We still have a huge box of files that we brought from Brooklyn 12 years ago. Isaac is going to burn them. I hope that turns out well...

I have a huge pit in my stomach that I don't think will go away for a few months. This is something I have always wanted to do. I believe in it. And yet I am afraid. I am trying to have emunah that it will all turn out okay, but still...

Most of you know that we are not making aliya because we are unhappy here. On the contrary these past 12 years in Cedarhurst have been amazing. The five towns community is one of the most generous, beautiful communities. I will always have hakarat hatov for the way the community, both friends and strangers supported us when we so badly needed it. There is no way to repay that kind of support.

So here goes, my top ten list of some of the things I will miss most...(not necessarily in order).

1. Ben the Mailman. He's from Hawaii and has been delivering our mail since we moved in. He knows the girls names and always had a kind word for them. A great guy. (Wonder what mail is like in Israel!)

2. Karen our neighbor and her dog Wills. A gracious woman who inspired our love of dogs. Her Bouvier is as big as a pony and every morning she would come talk to the kids at their bus stop as she walked Wills. That was comforting to me in last year or two when I left for work before the bus came. (The other moms were home, I didn't just leave them in the street alone!!! Sheesh!)

3. The North Woodmere Park Pool. What a great place for such a great price. The kids loved swimming there and in the past few years when the kids became adept swimmers it was so relaxing for me. It was where my friendship with Bonnie was cemented. We've have many conversations about Israel while sort of keeping an eye on the kids.

4. Yankee baseball. Their time will come again....in the meantime the Modiin Miracles made second place in the new Israel Baseball League. Unfortunately they are sponsored by the Mets, but still we'll root for them. Nobody said aliya was going to be easy!

5. Ilana's mushrooms. Yum yum. And of course having such a good friend around the corner. She was often my Shabbat afternoon date. It doesn't hurt that she's such a great baker.

6. My annual Rosh Hashanna davening partner, Nadine. Everyone tells me how amazing it is that I will be arriving in Israel right before the chagim, that the chagim will be so uplifting. Maybe. But I don't think so. I have been sitting with Nadine (and her mom) for I don't know how many years now. We kept the talking to a minimum, but it was so good having her right next to me. I can't even imagine getting through the davening this year in a new, unfamiliar shul, with so many unfamiliar people.

7. Shabbat morning coffee with Chedva and Alice. and cake. and m and m's, or whatever else was lying around. I should have gone to shul, but those two are just to irrestible.

8. All the doctors that have treated my family and me here. True Shlichim of Hashem. They are amazing professionals who are so caring. Especially those involved in Liat's care.

9. Those companies and businesses that provide such great service around here. OSI. American Dry Cleaners. Sarge on central avenue.

10. All of you. I love you all so much and truly hope that our connections will be maintained. We have the same 516 phone number in Israel. It's a local call, and I hope we stay in touch. I'll keep posting to the blog, but I want to know whats going on in your lives as well.

That's it for now. My next post will be from Israel. Who knows what the future holds for any of us? With G-d's help we hope to thrive in the homeland of our people, and for you all to join us there some day.

K'tiva V'Chatima Tova!

May this be a year of health, peace and prosperity for us all.

Last of Everything

And so we begin our last week here in Cedarhurst. Next week at this time we will be sitting on an El-Al plane. A one way ticket. I am nervous, and scared. All my adult life I have wanted to do this and now I am praying that we have made the right decision. Tomorrow L. comes home from camp to an empty house. How will she react?

I am starting to think, "This is the last time...." The last time I will be in this store....the last time I will drive down this block....the last time I will go to Splish-Splash....the last time I will buy the newspaper in this store...We've already had our last Shabbat meal in our home...and its feeling less and less like our home.

Today the new owner came for the walk-through. We didn't know he was coming and the house was a complete mess, but he was okay. We also cancelled our utilities for next week. Friends walk in, and leave with our stuff. They say, "you're not taking that?", and we tell 'em to take it. Since we couldn't send liquor on our lift, a few people came by for a "Finish your liquor party". Big drinkers, our chevra--they barely made a dent.

Tuesday and Wednesday we'll do more tying up of loose ends. Thursday is a big day for us. L gets her Make-A-Wish day--maybe I'll post about that. Friday I'll leave aside to have a full blown panic attack. Shabbat we eat at friends (kiddush in memory of S's father A"H). Isaac was asked to daven shacharit--which means I have to be in shul early (couldn't they ask him to do Anim Zmirot?--the last prayer, usually lead by young boys). Our last Shabbat at this shul we love, warts and all. Our last kiddush club that Isaac is so proud of (after davening, everyone is invited). Sunday, good-bye to my parents, who don't want to come to the airport (will it be easier at home????) and more good-byes at our shul barb-b-q. And.....Monday, Monday.

We have been asked to bring a Sefer Torah to Israel. What an honor and a priviledge. I feel like this is such a good siman for our aliya!

We are truly blessed....

The Lift has Left the Building

The house is just a shell of what it was. Three burly, hardworking men packed it up in a manner of hours. It was hard to watch. So now Isaac and I are sleeping on Ilana and Steve's cots. There is no place to sit and hang out downstairs, except for our old, small kitchen table that we bought from Caldors when we first moved in.

I am so sad that I am leaving. I didn't realize just how hard it is to say good-bye.

The girls didn't seem to fazed by the house coming apart. Of course they still have their beds. They did very kindly offer for us to sleep in their room and them to get the cots. (There may have been an ulterior motive in that--TV and internet is in our room). Actually, I was proud of them, because the workers told Isaac that the girls offered them help in moving some of our stuff. The workers very suprised by that.

Ozzy is totally discombobulated. His sofa is gone and now he only has his second floor perch to check out the passing parade of people, squirrels and fellow-dogs. Poor guy.

I would love to start posting some pictures, but that would require some technical knowledge. I'll see if I can figure it out.

In the meantime, Shabbat Shalom.

Good-bye at Work

Like a train moving steadily to its destination, our life here is shutting down. On Friday I went to my office to pack it up and clean it out. I have only worked there three years, but have learned so much about working with so many people of different religions, nationalities and cultures. Good people are good people, and there are just so many good people in this world. My colleagues were so tremendously supportive when L. got sick and then again this Spring when she was critically ill. The administration (my bosses) understood that she came first, and preserved my job for me. How do you thank people like that? There is no way, just for them to know that I learned so much from these Good People, and will always be grateful...

I also went out with my friends from my old job. It was so sweet of them to invite me to their end-of-summer party. Those were real good-byes, because I don't know when I will see them again. These women were an integral part of my life for 8 years. Good People are everywhere, aren't they?