For me, there are five distinct stages involved in the building of our backyard sukkah: Denial: “Is it Sukkot again already?” Rage: “Where did I put the $#@! zip-screws?” Bargaining: “Please don’t make me go to the hardware store again…”…
Tag: Sonoma
I moved around a lot when I was a kid (Dad was in the record industry), never spending more than four years in one place. Ann & I moved to Sonoma in 1998 (we’ve lived in Sonoma County since 1990), which at this writing means I’ve lived here for more than one-third of my life, which partly explains why this feels more like home than anywhere else I’ve lived.
Two Towers, Two Tasks
FOR SOME REASON, THREE SIGNIFICANT dates fell out fairly close together recently: Sonoma’s first (?) 9/11 commemoration, Simchat Torah and the autumnal equinox. The first marks the end of American innocence; the second, the annual restarting of the synagogic Torah…
Think Globally, Fight Locally
First, a message from a friend (posted in another forum) which I want to put “out there.” It’s timebound, but also timeless: From: Micha Berger http://www.aishdas.org Subject: 23 Elul Tonight begins the 23rd of Elul. What is 23 Elul, you…
Strange Connectors
After covering the fire training Sunday, I came home and showered before writing out the sermon/message I was asked to deliver at that afternoon’s annual interfaith Service of Remembrance, sponsored by one of the local hospices. They do a lot…
Trial By Fire Trainer
The first thing I noticed was that I couldn’t see or hear anything. And on top of that, I could barely breathe. My knees and hands already hurt from the rough steel floor. The hose I was helping to drag…
Meeting Himself Coming the Other Way
Sometimes, to take a step forward, it’s necessary to take a step back. I’m sitting here having lunch at the desk I occupied for three years as a city, fire, religion and state developmental center reporter. The Sonoma Index-Tribune rehired…
The Name’s Panim … P.A. Panim.
from a pre-Blogger blog One of the cool things about being a teacher is watching the students connect the dots I sprinkle, as happened Tuesday. Our previous class touched on Shabbat observance, and my kids expressed disdain at the possibility…