Wednesday, September 30, 2009

Come full circle

Those who know me well know that there are a few phrases/words that I plain old don't understand ("paradox"). There are also a great many which I kind of get but I really could never use in a conversation ("flaky") and some I just plain old don't like ("that has nothing to do with the price of tea in China"). I SHOULD understand these words/phrases, I think. I honestly (and I may be being cocky here) nothing about these things that is so far above my head that I can't figure it out, I think there are just some things that don't click with people. In any case, the phrase "come full circle" meant little to me until very recently.

I went to "Ask the Rabbi" with my dad last Tuesday and I was sitting there, very much enjoying myself, and thinking about myself ten years ago. I have to say, as an aside, that it makes me feel like infinity years old to be able to vividly remember ten years ago, but I won't really go there. Anyways, ten years ago (or at least very close, 9 at least), I would have been sitting around with my youth group having "Bible Answer Man" with Pastor Russ. I can't fully describe what it was like to sit there with a bunch of old Jewish guys and be thinking about my former religious life, but I really enjoyed myself. And I definitely got a real kick out of it.

Dad and I went to Yom Kippur services yesterday. I am not a good faster, but that part of it wasn't too bad. It was a really interesting day. Man did we pray. Well, I didn't really, because I honestly have no idea what's going on. I told my dad that and he said "sure you do" but I don't think he comprehends that, unlike him, I was not forced to go to an Orthodox Synagogue until my early twenties or late teens or whenever it was that he stopped going. I think he had a really good time though. He said he "got a lot of good feelings out of it", and I think that's what I was hoping for. The biggest drawback was that we didn't get to sit together (because it's Orthodox) and so I was all by myself with a bunch of ladies that I have never met, etc. I still had a good time though. It's funny how 99% or so of the ladies just go to chat. Very funny.

And dad got to carry the Torah during the service. I really had very little idea what was going on, of course, but it doesn't take a rocket scientist to figure out that it's quite an honour to be chosen to do that. It was really cool to (kind of.... there's a serious barricade up between the ladies' and men's sides) see him up there. I think he was really happy. Afterwards he said that being chosen to carry the Torah is a "great honour". And he seemed pretty happy about it. So that's pretty darned cool.

<3

Wednesday, September 16, 2009

Lucky

I have never really considered myself a super "lucky" person by regular standards. What I mean by that is just that I don't win the few times I gamble and stuff like that. Nattie and Matt and I went to West Ed last weekend for our annual waterpark trip and I had a GREAT time. We were so tired on Friday night though, maybe from all the cardio at the waterpark that day, but probably just because we're getting REALLY old. We were barely able to coax ourselves out of our respective beds after watching a really crappy movie (Observe and Report) for a fun post-mall closing walk. We eventually got to that little fountain thing with the cute little whale that you can stand in and take pictures in (I'm sure everyone knows what I'm talking about)..... I had some coins in my pocket because I had them ready to throw down the mall (one of my favourite hobbies, when it's busy people jump all over the place because they hear money. It's hilarious). Annnnyways, I handed out some pennies for us to throw in the fountain to make a wish. Nattie and Mattie tossed their pennies in with their wishes. It took me a REALLY long time to figure out something to wish for. This is not to say that my life is perfect, that I'm always happy or anything else kind of silly like that, but I just felt REALLY lucky and blessed and grateful that I couldn't think of anything to wish for.

That's all. :)

Friday, September 4, 2009

Oh wow.

I stumbled on this by accident.



Need I say more?