Rosh Hashana starts tonight, and I’m still not ready. I mean, I’m literally not ready, in that my house is still messy, the apple cake is in the oven (and smells awesome) but the dishes aren’t done and my laundry is still piled up on the dining room table. I used to fold it in the laundry room, but there was so much clean laundry, I thought if I pulled all the clean laundry baskets into the dining room and forced myself to fold them, it would work. It didn’t, obviously, as I’m blogging and baking and indulging in self-imposed guilt trips instead.
One of the things I love about Judaism is the holidays, and Rosh Hashana is one of my favorites. As Jessie explained last night, it’s the one time of the year it’s totally appropriate to eat food covered in frosted flakes (noodle kugel, it tastes a lot better than it sounds…). And this New Year is particularly timely for me, as we’ve really started a whole new stage of life in our family. We’re officially a “big kid” family, no nursing, no diapers, nobody wakes up in the middle of the night, everyone can dress themselves and buckle themselves in the car. Julie is going to preschool and loving it, Sam is rocking second grade like there’s no tomorrow, and Jessie is so absolutely loving middle school. Marc was recently promoted and super busy all the time, and I’m now one of those moms who lives in the car, driving children and husbands hither and yon.
The New Year, and the days between this and Yom Kippur is a time of reflection and thought. Pondering the past year, thinking about what you’d like do differently, apologizing for what you missed or messed up on in the past year. It’s especially meaningful for me right now, because so much in my life has changed. I’m at the synagogue most afternoons, between bat mitzvah studying for my daughter, Hebrew school for my oldest two, and the opening of the gift shop at the Beth Israel (open Monday and Wednesdays from 4-6, if you’re interested…). I’m forced to be much more specific about what I do – choosing what I do with my free time very deliberately, because there isn’t a lot of it. Writing has been one of those things that’s getting shamefully neglected (along with the aforementioned laundry). While I’m thinking about the past year, I’m also thinking a lot about what I want to make sure gets included in this upcoming year.
L’Shana Tovah U’Metukah – A Happy and Sweet New Year to all who celebrate. And those who don’t as well – because who couldn’t use a little extra sweetness these days?
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