Looking back on the past year I am filled with gratitude for unexpected blessings in my personal life and I am overwhelmed with sadness and worry for the world around me. I learned only minutes ago of the death of Ruth Bader Ginsburg. It is hard today to feel hopeful for our country and our world. But back, for a moment, to my personal gratitude.
So much has filled me with joy this year. There is the mega gratitude that came in June with the arrival of our miracle granddaughter, born in the midst of a pandemic to a surrogate in Ohio. That she is here and thriving and that all went so well feels nothing short of miraculous. That we were able to travel to Ohio for her birth and later in the summer, to vacation with our surrogate and her family iced an already rich cake.
And then there were the daily moments of joy. For much of the summer I went for a lake swim first thing each morning. For nearly all of the pandemic I have joined over 100 other women of a certain age for Zumba each morning on zoom. I’ve had countless moments of joy with my three year old grandson, who delighted me most recently by arriving for dinner this evening with a toy shofar and no hesitation to sound it. Hooked on TBE Shabbat services long before the pandemic, I have loved the ease of access each week and the ability to worship over sushi. And a very special pleasure has come from being able to make “new old friends.” Early in the pandemic I connected with five college classmates, only one of whom was a friend before April. Our twice monthly meetings have become a forum for everything from political discussions to sharing personal struggles to reporting this morning on our Rosh Hashanah cooking.
I have also found joy in mastering some pandemic challenges. In the beginning it was obtaining groceries safely. Throughout the pandemic it has been being able to be out and about and still avoid public restrooms (not an easy feat on a seven hour drive to Ohio!). And like everyone I know, there are the challenges of managing relationships with family and friends when each of us sees covid related risks through our own lens.
Writing this I am reminded yet again of how much being part of the TBE brings me joy. It did long before the pandemic and my gratitude for this community has increased exponentially these past several months.
