Nobody puts Baby in the Corner!

It's been a "Dirty Dancing" couple of days here in Marci-land. I watched the last twenty minutes of the movie yesterday (actually turned it on right before Johnny Castle says, "Nobody puts Baby in the corner.") So, here's a movie that I've watched at least a hundred times since it came out, and I was still moved by the final dance scene. I nearly cried - it is just SO ROMANTIC!! And, yes, the cheese-factor is quite high, but doesn't that just make it that much better????

And then, today, one of my co-workers showed me this video of a couple dancing at their wedding. You've gotta see this!

Not much to say tonight

Howdy, y'all. I am in a lot of pain tonight (terrible back pain), so it is really difficult to think. Yet, even just typing about it, and acknowledging it in a tangible way, is really helpful.

I am usually in pain, but it is particularly bad today. Why? Because I couldn't resist Israeli Dancing last night. We had our Yom Haatzmaut (Israel Independence Day) celebration at the temple last night, and the concert portion was followed by dinner and dancing. I hadn't done Israeli dancing in years, and certainly not since the car accident. It was glorious - "Od Lo Ahavti Dai," "Mayim, Mayim" and more. For a few brief moments of dancing, I felt normal again. I felt like I could move and have control over my body in a way that I haven't experienced in 2 and a half years.

Well, forgive me for complaining. Getting ready for bed, hope to sleep well. Good night!

Freedom (2007)

You know, I never knew how nice it felt to be free and independent. That may sound like a silly thing to say, but I have recently taken a quantum leap in my life and I am seeing the world in a new way. So often, growth and learning takes place so slowly that one barely notices it taking place, and other times, it happens all of the sudden. To what am I referring?

Since my recent break-up (a four-year serious relationship ended in December), I have been truly enjoying being on my own. I have almost always been in a relationship, and I forget (or perhaps never really understood) how nice it is to spend time with oneself.

Lately, my biggest discovery has been seeing movies by myself. The idea of this used to FREAK ME OUT. And now, it is, like, the coolest thing ever. I can see WHATEVER I WANT, WHENEVER I WANT, and I can just enjoy sitting there. Such a simple pleasure, and also completely profound. I even bought a ticket to see "Spamalot" on Broadway next week, and I am going all by myself. How glorious!

So, those are my musings on this topic for now. I am sure that it will come up again, but, in the meantime, let me know what you think. Take care and Shabbat Shalom!

Precious Snuck into the Photo... And Smiled....

 

One of my favorite poems

You know how sometimes a poem stays with you, long after you read it or heard it? This is one of those.

i carry your heart with me
by e. e. cummings

i carry your heart with me (i carry it in my heart)
i am never without it (anywhere
i go you go, my dear; and whatever is done
by only me is your doing, my darling)
i fear
no fate (for you are my fate, my sweet) i want
no world (for beautiful you are my world, my true)
and it's you are whatever a moon has always meant
and whatever a sun will always sing is you
here is the deepest secret nobody knows
(here is the root of the root and the bud of the bud
and the sky of the sky of a tree called life; which grows
higher than soul can hope or mind can hide)
and this is the wonder that's keeping the stars apart
i carry your heart (i carry it in my heart)

Top Ten Movies of All Time (Well...)

I have given much thought to this upcoming post. And if you know me, you know how true this is. I had lots of time on my hands over the past week (plenty of free time due to Passover). In fact, I was watching hours and hours of tv on Sunday, and the movies that were on astonished me. Why is it that sometimes, if I may paraphrase Bruce Springsteen, there are 800 channels and nothing on? And then other times, like, 5 of your favorite movies are all on at the same time, and choosing is virtually impossible???!?!?

Inspired by this dilemma, I decided to begin a harrowing project - my own list of my favorite movies of all time. This is highly personal, and yet I would love feedback. Let's begin:

10. Dream a Little Dream
9. Grease
8. The Lion King
7. Wet Hot American Summer
6. The Mighty Wind
5. Shrek (both 1 and 2)
4. Labyrinth
3. Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgandy
2. Hedwig and the Angry Inch

and...

1. Notting Hill

Phew - this has been so difficult, I can't even comment on my choices, but I feel like my work here is done :)

April - Whenever will we find you?

I don't know about how it feels by you, but it is so cold here in NYC. Because it is traditional to hold a Yizkor Memorial Service today (last day of Passover), I had to go to work for the 7:45 am early service (so attendees could go to work afterwards). It was a wonderful service, and I was really happy once I was there, but it was so cold getting there. Here we are, almost the middle of April, well into spring, and it was only about 35 degrees out early this morning. Wow - it was brisk, baby.

Now that I am home for the rest of the day, I am working on a needlepoint Tallit Bag for my brother, Ricky's, upcoming H.S. graduation. I will probably be done in the next few weeks, then I will have it made into the bag (they'll add a velvet back, etc.). I think I will start two new projects after that - a baby gift (something to put on the wall) for Jessica's little Evan, and a Tallit bag for Adam's college graduation. Jess, let me know if you have any requests!

It's actually really nice working on a gift for someone for such an extended period of time. It's as if you have all this time to focus on sending happy thoughts, prayers and blessings to that special person. It's quite meditative.

Of course, I have to do my nails, too!

Saturday Night's Alright... for Laundry

Hey, all! Welcome to the exciting world of Saturday night laundry in the NYC metropolitan area. The city that never sleeps probably also never washes their clothes - I mean, who has the time? There was a time when I would have thought, "What? You have nothing better to do with your Saturday night?" Yes, I would have judged. But, now, no - I judge not.

Tonight, I find myself totally grateful for the time off. It is SO nice to have a whole evening free. I can't believe that I lucked out with an apartment that has a laundry room in the building. Ah, the luxury! I can go down, change the loads, and then come back up and climb into bed. It's the simple things, really.

Plus, I only have a few more nights to enjoy the matzah and the gefilte fish before Passover ends for this year. Anyway, my kishkes can't take much more of this. I haven't yet made a batch of fried matzah...yum!

Okay, time to get the first load out of the dryer. Wish me luck!

Shabbat Poems for You

Welcoming Shabbat

Shabbat beckons with a promise of peace
Mind and spirit ready themselves
for the moment of liberation
that greets us each week.

Together, we take a deep breath
my friend's relaxation enables mine
As a group we welcome the Sabbath Bride
turning front to back, bowing in reverence.

Rejuvenate, renew and re-grow:
We anticipate the serenity
The song and words that warm our spirits
With candlelight, sweetness and shalom.



Silent Prayer

The stillness awaits us now
The moment of hushed commiseration with the Divine
How lucky we are to be afforded this opportunity
To close our eyes, breathe deeply,
And invite God into our Sabbath prayers.

In our silence, we receive Shechinah
Whose presence makes our space truly holy
In peace, we step through the Gates of Prayer,
And quietly enjoy these private moments of Shabbat.