Appreciating life

Well, dear friends, I officiated at a devastatingly difficult funeral today. The woman who died had two teenaged kids, and a husband who had been her honey since high school. She died in a tragic accident, and everyone was just completely crushed by the loss.

And, I, your trusty rabbi, needed to keep it together throughout the ceremony and burial. I mean, I have enough trouble with death as it is, and I struggle through your basic funeral (is there ever really such a thing??) of a 90 year old who had a full and celebrated life. However, this is the hardest funeral I have ever had to lead, and in all honesty, I am still recovering.

I can't believe how much energy and absolute will it took to keep from collapsing in tears. I looked out over the chapel, and every single person in attendance was crying. The speakers were all crying. The family was crying. And I, a sensitive and emotional human being, had to stay composed. Wow - it was so hard to get up and conclude the service after all the eulogies. I could barely speak.

Well, thanks for listening to my rabbinical ramblings (always with the alliteration, ah?). Hope all is well in your world, and that you find yourself feeling just a bit more grateful for the blessings, joy, and love in your life today.

Sit on a potato pan, Otis

Hello!

Does anyone know what is special about the title to this post? Yes, that's right (and 10 points to you!) - it is a palindrome. Woohoo!

I have been thinking about palindromes lately, especially some of my most favorites ones. I think that we are all familiar with:

- A man, a plan, a canal: Panama

I just learned some new ones, though!

- Lonely tylenol
- I prefer Pi
- Was it Eliot's toilet I saw? (I love this one!!)


AND, there is apparently a word for an extreme fear of palindromes (I apologize if any of you suffer from this):


AIBOHPHOBIA (Phobia backwards and forwards, natch!)

Anybody know any fun ones? My brain totally celebrates when I think about these words and phrases - they are just so delightful!


(And thanks to http://www.palindromelist.com/ for the graphic at the top!)

My Personal DNA

Favorite Words, Part 2

Thanks to everyone who has added their own favorite words to my comments. I figured I would list some of your submissions and create an EVEN BETTER LIST!!!

"M.A. Washington" enjoys:
loquacious, menagerie, virtuoso, efferescence, and mahogany

"MZ Bivigou" prefers an adjectival version of one of the words I listed:
pulchritudinous

"Cooper" really likes the following:
pusillanimous, sputum, equidistant, splunge

These are really yummy words!!

And, one of my best friends, Jessica, merely commented that we have the same brain, which, I can only assume, means that she would have picked the same words. WOOHOO!!

My grandfather, z"l, had a favorite word that, as children, he loved to teach us and quiz us on the spelling:
SYZYGY

**And, 10 points will go anyone who can define it!!!**


Last, but not least, I asked my mom what words she likes, and her favorite words are not actally real words, but, rather, some words that she made up (gives you a little insight into my childhood, I'm sure):
Weirditude (a strange characteristic that a person might have, as in, "Well, reading magazines from back to front is just one of my weirditudes"), and,
Furchee (a piece of lint, as in, "Ooh - let me get that furchee off of your new sweater")

She also wanted me to mention how much she loves the word, and the concept (especially when it comes to food): texture

Thanks for helping out! Can't wait to hear other fun words that you all enjoy!

Hope you had a fun July 4th!

These are a few of my favorite.... words....

I've been actively compiling a list of my most favorite words. You know what I mean - the kind of words that are so fun to say, that become alive in your mouth and nearly take on an existence of their own. And some of them are just really exciting to put into use. So, here's my current list, in no particular order (and, of course, you just have to let me know what you think is missing).

- doppelganger
- poppycock
- incognito
- artisanal
- myriad
- lackadaisical
- exegetical
- pomposity
- transmigration
- tenderizer
- paradigmatic
- pulchritude

Well, that's what I've got for now. What should I add?

She's got a fast car...

Okay, so, the good news in my life is that my lawsuit from my car accident is finally over. I was able to have all of my medical bills covered, as well as my legal fees. The bad news? The money actually sent to me is quite small. However, my dad made a great point - I should use the money received to take care of my back in any way I can.

There are two main things I am thinking of purchasing, that I would be unable to afford otherwise:
1) One of those super-duper massage chairs from Brookstone
2) Getting a nice used car to help me around town

So, I am leaning towards the car as the best choice. Just think - groceries, commuting, funeral processions.... wow, it would all be so much easier.

But, in thinking about it further, I am nervous - I have never had my own car! I haven't really needed one since I moved to the NYC area.

Does this mean that I will finally be a grown up????