erev Yom Hodu

[cellio]

The Hebrew word "hodu" is the root for "thanks". (Aside to Ralph: yes, "modah" is the same word with different grammatical dressing.) It is also the (modern) word for "turkey". Heh.

Seasonal humor: Mishnah Hodu (go to the second entry in the digest). It's not as funny as the Halacha of Xmas, but the latter is not yet in its proper season and the former is still pretty good. (For additional fun, continue on to the third digest entry, on the hermeneutics of the stop sign.)

Tomorrow we will go to my parents' house for Thanksgiving, and then Friday morning I head off to the Darkover convention near Baltimore with Robert and Kathy. I'm looking forward to all the good music, and to seeing Harold and Becky, dglenn, Clam Chowder (the group not the soup), and many other friends. I hadn't realized it until recently, but this will be my 20th year for this con.

This year I am thankful for many things (in no particular order):

For a great group of friends. Thanks especially to lefkowitzga for long-term, deep friendship, and ralphmelton and lorimelton for welcoming me into their regular circle of social activities a couple years ago -- and to Ralph especially for a D&D game that is bringing me much enjoyment, more than a decade after I "stopped playing" RPGs.

For a job that not only exists but is a positive experience. So many of my friends are either out of work or trapped in suckful positions, and I am fortunate to have a job I enjoy where I can make real contributions.

For family. Not only do we get along just fine, but we support each other too, even when one of us does something strange like starting to keep kosher. :-) (I'd also like to include the four-legged family members here.)

For a wonderful rabbi -- insightful, interesting, helpful, and willing to spend time on a regular basis in one-on-one study with me. I wish I knew how to give back more. Secondarily, for a great congregation.

For the talents and abilities that I have been given -- for study, for music, for writing, and in other areas -- and for the inquisitiveness to use them.

For health -- mine and that of those close to me.

For personal and spiritual growth, and the prospect of more.

Comments

[estherchaya.livejournal.com]

I wish I'd realized you were going to be down this direction. I'd have tried to stop by to say hi. (No, I'm not a con-goer, but I would have considered getting within 50 feet of the con to say hello, seeing as how it's not that far) ;-)

[cellio]

Whoops! I thought I had mentioned this, though maybe it was to Seth (who I think is more of a con person) or maybe I'm completely imagining it. But isn't Timonium ("Baltimore") something like an hour's drive from Silver Spring ("DC") anyway?

[estherchaya.livejournal.com]

Timonium is about an hour-ish away. But the last time I drove to Pittsburgh it took I think 7 or 8 hours. Give or take. So an hour is nothing! (Plus I'm up that direction every now and then anyway.

It's just as well... I've got a jam-packed weekend. I'll catch you next time you're down this direction. I also suspect that at some point Seth is going to want to take another trip to the Pittsburgh area, so it's not like we'll never see you again! :)