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Friday Blog Roundup

Somehow I forgot that it was Memorial Day weekend. I thought it was next weekend. Then someone mentioned the pool opened this weekend and then I read Luna’s post and then I said, “oh!”

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Today is my Bat Mitzvah anniversary. 21 years ago, I became a woman. In honour of this fact, I woke up this morning and sang my parsha as I poured myself a cup of coffee. I still remember my Torah portion 21 years later because how can one not remember it when they sang it several times a day as practice for over a year? Get enough Jews together and if the topic of Bar/Bat Mitzvahs comes up, we will, almost as a reflex, begin chanting our portions for each other.

I asked Josh if we could have a party for me tonight–a Bat Mitzvah anniversary celebration. He rolled his eyes. Do you think that means he’s making me a cake?

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If you missed the post below this one, go over and read it and spread the word. I’ll remind you a lot next week so we can coordinate our efforts and time this properly. Allison is going to write an “on” post to go up at 00:00 GMT on the 29th. We’ll have 24 hours to get as many people as we can to visit her blog on that day. When her counter switches over, she’ll put up an “off” post so we know it was a success. Remember, next Thursday the 29th. Take the graphic, spread the word. It’s such a simple thing we can do.

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Show and Tell is happening again on Sunday
(as it will happen every week). What will I show this week? The ballpoint pen I love enough to buy in bulk at Costco? A photograph of me at age 8? The glasses that I never wear anymore even though I love the frames? And what will you show? I’ll post the thread late on Saturday and you can post any time over the weekend or Monday (once it gets to be Tuesday, you should probably just save the post to put up the next week. See, isn’t this nice? You can do your posts ahead of time and always know that you have at least one post to write each week).

On Sunday, just leave a link to your Show and Tell post in the comment section and I’ll keep moving people into the body of the post. Can I just say one more time how much I love Show and Tell? I loved seeing all of these random things and these brief posts about tangible objects that have so much meaning in your world. It just came to me what I’m showing this week. But you’ll have to wait until Sunday to find out.

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This Sunday is also the start date of NaComLeavMo. The list is open until May 24th at 11:59 p.m. EST. So if you haven’t signed up yet, go do so. And if you have, start commenting this weekend.

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And little pu-pu platter of what I read this week:

Dianne at Flutter of Hope had a gorgeous post called “Twisted” about the other side of loss. She explains: “If I had a miscarriage, I would know: the joy of telling my husband, parents, and sister that we were expecting. The joy of life growing inside of me. The hope and love which that brings. The right to grieve. And I know in my heart of hearts that it is ridiculous. In the same time, I feel like it would have been something to show for all of our hard work. Someone to mourn in a more tangible manner. It would be devastating.” I thought it was a very different way to view loss and a brave post too.

Cecily at Uppercase Woman had a post about how news events have been affecting her emotionally. She writes about parenting: “I remember people telling me that having a child was like wearing your heart outside your body. I assumed that meant that I would spend a huge amount of time worrying about Tori, being terrified that something would happen to her in this harsh world. What I didn’t know is how much the news would effect me.” I think, for me, the part I sat with most is this idea of connection between people, what she describes as “this little ridge of tissue that runs between me and every other parent in the world.” It was simply very moving to read this reaction to recent events.

Arwen at Arwen/Elizabeth has a post about the family she envisioned for herself vs. the family that probably will be. She saw herself as having 8 children–4 boys and 4 girls–and now, still working to create the second child, she has come to the realization that she is “welcoming as many children as God chooses to send us. And if ‘as many as’ turns out to mean ‘as few as’ in our case, well, so be it.” She comes to such a place of peace by the end of the post that I just sat in the stillness of it for several moments after I read the last word.

Lastly, Lori’s post about adoption at Weebles Wobblog…well, the best way I can describe the feeling after reading it was like having someone place a Polartec sweater around your shoulders. She explains about ethical adoption: “I explain why it’s right and necessary that adopting couples use an ethical agency, one that doesn’t pursue or coerce expectant mothers. One that helps fully explore the option of parenting. One that cares more about the adoption process than about the agency’s stats on placements. One that can balance the needs and rights of both adopting couples and expectant parents. One that is aware of the Burning Building Test.” How the practices of a good agency can create a symbiotic relationship. Maybe the Polartec sweater was made out of hope?

The roundup to the Roundup: Show and Tell something. Last call for NaComLeavMo. A New Day. Oh…and it’s my Bat Mitzvah anniversary. Happy Bat Mitzvah anniversary day, A. Zeh lo David sham.

0 comments

1 Dianne/Flutter { 05.23.08 at 12:22 pm }

Happy Bat Mitzvah Anniversary!

Thanks Mel for the words of encouragement.

2 Manda { 05.23.08 at 12:54 pm }

This is going to be a teeny bit long and I apologize for bogarting your comment space:

I have been reading your blog for quite some time and I always think, “Man… Mel makes being Jewish sound like SO MUCH FUN! I’m gonna be Jewish someday…” And then there was an episode of Diff’rent Strokes the other day (yes, I watch reruns EVERY DAY) where Arnold went to a Bar Mitzvah and decided he was going to become Jewish because they had so many celebrations and he loved the community. And! He got to become a man at 13! But then Mr. Drummond called the rabbi to come speak to him about Judaism. The rabbi’s words to him were something along the lines of, “Yes, Judaism is fun and we have amazing parties and celebrations but it’s a lot of work. If I had known at your age just how much work it was, I may have chosen another path.” So maybe I won’t become Jewish after all. But congratulations to you on choosing this path that you so obviously love. I can sense your passion about it in every post. Happy Bat Mitvah anniversary, my friend!

3 Fertilized { 05.23.08 at 3:41 pm }

Happy Bat Mitzvah anniversary to you!

4 Ginny { 05.23.08 at 3:42 pm }

I know didn’t Memorial come up quickly, this year is just flying by!

5 Lori { 05.24.08 at 9:57 am }

Happy Bat Mitzvah, dear Mel.

Thanks for drawing attention (lots of it!) to a post that is very close to my heart.

And so are you.

6 Pamela Jeanne { 05.24.08 at 11:31 am }

Happy Bat Mitzvah anniversary. Just finished my post for Show and Tell — a great way to pass the time on a rainy/snowy morning in the mountains … what was that about summer beginning this weekend??

7 Amy { 05.28.08 at 5:54 pm }

Hey Mel! I just saw this – thanks for cuing me in to the wink wink nudge nudge of our shared batmizversary. Sham! Le’yad h’amud! Oh, and happy belated 21st batmitzvah anniversary to us!

(c) 2006 Melissa S. Ford
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