Opening Pandora's Box

Shalom:
I had just read Beth's comments and felt I needed to address this.
First, I am thankful that my friend felt comfortable enough to leave her thoughts, even though we disagree. It is one of the hallmarks of our friendship; to disagree without being disagreeable.
Beth touched on very interesting points, things I myself have wrestled with.
As Beth pointed out, whether one is married in a church, temple, beach, parents backyard, city hall, or as my niece recently did, in her mother's living room, you need that little piece of paper known as a marriage license from the state to wed.
We have two types of marriages in this country; religious and civil. One can have a religious wedding, at their place of worship, with all the trappings and as long as the license has been signed, it is legal. Same is true if you were married by the Justice of the Peace. As Hebrews, we are not even consider married unless the Ketubah (marriage covenant) witnessed by two Hebrews. In many faiths, your not married unless you are married in the church or temple proper, by clergy. But you still need that piece of paper.
For many of us, the wedding as well as the marriage is made up of three; husband, wife and the Creator of marriage.
Others do not include G_D.
But they are still married.
Like our fellow Observant Jews, Mark and I are to have an attitude of empathy and understanding for those who say, “I have these urges, I can’t help them.” But we do not accept those who would say, “I have these urges, they are God-given and therefore it is a mitzvah to follow them.” For their claims counter Torah.
Beth is also correct when she says the places of worship are not being forced to conduct same-sex marriages. One of my concerns is if same-sex marriage becomes law, then there will be some couple out there that will push for their marriage to be held that holds a different standard. There is a very good chance my fears would never come to pass.
Frankly, it is hard for me to be black and white on this matter. For since I began my career in the health-care profession until I retired, many of my patients were of the Gay and Lesbian  community who had contacted AIDS. Many of these men and women became friends of mine. Many have since died. I have seen the pain on a man's face when the family of his lover refuse to allow him to sit at his friend's bedside. Or not allowed in the church for the funeral. I have wiped away tears, listened to confessions and cried at funerals. I have seen many of these relationships close up; loving, caring relationships that have lasted longer than many straight marriages I know.
I also know friends who left the GAL community. Many became Christians or some other faith and denounced the life. And are very happily married with kids. I know one friend who grew up with two mummies and hated every moment of it. To this day she doesn't speak to either woman.
For many, this is a black or white issue. I see too much gray.
Beth and I do not agree on this matter; at least we haven't drawn blood. But I also believe she gives us much to think about; about what is fair and just. How we treat our fellow amercians who are different than we are in belief, worldview, in moral stance.
How do we not allow this issues to rip us as a nation apart?
And how do I share my opinion that differs and not lose a friend in the progress?

Mother's Day; How it Really Began

Like so many holidays we as a nation commemorate,  Mother's Day is one we keep with religious zeal but have no idea how it began.
The celebration of Mother's Day is centuries old. Though like x-mas and easter, Mom's day has been commercialised in modern times, Mother's Day is in fact, has centuries. Cultures around the world  still celebrate Mother's Day as the mother goddess as a representative of nurturing and the giver of all life.

Ancient Egyptians celebrated the mother goddess Isis, the Greeks celebrated the goddess Rhea, who was the mother of most of the Greek gods, including Zeus.
  Ancient Rome, Cybele was the major mother figure; and as early as 2250 B.C., the Romans celebrated a festival of Hilaria, which occurred in the spring and was dedicated to the mother goddess. In Taoism, the end of May is celebrated as the "mother of the world" day, recognising the goddess as the origin of all things. Incense is burned and the focus is on meditating on divine harmony.
The Middle Ages would see the white washing of the goddnes. Folks in remote villages attended the main church in their parish- known as the "mother" church, for a special service. In England, a day known as "Mothering Sunday" fell on the fourth Sunday of Lent. A day when working people were allowed to take time off to go home to visit their mothers, often bringing her little treats or flowers.
Here in North American, the very first Mother's Day was a call for peace. Julia Ward Howe wrote a proclamation in 1870 that called for mothers to stop their sons from killing the sons of other mothers. She asked for an international Mother's Day of Peace.
As I wrote in my last post, it was Anna Jarvis who we have to thank for Mother's Day.
Her mother had held, Mother's Friendship Day to bring back together families and friends who had been parted during the Civil War. Ms. Jarvis wanted to continue to the tradition her mother started.

The Torah commands us as children, whether still in nappies or changing their grandbabies' nappies, to honour our mothers and fathers. We are commanded because is, at times, not an easy think to do. But when we remember the love, the care, the nights without sleep, trying to rock us to sleep and then later, waiting for us to return home from dates.
I often say, every day is Mother's Day. A day to tell my mother I love her. To give her flowers or collard greens. To watch a movie with and share a laugh. To make sure she has the things she needs, including a visit from her grand dog.
"I gave my mother her flowers while she was alive." My mother often says.
I tradition I picked as well.

Honour Thy Mother and Thy Father

Shalom:
In many parts of the world, today is Mother's Day.
One of my early memories are of Mother's Day. I remember mummie picking red carnations to our dresses. She told us that the red meant that she, our mother, is still alive. She too wore a red carnation. But on grandmother's dress, mummie pinned a white carnation.
"Why?" I wanted to know.
"Because grandmother's mother is in heaven. White means the person's mother has gone on."
Grandmother had a mother????
Which that she had a mother....
I do not remember the Mother's Day service. My thoughts were going back. way back, trying to figure out who the very first mother was.
"Eve, Laini. Remember Sunday School."
"And G_D created Eve."
"Who created G_D?"
"That's another story, Laini."
Years, later I remember the first Mother's Day after Grandmother Callie's passing. Mummie tried to pick on a white carnation, but couldn't.
She has never another one since.
The last time I saw carnations on Mother's Day is when my mother gave me a very pretty dress and pink carnations.
Pink is for new mums.
But over the years, at least in my home, Mother's Day has become less and less important. Mainly due to mummie's views.
I remember talking to mummie this about four years ago. Mummie said she doesn't need Mother's Day. For her two daughters and two sons-in-law honour her every day. She knows she is loved and cherished by her children, grandchildren and grand dog, Monti. Mummie made it clear that she doesn't need fancy gifts or flowers, to be taken out for supper or over priced cards to know we honour her.
"Honour Thy Mother and Thy Father," is every day, not just the second Sunday of May.
Efforts to establish a national day to honour has been in the works since 1870s, but never made it thought until May 8th 1914.
Thanks to a young lady who wanted to honour the mother who had died in 1905. Ann Marie Jarivs wanted to honour her mother in a very special way. her church, Andrew's Methodist Episcopal Church, held its first Mother's Day service. Ann Marie delivered white carnations, 500 hundred of them, her mother's favourite flower, to be handed out.
Jarvis wanted the white carnation to be an emblem of mother's purity, faithfulness and love. The white carnations quickly shown out and florists promoted the idea of wearing red carnation in honouring of living mothers and white in memory of mothers who are deceased.
Eventually, Ann Marie Jarvis herself ended up opposing the holiday she had help to create. She, like many (including me) refer to this day as a "Hallmark Holiday."
Ms. Jarvis regretted what has become of the holiday she created, just to honour her mother.
Today, Mark, Montaque and I went to see my mother. Mark had made collard greens the night before and so we brought a bowl to go with her supper later in the evening.
Just the very thing she wanted.

Pandora's Box

 Shalom:
Ah Marriage.
It has been a major topic of discussion these past few days, sometimes a rather heated one at times.

The heart of this discussion; who may and may not marry. Is marriage a right or a choice? Is it a matter of religion only or it a civil right.
 All of this reminds me of Pandora's Box:





In Greek mythology, Pandora was the first woman on Earth. Zeus ordered Hephaestus, the god of craftsmanship, to create her. Obeying, Hephaestus created the woman out water and earth. The gods endowed her with many gifts. From Athena, clothing. From Aphrodite beauty. From Hermes the gift of speech. 
When Prometheus stole fire from heaven, Zeus took vengeance by presenting Pandora to Epimetheus  Prometheus' brother. Zeus gave Pandora  a beautiful container which she was not to open under any circumstance. Impelled by her curiosity given to her by the gods, Pandora opened it, and all evil contained therein escaped and spread over the earth. She hastened to close the container, but the whole contents had escaped, except for one thing that lay at the bottom, which was the angel of Hope named Astrea. Pandora was deeply saddened by what she had done, and was afraid that she would have to face Zeus' wrath, since she had failed her duty; however, Zeus did not punish Pandora; because he knew this would happen.
Frankly, I believe is what is happening with the subject same-sex marriage.

This subject is close to my heart, because there was a time in our recent history that Mark and I would have broken the law by getting married. It was only about forty year ago that it was illegal for blacks and whites to marry. In fact, the ground breaking couple's love led to the changing of this law was from Virginia.
Still, there are people who use the bible to condemn such marriages. There are even places of worship that would not conduct such a wedding service or even receive Mark and I as members.
With allowing couples like Mark and I to wed, the law opened the door to all Americans to marry whomever they wished.
And there lies the rub.
For the United States holds to marriage "is between one man and one woman." So while interracial couples are free to marry, same-sex couples or relationship with more than one partner are not consider valid.
 While the legal age of marriage varies from state to state, a teenager must be at least 18 years old in order to marry without his or her parents permission.
While many hate the very thought, this nation was founded on the principles and morals taken from the Scriptures. Including our view on marriage. That is why, there was a time in our history,  one could actually be fined or even go to jail for living without the benefit of Clergy (living in sin) for committing adultery, homosexuality, and still on the books, incest and polygamy. Each were (and still are) seen as forms of perversion and distortions of marriage, both in the biblical and legal sense. While many still feel this is a christian nation, no church or religious system governments our land.
Therefore, the opinions I am about to share are my alone and should not be taken as a political stance, but a moral one.
As a Torah Observer, I do hold to marriage as one man-one woman.
One of Adam's jobs was the naming of the animals. This meant his being time with them, getting to know them before he named them. And in the watching of each beast, Adam would realise his fellowship with the animal kingdom was rather limited. Oh sure, he could talk and walk with the lions, swim with the fish and play fetch with Fido. But the relationships with each could only go just so far. As he watched the animals with their mates, his own heart longed for a companion. Someone to love and to love him in return.
So, that is why G-d said: "it is not good for the Man to be alone..." And that is why He put Adam to sleep and with the taking of a rib, He formed Adam's beloved and brought her to him. "And they became one flesh."

Therefore sex is for;
1. Love. Loving making is the most tender, intimate, sweetness act of love. All five senses are involved and it both joins and seals the husband and wife. Love G-d rejoices in
2. Fellowship. Loving making is the most tender, intimate, sweetness of all fellowship. A fellowship G-d rejoices in.
3. Pleasure. Loving making is the most tender, intimate, sweetness of pleasure. A pleasure G-d rejoices in.
4. Pro-creation. Yes, children is placed fourth. Because while children are important and the fruit of the womb, the blessing of your love. But the marriage, the love of the couple is more important.
Marriage was and is so important to G-d, that to commit an sex act outside marriage (whether with someone the same or the opposite sex, or the family pet) was met with death.
For me, according to Torah, sex outside of marriage is wrong. And no, I don't go around stoning folks. And just as same-sex intercourse is wrong, so is cheating on your wife or husband, so is seducing an underage child, so is stealing and lying.
And while I am against same-sex marriage, I am also against polygamy:

So we allow same-sex marriage. Where would it stop?

 After all, this man only wants to marry the one he loves....

 Who are we to judge if a many wants to marry his dead girlfriend?

Or a grandson wanting to marry his grandmother?
No, I am not making fun or light of this issue. I have friends who are gay and they know where I stand.  I know too well the pain this subject brings some of them. I also have friends, both gay and straight who don't see what the big deal is. The thought of  a committed relationship makes them want to puke, so the whole thing is lost on them. The question that I raise, (yes, I know, I of all people) if same-sex marriage is allowed, where does it stop?
I'm just asking the question: do we really want to take the top off this box?

Shabbat: Just Do It

Dark Shadows

Shalom:

My name is Victoria Winters... my journey is just beginning..."
On 27 June 1966, Americans joins the young governess to the remote coastal town of Collinsport, Maine, which for the next five years would be the home of the assorted supernatural forces inhabiting the world of ABC-TV's Dark Shadows, the first gothic soap opera.

Between 1966 to 1971, an entire generation of kids ran home from school to watch Dark Shadows. My younger sister and I were amoung them.

Halted as "Satan's favourite TV show," by religious groups, several parent groups complained that the show gave their children nightmares (I was one of those kids), but I still watched anyway. Today, looking back, I realise how cheesy the efforts was, how bad the acting, and now being Torah observant, wouldn't watch the show at all.
For me, the biggest draw was the Vampire Barnabas Collins, portrayed by the late Jonathan Frid, who passed away last month at age 87.

With his dark good looks and long cloak with the eloquent European flair that still causes me to go weak in the knees, Jonathan Frid was Barnabas Collins. 
 There was an forbidden, nasty about enjoying Dark Shadows, like Mr. Collins himself. The show, like Barnbas's dark eyes drew you in and held you. You wanted to look away, but couldn't.  An erotic pleasure I was quickly cured of after being attacked and bitten by a fruit bat years ago.
Or was it Barnabas Collin fulfilling a teenager girl's naughty wish?
Thankfully, I didn't need the shots, though my neck was swollen and painful for weeks.
And then there is the matter of the Torah commanding us not to have any intercourse (fellowship) with the dead. Funny how these commandments keep popping up.
Dark Shadows will open soon. I'd seen the trailers....
Ah, yeah...
With respect to Johnny Depp, I wouldn't go going to see the movie.
It is more than to go and attend this movie goes against my morals. Though that is a very good reason.

Although Jonathan Frid gave Johnny Depp his blessing by sending him a handwritten letter and an autographed photo, for me there is only one man who embodies that duke of darkness, and that is Jonathan Frid. Yes, looking back, I remember the fogotten lines, tombstones that would fall over or a ghost waving off a fly. It was camp fun. But for me, it was so real. It was the imperfections that made the show perfect. Mr. Frid was the lonely, haunted Vampire, hating the fate forced upon him by a spiteful woman, yet coming to terms and learning to live with his state. Collins had his secrets, like we all. Thus the title, Dark Shadows. Dark Shadows for me is a spicey slice of my childhood I wish not to mess with.
 As we say when a play comes to the end of its run: "I loved you darling, but the show's closed."
R.I.P Mr. Frid.

Shabbat; The Holy Hush

Shalom:


The beauty of my relationship with Mark is that is has always centred around our faith. A huge part of this was celebrating Shabbat together.
I taught Mark how to keep Shabbat as a single man. But until he was deployed, did he celebrate alone. Whether it was at my apartment or his, we would bring in Shabbat together and then attend the evening service.
We even wrote our own Shabbat Siddur (Jewish prayer book) with our own little touches. A Siddur we still use.

So when we began engaged, Mark and I had already pretty much knew the kind of home we would have; a Jewish home.
For Mark and I, being Torah Observers more than keeping an ancient religion. It is a way off life steeped with Torah and tradition. 
And we knew that the highlight of our week would be Shabbat.
I remember those early days. Cleaning the house together, planning the meal, the guest list and then came the day itself.
Still with joyful busyness: the scent of baking Challah, candles being lit around the apartment. The table being the set, the wine chilling.
Sometimes we had guest, sometimes we did not. Either way, the evening was as sweet as the Challah and the wine.
The only light Friday evening is the light from candles. There is a holy glow that fills the home and our being.
From somewhere in the house, a soft breeze begins to blow. Coming from the Garden of Eden herself.
We smile at each other. It is once again our wedding night.
Tonight there is no TV or laptops. No telephones ringing and Monti is fed.
Mark takes my hand....
One of the mitzah of Shabbat, one of the traditions of Shabbat,  is rejoicing in one's wife. Our sages say that when a man loves his wife, he fufilled the whole of Torah. We are encouraged to "woohoo!" on Shabbat
There is a Holy Hush all over the world, as Jewish couples fall in love again....

Oh taste and sees the L-rd is Good.

How to Miss a Marriage

Shalom:
I read on another blog about an articled entitled, How to Miss a Childhood. I then found said article on a friend's facbook's page.
The author speaks how many parents are losing out on their children's childhood because of the time they spend on the cell-phone and not spending with their children.
I am including the article because it is a great read.
But it got me thinking.....
When my son Aries was growing up, even when I was a child, there were no cell-phones

I never walked down the grocery aisles with Aries sitting in the shopping cart, pulling stuff off the selves as I talk to my girl on a cell-phone. Aries never had to ask me to push him on the swing as I had an fuss with his step-dad on the telly. Nor did he ever have to ask me when is dinner five times and get yelled at because I was answering a text.
Yes, I was supermum; I waited until Aries was tugged into bed before burning the phone lines. But there were those times I did get upset because I had to pull away from All My Children because Aries dared to be hungry.
In every generation, there is something, be it TV, cell-phones or facebook that grab our attention and not focus in that which is more important.
Our children.
Since Mark and I don't have children yet, it made me think about How to Miss a Marriage. How many amazing discussions did I miss out because I was chatting with a friend on fackbook? Or saying: "honey, give me five minutes to finish this e-mail," when Mark asked me to come to bed. How many hugs and kisses and cuddle moments were lost as I sat here at the laptop. How many walks in the park and pillow fights.
How many times have I served Mark a drink at his laptop and he took it without looking up at me. How many times have I felt Monti climbing up my leg for a bit of attention?
Does this happen a lot? No.
But frankly, it shouldn't happen at all.
Sadly, I admit snapping at Mark when I was writing a post for the blog last week and Mark kept asking me about Monti's bath.
Right after I snapped at my husband, I felt rotten. The post could wait. Husband and Montaque should never have to.
So we agreed that I have a set time to work on the blog and other writing projects while Mark does his job search.
And then, when we are both done, turn off the laptops and turn to each other.
And Monti.
Does this mean Mark and/or shouldn't have time to ourselves? Time with friends, whether on the TV or social media?  Of course we should. But not at the experience of our relationships with our spouses, with our children.
http://www.handsfreemama.com/

Their Your Children.

Shalom:
This morning, over my first cup of coffee, I read the op-ed piece by Kerry Dougherty.
I like Ms. Dougherty, I don't always agree, but often she says the things many of us think, but don't have a format to voice it.
But the past few days, her op-ed pieces have had me dancing and shouting for joy.
Yesterday was about not reporting the beating on Brambleton and Church Street.
Today's was about parents.
The two articles  are connected.
In Monday's entry, I asked the question; "where were the parents? Why were their children out on the streets after 11:00pm?
Today, Ms. Dougherty wrote about curfews (we have them here in Norfolk) and that the curfew is for the teens protection.
I fully agree with her following statement: "keep your darn teenagers off the streets at night!"

As I have often stated, I was a teenage mother. The last four years my son lived at home before going into the Navy, we lived in public housing. During his high school years, we lived in a community that had just rid itself of gangs. I was a single mum and was working full-time as an CNA at the time and public housing was all we could afford.
My son had to be in the house by eight in the evening on school night. Nine on the weekends. When he was on the school wrestling team and came home after 11pm, his coach or one of the parents brought him home.  I knew his friends, who's home he was at and if he wasn't where he said he would be (and that happen only once) he better be able to tell me why and the answer better be a good one.
It was.

The lovely girl next door, Aries was really interested in. But before they could date, her father wanted to meet and have a talk with me.
I like that. He wanted to know what kind of home, upbringing Aries had. And after we met and he agreed the two could date, the family would include Aries in many of their outings. And we all agreed they were never to be alone.
And they weren't.
Aries was my son. I brought him into this world. Taught him to walk, talk, dress and feed himself. I taught him to read and write, and to say yes ma'am and no sir. To look every adult in the eye when spoken to and keep his hands out of his pocket. When he accidentally broke the neighbour's window with his baseball, I paid for the window. And Aries worked to repay me. My son wasn't permit to roam the streets like a homeless pup. Our home had a door and a lock.
Sometimes being a good parents means being the bad guy for a while. I didn't tell Aries he had to be home by eight because of the law. He had to be home because I am mum and I said so! It's that simple. I remember the night Aries challenged me on this.
"Don't you trust me, mum?" Aries once asked.
"You I trust. But people who drive around and shoot into a crowd of kids. I don't trust. Someone who's high on drugs or drunk and you get hit, I don't trust. A fight breaks out and your there and might even get hit up side the head. That I don't trust."
"Son, I love you. You are the most precious thing in my life. And if I hold onto you a little tight, that's the reason."
Aries smiled, kissed me on the cheek and said: "sure, you just want me around so I can take care of you in your old age."
That too :)
Yeah, I know. I'm old fashion, not with it. It's a different world. Yeah.
But my son was never involved in a gang, no baby mama-drama, no jail. No drugs.

This year my son will become the father of a teenager. I trust him to hold onto his baby as tightly as I held onto mine. Boy, I would love to be a fly on the wall and watch Aries deal with his own teenager.
The curfew for teens 18 years and younger are the state's and city's way of saying, we are looking out for the safely of your children.
Good parents not only control their kids, but know their kids whereabouts.

Shabbat; Unplug

Shalom:
Shabbat is Hebrew for: rest, to rest, to stop your labours.

To me, one of the traditions held by many Hebrews today, is the perfect picture of what Shabbat means in our world today.

Unplug. To disconnect from its source. For six days, Sunday to Friday, we are 'plugged' into this world. Work (for those who have jobs) or looking for work, school work, end lines, reports, shopping, caring for the home, the family, the pets, bills, ringing phones both cell and landlines. Our senses are over loaded with cable news and computers where now we can truly reach out ans touch someone around the world.
By the sixth day Friday, our bodies, souls and spirits are fried.
And for those who keep the Holy Shabbat, Shabbat is the welcoming haven we run to. We turn off of electrical devises for twenty-four hours. Many actually 'unplug' TVs, radios, computers so that they aren't even tempted to use them. We unplug from the world and enter into Shabbat, into rest. With no phones ringing, no announces "you got mail!" no Fox News or CNN, our bodies, souls and spirits actually get to rest.
For twenty-four hours, we get to play with our children and love our spouses in an unhurried fashion.
We gather with family and friends for Torah services, festival meals, to study Torah.
And that sweetest treat of all; the Shabbat nap.
Ahhh :)
Shabbat. The time we unplug from the world and all its madness and plug into G_D and all His goodness.
Oh taste and see that the L_rd is Good.

Attack On Brambleton and Church Street

Shalom:

A few weeks ago, one Tuesday morning, I was reading an op-ed piece in the Virginian- Pilot. The story caught my eye because it about an attack on a couple leaving the Attucks Theatre on 14th April, about 11:00 pm.
Dave Forster and Marjon Rostami, reporters for the Pilot, had stopped a red light at  Brambleton and Church Street.

A rock was thrown as a large group passed by the car. When Dave Forster got out the car to confront the thrower, the couple, white, were attacked by the group. Attacked as in beaten to the point they had to take a week off of work to heal.
The police say there were few involved in the attack. Other reports say it was between 30 and 50 men.
My problem besides a couple being assaulted at a red light by five men, while a larger group gathers around and watches, is that the police seem to think it was a "simple assault."
And the Virginian- Pilot, our local paper didn't see the need to run the story. Their reporters were beaten about four or five blocks from where they work.
A teenager was arrested a few days ago. And our city officials seen to think it isn't that serious.
Really?
Well, I for one am rather upset.
Why did it take two weeks for the story to come out?
Why did it take Bill O'Reilly and my fellow Pilot readers' outcry for the Editor to finally say something? And he as well as the police still stay by it was an "simple assault", not that serious. This really wasn't worth even a line in the newspaper.
Really? In the past week, the two reporters have had to leave Norfolk because there are reports of threats to their lives. But its no big deal.
Well, I have a shilling in this pound.
Having lived in Norfolk for most of my adult life, I know that area well. I'd gone to the grocery store in the area, I'd gone to do business at the centre Post Office on the corner of Brambleton. And I as a single woman would rarely be found on those streets at night alone.
For Mark and I at least twice a week drive by the Attucks theatre, several times down Brambleton and Church. After learning about the attacks, we have changed our  travel routes.
Can you imagine what would have happen if it had been Mark and I, instead of two reporter going home from a night out? How often we drive Church Street coming home from visiting my mother.
If this crowd had a problem with two white reporters, can you imagine their response to a white man with his mocha-coloured bride?  
Last night, watching the O'Reilly Factor, listening to the accounts of  eye witnesses to the beating of the couple. How the woman's hair was pulled. How the man was punched over and over again while people laughed.
And the Pilot continues to stand by "we aren't trying to hide the story."
Mr. Forster and Ms. Rostami have filed complaints against the police because of the way they case is being handle. The police say they get calls about group fights all the time...
This wasn't a group fight; this was a beating.
But to be honest, my biggest problem isn't the police or the newspaper, but the fact that a young couple out for an evening was attacked by a group of pukes with nothing better to do. If they kids, what were they doing out that late at night and where were they parents? Why didn't someone step in and help them instead of watching and cheering the beating on? Why did someone feel the need to throw a rock?
Why couldn't Dave Forster and Marjon Rostami just be left alone?
Because across the street is Young's Park. Public Housing. And large groups of teens go out on the weekend and look for trouble.
And how do I know? Because one rare night, about twenty years, I had such an encounter.
I was the fill for  third shift at a Nursing home and had to wait for my connecting bus to head for work.
I didn't make it.
 It was 10:30pm. I started feeling small rocks being thrown at me. I went into First Stop store and called the police. The police showed up, took a report and then drove me home. I knew the chances the person throwing the rocks were between slim and none. More than likely a kid who's folks didn't know where he or she was. I had to call my Supervisor and tell her what happen. After that, I stopped taking assignments that required me travailing at night.
Yes, Virginian-Pilot, you hid the story. You did a disservice to the people of Norfolk who had the right to know about the thugs that walk the streets unchecked and the callousness attitude of our police department. That we have parents who allow their babies to act ugly.
But your biggest disservice, your crime, is against two of your employees. Your failing to come to their aid by running this crime story.
That you fail in your job. As reporters of Virginian News.

Shabbath; Celebration of Freedom

Boker Tov:
Even today, around the world, there are countries have never heard of or athear to a five or six day a week. From sun up to sun down, seven days a week, there are men, women and children who have to work. They may not even get an vacation to rest their tired minds, souls and spirits.
This was life for the Hebrew slaves of Egypt.

In Egypt, there was no such thing as a day of rest. Pharaoh, the god of Egypt demanded a daily offering of bend, sweatly backs as an offering, the cries of slaves being whipped as a song of praise.
When the G_D of Abraham, Issac and Yacob send Moshe and Aron to Pharaoh with the command, "Let My People Go," was in part for that the Hebrews would be free to worship their G_D without the shadow of Egypt over them.
Interesting, Pharaoh, son of the Sun-god Ra, didn't wish to share his glory with the G_D of the Universe either.
So the battle of the gods was on. And if you know the story, you know Who won.
Centuries later, we Hebrews still remember our deliverance. Not just on Passover, but weekly, on Shabbat. For on this night, we remember and celebrate the night we left Egypt as a people. We left the chains and whips and mud pits behind and headed for the Land flowing with Milk and Honey.
In our home, this is part of our celebration. I often make a honey cake, to remember the promise of the Land we were brought to. And to remember the goodness, the sweetness, the faithfulness of the G_D we serve and love.
Once a week, beginning Sundown Friday to Sundown Saturday, we break away from the work week. We remove work clothes and wash off the grim of labour and gathering with family, friends and the Holy One, for twenty-hours, there are no dead-lines, meetings computers, school books, cars or phones.
Or mud pits.

Mark's views on Shabbat

The Shabbat is one of the Decalogue (The 10 Words, or The 10 Commandments). Sure, that gives us the reason we celebrate, but personally, I think ALL believers in the Messiah (both Gentile and Jew) should celebrate Shabbat.
When I am deployed, I am on duty 24/7. I am constantly working, meeting this or that deadline; getting ready for this or that briefing; the days seem to run together; monotony sets in ... but then that magical time approaches, The Shabbat. When I was in Afghanistan, we really celebrated Shabbat!

This Week: Shabbath

Boker Tov: (Good Morning)
Mark and I are often asked about why the keeping of Sabbath is important to us. And how do you keep Sabbath.

First, what is Sabbath.
Genesis 2: 1-3"Thus the heavens and the earth were completed in all their vast array.

² By the seventh day God had finished the work he had been doing; so on the seventh day he rested from all his work. ³ Then God blessed the seventh day and made it holy, because on it he rested from all the work of creating that he had done."
In Hebrew, Shabbath (שַׁבָּת ( you can find this on page number 7676 of Strong's Concordance  as šabbāt,) meaning "day of rest".  It derives from the verb shavath (שָׁבַת, Strong's 7673 as šāvat, often shavat), defined as "desist from exertion "rest" or "cease"). The word shavath was first used in the Torah account of the seventh day of in the verse above.  The observing of Sabbath is the fourth Commandment. For Hebrews as well as all who keep the Biblical Sabbath regard it as having been instituted as a "perpetual covenant [for] the people of Israel" (Exodus 31:13-17) as a sign in respect for the day during which God rested after having completed the Creation in six days ( Exodus 20:8-11) We also remember God's deliverance from the Egyptians and their seven-day workweek (Deuteronomy 5:12-15)
The desecration of Shabbath was once amoung the crimes that fell under Capital punishment. Why? For like the other commandments, it was a direct violation of His Law, you were putting yourself back into bondage, bowing again to the gods of Egypt.
So we keep Shabbat because it is one of the commandments of G_D. Just as You shall not put any other go before me, honour thy mother and father, thy shall not steal, murder or bear false witness is still enforce, so is the keeping of Shabbat. The Day never changed.

We keep Shabbath to remember the Night G_D freed us with His Strong Hand, freed us from a system that only allowed the body to rest at night in sleep. Every day was a work day, there was no rest.
Notice Genesis 1: 31 "G_D saw all that He had made, and it was very good. And there was evening, and there was morning —the sixth day."
The Creator, when He had finished all His work, He took a step back and beheld all. He smiled and "enjoyed His Creation."
When G_D rested, it doesn't mean He wasn't tired . It meant He smiled with pleasure and enjoyed the trees, the birds, the flowers, the animals, and His greatest joy, Man.
It reminds me of when I finish a piece of needlepoint or sewing. I hold it in my hands and look over the piece, pleased. Smiling, I think it is my best work yet.
I have the same feeling when I set the table for a special occasion. I step back and behold how beautiful the table is. I picture my guest oohing and ahhing. I am at rest, I have eased my work. Soon I shall seat and enjoy the creation with my guest.
When we observe Shabbat, we "enter His rest" We stop our harbour and for twenty-four hours and enjoy G_D's creation. We enjoy good food and good friends. We enjoy G_D.

This is why we delight in Shabbat.

Challah Recipe - My Jewish Learning

Challah Recipe - My Jewish Learning
This also a very good challah recipe.

Shalom:
I have been requested several times for a Challah recipe, for this evening, I am writing out one of my favorites.

This recipe makes two loaves.
1. 6 1/2 cups flour ( I shift my)
2.3 TB sugar
3. 1 1/2 tsp salt
4. 4 package dry active yeast
5. 2 cup butter or margarine, softened
6. A pinch powdered saffron
7. 1 cup warm water (120-130'F) warm, not hot.
8. 1/2 honey
9. 4 eggs at room temperature
10. 1tsp cold water
I have a special spice mixture that gives will remind you of the temple: a 1/2 teaspoon of nutmeg, cinnamon, of almond oil and blood orange oil. It is is added with the honey.
Take care that the waater for the yeast is warm, not hot. If the water is too hot, it will "cook" the yeast and the challah will not rise fully and made your challah denes.
After you wash your hands (this is a holy work) you want to combine 1 1/4 cups of flour, the sugar, salt and yeast in a large bowl. Mix in the softened butter and honey. Stir the saffron into the warm water until it dissolves.
Add a little at a time to the flour mixture and blend thoroughly. Beat for 2 minutes with an electric mixer and medium speed, scraping the bowl occasionally. (I prefer mixing by hand)
* at this time, if you wish, you can add chocolate chips, raisins, dry fruits bites like cranberries, apples, etc*
 Separate the yolk and white of one egg.
 Blend the single egg white and the other 3 whole eggs into the batter. Reserve the single egg yolk. Stir 1/2 cup of flour into the batter and beat at high speed for 2 minutes, scraping the bowl occasionally. Blend in enough additional flour to make a soft dough. Knead the dough on a lightly floured board about 8 to 10 minutes or until it is smooth and elastic. Place the dough in a greased bowl, turning it once to grease the top. Cover and allow the dough to rise in a warm, draft free, darken place for one hour. Your dough will double in size.
After one hour, you want to knead your dough again. I usually rub a couple drops of olive oil on the dough to help keep it moist. Flour bread broad lightly and set the dough on it.
 Divide the dough into 2 equal portions. Divide each portion into 2 pieces, using 1/3 of the dough for one piece, and 2/3 of the dough for the other. Divide the large piece into 3 equal portions. Roll each of these into 12 inch ropes. Braid the ropes together tightly, using your fingers to press the dough together at the ends. Divide the smaller piece into 3 equal portions. Roll each of these into 10 inch ropes and braid tightly. Place the smaller braid on top of the larger one and seal the ends. Repeat this process to form the second loaf.
Place both braided loaves on a greased baking sheet. Mix the reserved single egg yolk with the 1 tsp of cold water and brush the top of the loaves with the mixture. Sprinkle with poppy seeds or raisins and let the loaves rise until double in bulk in a warm draft free place (approximately one hour). Bake in a 400' over for 20 to 25 minutes. Remove from the oven and let cool on wire racks.

Golden Hershey's Kiss at Heaven's Gate

Boker Tov;
A few days ago, a friend of mine's mother passed away. Patrice's mum knew her time on this good earth was coming to a close and was looking forward to seeing face to face the One she so adored.
Grand-daughter Shannon said she could picture her grandmother running into heaven and "someone handing her a golden Hershey kiss as she passed thu the gates!"
What a lovely thought, that at there is someone, maybe an welcoming angel, standing at the Gates, giving each person an golden Hershey kiss.

I have many friends and family with various beliefs.
Some do not believe in the afterlife at all. They believe that this life is all there is. When we die, our bodies return to the dust and we live on only in the memories of others and deeds done here on earth, where for good or for evil. This means Lucille Ball and Bin Laden share the fate as the monkey and the ant. That those who hold to heaven and angels, hold to a lovely dream, a fairy tale. But that's all that they are; a dream, a fairy tale.
Others believe in Soul Sleep. This means we are soul and body and when we die, we just "go to sleep" our soul is in hell, since hell is really not more than the grave shared by all mankind. On Judgement Day, all souls shall stand before G_D. The righteous shall enter heaven, the wicked destroyed in the Fire, never to be thought of again, as if they never existed.
Still others believe that when a woman dies, it is her husband or if she died single, her father, that after G_D raises him, calls his wife soul forth. This means a woman's salvation rest not in G_D, but the man in her life (belief held by LDS and Islam)
Others belief that this life isn't it, but we come back again and again and again. Somethings we come back as Indian Princesses and other times as toads.
But many, believe that this life isn't it. That we are meant to return to our Creator. That there is indeed a Heaven for the righteous and a Hell for the wicked.
This is the belief as a Hebrew Believer I hold. I believe that because I am a righteous woman, a g-d feared and Torah Observant, because of my belief and acceptance of Messiah that when my eyes close in death, I shall open them and behold the Face of my Creator.
Like the little boy Cotton  Burpo, who wrote the book, Heaven is for Real, I do believe Heaven is a real place for real people.
But like one of my grandmother Callie's favourite songs, "not everyone talkin' about is going there."
And many don't want to. G_D will not take anyone to Himself any who do not wish to go. Nor will He send anyone to Hell. If you give yourself to evil, then you will go the way of your soul.

For me, part of clinging to my guns and religion is holding onto heaven. Just knowing I shall see loved ones long gone as well as behold the very Face of the One Who created me, placed His breath, His spirit in me, the One Who has guarded and guided me all my life, even now makes me smile and brings tears to my eyes. This is The One Patrice's mother is now beholding. The One my friend and Wayne's wife Lana is now beholding.
Right now, I picture the golden Hershey kisses.

I Love Lucy, An American Treasure

Shalom:
What would our lives been like without I Love Lucy?

From 1951 to 1956, Americans weekly checked in to see what trouble the daff redhead would get into or cause.
I mean, can you really imagine not seeing Lucille Ball, Desi Arnaz, Vivian Vance and William Frawley?

Set in New York City brownstone, I Love Lucy centers on the lives of Lucy Ricardo, her singer/bandleader husband and their friends as well as landlords Fred and Ethel Mertz.
Lucy is as naive as she is daffy. An ambitious woman with an overactive imagination and a knack for getting herself into trouble as those around her. We know she her fiery red hair because of the often mention henna rinse. Lucy  a scatter-brained homemaker a knack to turn an ordinary household chore into a complete and unprecedented disaster.
In short, she sounds like me. 
And while she and her bandleader husband are happily married, Lucy dreams of being a star. her wild behaviour and crazy antics, she honestly yearns for stardom. It is the driving force behind her wild behaviour and zany attics. Lucy longs to join her husband in show business,  yet Ricky wants her to remain home and be happy as his wife and one day to their children. Her bestfriends, Fred and Ethel are former  vaudevillians and this only feeds her desire to get on the stage. Often it is pointed out that Lucy has few performance skills that commends her as a star. She really can't sing or dance and only able to play "Glow Worm" or "Sweet Sue or play anything other than off-key renditions of songs such as "Glow Worm" or "Sweet Sue" on the sax. Though with a little work, Lucy could have given Ricky a run for his money.
And that's the wonderful thing about I Love Lucy. Yes, it was the laughs, but Lucy Ricardo never said die. She was brave enough to run after her dreams.
And brave enough to get up after she fell flat on her face and start running again.

I love Lucy: Candy Factory Video

This is one of Marty's (Heard at Starbucks) favorite's

Do I Have to Get Up?

Boker Tov:
Montaque truly loves his sleep.....

This is typical morning in the Reel House...

Monti is the last to get up...

Usually it is the scent of coffee brewing that wakes him...

But to be honest, Monti doesn't awake with a smile on his face.....

I don't even what to know what he is thinking....

On The First of May

Real Heroes don't brag.
Boker Tov (Good Morning)
A year ago today the world changed.
Mark and I were up, shutting down laptops when the news broke about the death of Bin Laden.
A son, a husband, father and grandfather.
A murder.
His death was ten years in the making, under two Presidents and the hard work of many, including our brave troops.
Under Mr. Bush's watch, the ground work was laid, the gun loaded, cocked and placed in the hands of Mr. Obama to put the rigger.
Something any President would have done.
But the real heroes of that fateful day were the Navy Seals Team Six, based in here in Virginia.

 It was they that carried out the rallied that took out Bin Laden. The real heroes are our brave men and women who are still engaged in the War of Terror.
On this, the first day of May, I say thank you to Navy Team Six and to all our troops. Thank you for your service.
Job well done.