So our dear friends Rabbi Yossi and Nechama invited Wifey and me for Friday night dinner. It had been quite awhile, and we were able, and so attended. What a lovely evening.
Their oldest lives in Brickell, and next in line is married and living on Miami Beach with her 2 kids. There are 9 kids in total -- the second oldest son is marrying in 2 weeks -- we plan to attend -- and there were only 2 of the kids home last night, including the adorable youngest, a 9 year old girl. I asked Yossi is she was the youngest -- "So far," he answered, but since Nechama is not biblical Sarah, I'm pretty sure they've switched to the grandchild business now.
Stu and his family were also invited, and I got a chance to catch up with Val, who is 20 and started an APP, which now has 750K users. He's a terrific young man -- decided to skip out on college to do his tech career, and it's working out just fine. Ava is a high school senior who has truly blossomed into a sweet young woman -- she's awaiting news from local schools, but already has SEC acceptances -- to Alabama and Ole Miss. I joked that she got in as a minority applicant for being Jewish. Stu's wife proudly reported she is now 2 years sober, and we all applauded her. That's a long, tough road.
Our old friend Jane was there -- hadn't seen her in years. Her girls are the Ds age, and one is married and the other engaged -- both living in the 305. Jane divorced in her later 30s and went back to school at 40 -- she's an accupuncturist now -- she got the point! I never tire of saying that. Jane gets tired of my saying it -- but it was a lovely back to the future time -- catching up with old friends who met when kids were preschool and are now in their 30s.
Speaking of which, another young man attended -- Daniel. His older sister was in D1's Bat Mitzvah Club. He told a remarkable life path story. He graduated Columbia with an English degree, and moved to San Francisco to become an artist, and to undergo a transformation. I was tempted to ask if that meant changing from a Dolphins fan to 49ers, but kept quiet. Indeed he lived as a woman, but realized he wanted to transition back. He returned to Miami, and of all places, ran into Rabbi Yossi on MetroRail, which Yossi rarely takes. Now he's back into the fold, and attending services.
He spoke openly of his challenges, and one might think he would be rejected by the frum folks. One would be wrong -- he is welcomed, and learning Torah. Yossi said a special prayer for him.
Nechama explained about the new Friendship Circle, under construction, and how it has helped hundreds of special needs kids. Tracy asked how many, and Yossi told a tale.
A cop in SF, coincidentally, investigated all of the suicides off the Golden Gate Bridge. In one, he found a note from a jumper: "If you're reading this, it means from the time I walked from my apartment to the bridge, NO ONE said hello or acknowledged me -- proving I'm invisible." The point was if a single person had spoken to that desperate person, a life may have been saved -- so the answer is that if even ONE child is helped, the endeavor is according to the Big Man's plan.
We toasted with the Stoli Elit and Johnny Walker Black Stu and I brought. We ate. And we experienced the beauty of shabbos, which is no social media, or electronics -- just family and friends gathered to pray, reflect, and enjoy each other's company.
I bragged about Wifey's passion -- a FaceBook page about film noir, and the many wonderful comments she gets, including those from people thanking her for brightening dark times in their lives with vintage photos or amazing facts about the movies and actors. Yossi and Nechama said that was exactly the point of the week's Torah portion -- about Joseph -- and how he brightened the lives of others despite deprivation to himself. Luckily, Wifey is an only child so no siblings sold her into slavery -- but she has challenges and demons to slay like everyone else.
Meanwhile, the gorgeous Miami winter weather is back, and we're off this afternoon to the Children's Museum on Watson Island to meet the Ds and grandsons. The venue reminds me of when the Goodyear blimp lived there, along with the Chalks Airlines seaplanes. The Museum is awesome for little kids -- we've been before.
When D1 beats her retreat, we're seeing Lili and Jeff, who live 4 houses away but somehow we rarely socialize with. We'll make up for that this evening.
So last night was reflective and relaxing and thoughtful. Just like shabbos ought to be.
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