It seems quite strange to post this month in review now. A month is a long time, and I did not foresee that I would close this one out with my grandmother’s passing. But I had jotted down notes for myself on what happened throughout the month, and here is a catch-all (catch-most?) post:
In early September, I checked off two items on my fall fun list: went apple picking with a friend, and stocked up on cheap notebooks at Staples.
Very last minute (the night before the class was to begin) I got recruited to teach a psychology course again. I finally folded (after saying I would NOT be teaching this semester) because it was a weeknight class so I could keep my fall weekends. I think this was the right choice after all — most of the prep is done from previous semesters and at the end of the day…I really enjoy teaching.
I watched Field of Dreams (from my summer list) — loved this — and the animated Beauty and the Beast because it is set in the place my cousin and I are be”H visiting shortly — Alsace, France!
On Labor Day (wow, this really was a million years ago), I had another orange cream custard from Rita’s as my farewell to summer.
I had a dentist appointment one day in Lower Manhattan, and got there early enough (via the Oculus) to detour to the 9/11 Memorial first. I had visited last year at this time of year and wanted to see if it could work to do it again and thankfully it did.
I printed pictures (300! including South of France, Yorkshire, assorted summer fun, and the aforementioned highlights reel) which was such a joy, because I wanted to look at them with my grandmother over YT. We did get to look at a few lavender fields pictures together.
I spent Rosh Hashanah in Montreal and Yom Kippur at home. I had written this post before YK; I can say that it was helpful, and perhaps I will write a follow-up next year about what shifted for me. (Not to leave you in suspense or anything, it just feels premature to reflect on it).
The day after Yom Kippur, I went to work in the city. During my lunch break, I ran into my cousins (married couple with baby) who were in the city on an errand — they were eating lunch at the same time/place as me and we unexpectedly got to have a meal together, which was so nice. It was also the second day of the UN General Assembly when President Trump was in the city, so the sidewalks in my neighborhood (midtown east) were chaotic as there were police officers and barricades everywhere and I kept getting rerouted until I could convince an officer to let me through to my office building. When I got back to the building, I ran into one of my journaling clients in the elevator! We had never met in person, she is not from Manhattan but had an appointment in my office building on another floor and we just happened to enter the elevator at exactly the same time. Grateful for the detours that delayed me enough to meet her. When I left the building again at 7 that night, there was a “freeze” outside — no one was allowed to go anywhere until the presidential motorcade passed. This was actually pretty exciting — it went by after about 20 minutes and there were so. many. vehicles. Love a motorcade! So, that was quite a day in the middle of everything!
I spent first days of Succos at home. My brother and sister-in-law and kids were with us – it was relatively quiet! I read The Wheel on the School, Happy Habits, and The Lincoln Highway.
I worked the first day of Chol Hamoed Succos. I had a free ticket to a Yankees playoffs game on another night Chol Hamoed, which was pretty wild, except I ended up giving it back because other things happened.
On Tuesday night, after spending the day canceling and rescheduling work things, and packing, I went to Montreal with my brother and sister (other family members went in various other cars and by plane, depending on where they were). Wednesday, the last day of September, was my grandmother a”h’s levaya. I am not writing much detail, but this day was very painful and very beautiful – there was so much love all around.
I spent the rest of YT in Montreal with my parents and most of my mother’s siblings, many cousins, and extended relatives. People were incredibly caring and delivered quantities of YT food for the extended family. I was put up at my aunt’s neighbor for six nights, it was a lovely accommodation and I am so grateful.
I will pick up with more detail about the rest of YT in October’s month-in-review beH. Everything is still kind of a lot, as you can imagine, but I have so much to be grateful for and I really feel that. Thank you so much for reading.
(Photo credit: Julia Filirovska/Pexels)
