Finally, Some Pool Time

Unlike other years, we didn't take pool membership this year.  I'm the one who goes the most; last year I averaged four to five times a week, even though some were barely "dips" of fifteen minutes.  I'd rush to be there the moment it opened and then rush to work, a bit late but feeling so great, refreshed and energetic.

But this year the pool opening was postponed due to major renovations, more like rebuilding.  The Health Ministry had so changed the required safety and health standards that there was no way the pool could just be "repaired."  It took months of expensive work, but luckily I'm not the owner, so I just observed.

And then, before it opened, my mother passed away, and my pleasurable visits to the pool were forbidden during shloshim, the thirty days after burial.  That cut a huge chunk out of our repair-shortened season.

In addition, my trips to the states, to see my parents and then for my mother's funeral had cut down on my income, which is calculated to the minute, from personal identity-sign-in until the machine recognizes my finger when I sign out.

I've only been to the pool three times, and I'm careful about how I photograph it to respect the modesty of my neighbors.  We're not on display, like in other pools.

The pool at the Shalom Hotel as viewed from the terrace of the senior citizens home.

G-d willing, I'll be able to get to the pool more next year and enjoy the health benefits and slimmer figure...

Never Too Late, Forgiveness and Comfort

Yesterday was Tisha B'Av, the ninth of the Jewish Month of Av, a day full of tragedy in Jewish History.  Our sages tell us that the Second Temple was destroyed because of sins between people, holding grudges and taking out revenge.

My mother passed away just a month ago, and I'm finishing off an extended* shloshim, the thirty days from burial, a period of time in which the mourner is required to restrict oneself from pleasures, such as luxuriating in a bathtub, wearing new clothes, cutting hair, manicures/pedicures, listening to music, going to social events etc.  For most mourners, that is those who are mourning a spouse, sibling or child, the official mourning ends with the shloshim, but for a parent it lasts a full twelve months (according to the Jewish Calendar.)  The additional months are less restrictive; the hygienic acts of bathing/swimming, haircutting, manicures/pedicures are allowed.

Jewish Law requires a mourner to be comforted all during that mourning period, even after the seven day shiva has ended.  My shiva for my mother was international.  I began it immediately after the funeral in Long Island, NY, at my cousin's home, then I was in Westchester, NY at my sister-in-law's, then to JFK International Airport where people who realized I was in "shiva mode" with ripped shirt and slippers, said the traditional words of comfort and then I flew home to Shiloh where I completed the shiva.  Obviously I didn't have too long a time in any one place.

I can probably list almost everyone who did manage to visit or call during the shiva. That's bad.  It means that I have wondered why some people hadn't.  Their absence wasn't lost on me.  In some cases, I was (even am) very upset and surprised.  But then one by one, I have gotten calls, or people have stopped me in the street apologizing effusively for missing the shiva.  Last night one neighbor came over, not wanting to take a short-cut in comforting me.  It's a good thing we haven't yet rehung the pictures nor put away all the photo albums.

Of that list of people, almost everyone has since spoken to me.  There are still a couple whose absence really hurts.  I was planning on letting it fester, but then inspired by a wonderful blog post by my friend Ruti, I realized that it would be a terrible mistake.

None of us are perfect.  I'm sure I have unintentionally and inadvertently hurt or offended many.  If I decide to forgive those who have hurt me, there's a chance that I, too, will be forgiven.  It's never too late to forgive and comfort, but don't procrastinate any more.

* My shloshim for my mother is longer than thirty days, because the funeral was four days after her death, and we count it from the funeral, not the day of death.

my mother with a great-granddaughter