A Half-Dozen Healys

Making latkes for Hanukkah is one of those things I have to gear myself up for. I know the end result will be great, but I have to get in the mood to make a big mess and smell like oil for the rest of the day. A Hanukkah apron helps.

We had a tree in our front yard. It provided shade and shelter and sustenance.

My brother built a swing and attached it to a branch of this tree, for my children.

"But the wood is tired and the wood is old And we'll make it fine if the weather holds"

When Evan was maybe four years old, we were at the Shelburne Falls Trolley Museum. I took Evan to the restroom, and he noticed that there was a framed train puzzle on the wall. Evan always loved trains, and he would often point out train pictures wherever he would see them. He thought it would be great if we could frame a train puzzle and put it on the wall of his bedroom. Life intervened, and we didn’t get to it right away. However, we did get to it. I got Evan a 100 piece puzzle; we completed it, framed it, and hung it on his bedroom wall.

Autumn brings many holidays, both religious and secular. Yom Kippur, Columbus Day, Sukkot, Simchat Torah, Halloween, Veteran’s Day. Approaching the Winter Solstice.

Autumn is my favorite season. Also known as fall. Are we falling? In a good way, I think. Falling into our yearly traditions: apples, pumpkins, harvest, shelter, remembrance, costumes. Falling into coziness and home.

Our little blog has been neglected for the past year. I love looking back on what we’ve written; I remember snapshots of family life as they happened…Seth learning to use his little slide…Evan falling asleep for the first time in his big boy bed…Nora and Maya being born healthy and strong.

The boys just had their yearly recital at Suffield Music. This was Evan's first time, as he's been playing for just under a year. They both have Dan as their teacher, and he's really been great with trying to teach them about technique while also picking songs that the boys are interested in.

Dear Evan,

Tomorrow you will be seven. Each year, you grow and change. You surprise me with new skills and characteristics. Some of your sharp edges get smoothed out by the tides. You can tolerate more frustration; your sense of humor continues to develop.

As I did for your siblings, I’ve written you a haiku for your birthday:

Evan, age 7

My rabbi talks about the concept of Hineini at High Holiday services. In Hebrew, Hineini translates into “here I am.” Rabbi Lefkowitz takes it one step further, and we repeat, “Hineini. Here I am. You can count on me.” We turn and repeat the phrase to our neighbors.

You might remember that my One Little Word for this year is "sweeten." As we approach the start of Rosh Hashanah (the Jewish New Year) this Wednesday evening, of course the word sweet is on my mind. It is traditional at this time to wish each other a sweet new year, as well as to dip apples in honey.