Darkness falls. Another winter storm is predicted..We wait...
It is the second night of Hanukah and I have stuffed my precious triangular box of Hanukah candles into the purple cotton bag that also holds my new rubber ice grippers that slip onto my shoes.
I guess I am ready for winter. I take one determined walk around the block..just as dusk is falling. There is slick ice everywhere already. I walk, hearing the click click, click of my ice grippers on the pavement. I round the corner from the alley and then another one.. I do not fall.I try out the ice grippers on Real Ice. They work, I do not fall....I keep walking..Click, click, click.
Back home we eat supper. I search for one of the many menorah's that I know must be around the house somewhere...in vain...nothing turns up.Then.... I see a clay face..it is a grimace really. I turn it over and use its hollowed out back side for our menorah.
After all, it is the perfect one. Yes, this sad face is really my sad face turned upside down....sadly sad...it is the face that watches my parents grow old..
...and yet in the light of the blue candles there is a peacefulness....a calm...we share some news of our day...my prayer wafts over the steady flames..and a feeling of brief tranquility resides....
The candles burn low in the upside down face.........then my mother worries and complains, I get crabby. My father is tired and feels very constipated...Before I leave I run all over the house looking for his laxative remedy...hoping it will work.
the little candles have burned down...my sad face remains..inwardly and outwardly..
and yet..there is the remaining sense of calm left.....a layer of spiritual light lingers as we face our problems and I go to drive home in the cold on icy streets.
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