Haibun
The Pantry
The pantry is long
and dark and musty. There are cupboards on each side. As a
little girl, I was afraid to go in. Were there mice in the
cupboards?
Every Jewish New Year, I think of my sister Ida. As the eldest
of five girls, Ida took over the motherly duties. I see her
standing in front of the window at the end of the pantry. On the
counter is a large pot and the traditional round New Year
challah (bread).
Sun from the window
streams over her shoulder.
While the adults
fast, the children are allowed to break the
fast at two o'clock. Ida is making chicken sandwiches from
chicken
in the big pot and the challah. Across from our temple is Forest
Park. It is a very beautiful and wondrous place. We children
would go to the park where we would have our sandwiches and wait
for the end of the holiday at sundown.
A light in the
dark...my sister Ida
An Ordinary Day
Sometimes an
ordinary day can become an extraordinary day. I do not see my
daughter as often as I wish. She is a busy lawyer in Los Angeles
and I am retired and living in Florida.
On one visit there, we decided to go shopping. Such great fun!
She helped me in the dressing room and on her turn, I helped
her. We were walking through the crowded mall when Jayne turned
to me"
"Mom I have a surprise for you."
In the tea shop. the shelves were stocked with tins of tea,
unusual tea pots and such. But when we walked through to the
back, we were transported into another era. An old fashioned
English Tea Room. The walls were mauve and pink The waitresses
wore long black dresses, small white aprons, a cap with frills
and even white gloves.
While sipping tea with finger sandwiches, we sat and reminisced.
Time stood still.
A day to cherish.
my future
in the bottom of a cup
green tea leaves
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