A Coming of Age

You begin the process of studying and preparing and you know it is years in the making – but you forge ahead.  It’s what you are supposed to do.  Sure, you complain a little here and there but ultimately you know it’s important.  Why?  Because your parents expect you to do so – Because your whole family has done this – Because you’ve promised your rabbi your commitment – and then, somewhere along the way…

Because it truly means something to YOU.

I’m not sure we will ever find all the words to express just how proud we are of our son’s accomplishments in becoming a Bar Mitzvah this year.  It showed dedication, strength of character, thirst for knowledge, and belief in something bigger than himself.  He held steadfast in the challenge and he soared!  Just as intended, he has grown so very much from the experience.  He put his heart and soul into the process, and through this rite of passage, he has developed into an amazing young man.

Our hearts swell seeing who he has become over the past 13 years and we look so forward to watching all that he will become – I’m sure it will be quite the journey!

Mazel Tov Ethan!

Many thanks to Amy Stern Photography for capturing his special day!

Forever Young

I just celebrated another birthday (along with the Hubs).  I don't typically think very much about getting older, I guess because I still feel so young in my own mind.  Hmmm, that thought process may be a little flawed...

My 20's were a fun-filled decade of discovery and independence.  My 30's were an exciting decade of life changes and parenthood.  So I just viewed rolling into my 40's as an embarkation on many more adventures to come.  I am now quite settled into my adventurous 40's decade and my oldest is on the brink of being a teenager - yikes!  So this year, I have been feeling a little melancholy about how quickly the years are rolling by, how life has changed over the past 13 years, and how I sometimes long to actually be "cool" again (not just in my mind).

I remember the days of a lighter level of responsibility.  The days of happy hours after a 50+ hour workweek, never eating dinner before 8pm, impromptu BYOB ping-pong tournaments in our basement, staying awake through Letterman, and simply dancing the night away.  In my mind, the dancefloor is still just waiting for me to step onto it with my moves and grooves.  But let's admit, what really happens now is that my grooves translate into sore moves as I tackle the loads of laundry the next day.

Thankfully, my sister helped snap me out of my melancholy mood when she sent me the link to this video.  Man, did it make me smile!  Give it a view - you may just be able to relate too :).





And in my heart you'll always stay, forever young. -Rod Stewart