Passover Light

 Yummy beef brisket, charoset, bitter herbs, matzohs and a short, revised version of the Seder ceremony over at Doug and Barb's Wednesday night. They had recently returned from a good vacation and had no time to prepare for the REAL event which we have all enjoyed over the years. And we missed Chef Sarah's matzoh ball soup. We toasted my Bill and prayed that Netanyahu be replaced with someone who wants to promote peace over there. And of course for the return of the hostages, if possible. L'Chain. To Life.

Passover Light

 A lovely little Seder celebration with Doug, Barb, son Danny and grandson Desmond last night including wonderful food, memories and laughter. I was grateful to be included and yes, I ate too much. 

my busy all good Friday

 From the bottom: lunch with Reverend Rich Carlini and his half sister (!) Carol and a couple of other friends. Miss Puma observed the proceedings. Back/forth to Walnut Creek via BART and not a moment to relax when I arrived home to make Bill's famous white sauce for Passover last night at Doug and Barb's. Just the three of us to remember the old times and those who are no longer with us. Delicious brisket and all the trimmings and now I'm ready to leave the social ramble for a few solo days.

solo seder celebration

Doug and Barb delivered a lovely brisket dinner (along with a box of
Matzos) to me yesterday so I could join with others to celebrate
Passover. It was really not a great day to be alone, but the food was
delicious and today is a new day and I feel fine. I don't cry much
anymore, but yesterday was an exception. I really missed Husbando
and all the memories sort of collided and that's okay ~ "every
tear has meaning," my friend Eddie said when he called during
my Kleenex® time. Today is a new day ~ onward to Jerusalem.
Or maybe Safeway?

post Passover full moon celebration

There were twelve of us last night and lots of laughter, of course. I
missed my partner, but I survived and enjoyed myself. The celebration
was later than usual because Doug recently lost his mother and was
still grieving back in April. Delicious food, too, as always. We
weren't allowed to discuss the basketball game, but I checked the
score and kept quiet. We won. Marsha was my date last night and
she always impresses everyone. Doug truncated the ceremony and
Bill would have appreciated that.

holiday gratitude

Such a warm and happy gathering yesterday. Way too much food: ham,
sweet potatoes, scalloped potatoes, broccoli, fruit salad, fried chicken,
corn muffins fresh out of the oven (thanks, Barb) and then angel food
cake with berry compote for dessert. But the conversation and laughter
was what keeps me smiling this morning as I do the who-said-what
stuff this morning. Husbando would have approved.

passover memories

Passover 2015

Passover 2013 

This blog makes it too easy to go back in time to relive experiences and
although the memories are sweet, I sometimes feel biter like the herbs
of the seder ceremony. (Well, not bitter, but sad. I just wanted to throw in
the bitter herb line.) Today I'm having eight dear friends in to celebrate
Passsover and Easter and there will be laughter and joy and just a few
tears, as per usual. Annabelle will spend some quality time down in Bill's
office until things settle and then she will come upstairs to the usual
ooooohs and ahhhhhs as she searches for food. I might wear Bill's brown
beret today, or not...

yesterday = almost perfect

from the cast of Hamilton

the beautiful passover table

Opening Day and we won! The only worry is that our team leader
Buster Posey was hit in the head with a fast ball. I planted myself
in front of the TV and praised the game of baseball all afternoon.

Last night was another spectacular seder dinner at the Great
Plotniks. It felt good to laugh and get the Jews out of Egypt one
more time. So nice to gather with these friends once again.

glorious passover 2015

the setting

a Jewish man and his wife

sam and sarah

the host and hostess - note matzoh apron

Many laughs, good conversation and delicious food. Sounds like the
Great Plotniks, doesn't it? Barb and Doug go all out and it was even
better (we thought) than the eight previous years. It was a truly fine
evening of symbolism (egg, lamb bone, parsley) and the story of the
Jews escaping oppression in Egypt - we never tire of that one.

another special Seder

I meant to get a photo of Doug and Barb's daughter, Bron, who joined us
this year, but I got too involved with the Jews and the Egyptians, not to
mention all the delicious food. Above we have Bron's friend Lilly, then
Sam and Chef Sarah. Another new addition is the orange which we learned
represents WOMEN rabbis. It was good gathering together again and I
know how much work is involved and we are grateful to be included in
this festive event every year.

scenes from Passover 2013

It was a glorious evening with wonderful friends and lots of joy. I swear I
learn something new about the rich history of the Jews every Passover. Oh,
and the food was scrumptious!

celebrating traditions

I learn new things at every lovely Passover dinner at the Plotniks.
Last night it was the fact that Maxwell House published a Hagaddah
book at one time in order to switch Jews from tea to coffee after
the dinner. From our dentist friend we heard about "meth mouth"
and we had a little heated discussion about the ex-sheriff of SF who
has to prove his innocence over domestic violence charges. "Only
in San Francisco" is the one thing we all really agreed upon here.

The food was fabulous, of course, and as you can see, the table
sparkled. We didn't get home until after 11pm, so I'm a tad tired
today, but thankful as always for our delightful friends and the
religion of Husbando. Tomorrow we'll celebrate my heritage with
a ham from Costco and maybe a bagel or two, just for the heck of it.

tonight with Elijah?

We are looking forward to the grand brisket gathering over at the
Great Plotniks. The world's best Matzoh ball soup, the ceremony,
haroset, bitter herbs, lamb bone, my salad, Husbando's now-
famous white sauce, asparagus, macaroons for dessert. The world's
worst wine so I'm glad I don't drink. The hosts usually provide us
with fake O'Doul's amber beer, so just in case they need one more
thing to do today, this is a handy reminder list. Starts at sundown,
just as in the days of yore...

And I'll have to bounce up to check my phone app because it's the
first game of our Giants baseball season. Just as in the days of yore...

another sweet seder

We gathered again at The Great Plotniks' home last night to
celebrate the Jews escape from Egypt. Interesting how since
last year it takes on a whole new meaning with the many
people and countries struggling for their own freedom.
There was lots of laughter and waaaaaaaaay too much
delicious food and it was great seeing the guests from the
past 6 or so years. The message is always welcome and
here is a poem about freedom that I think you'll enjoy.

---

Julia Hartwig, born in Poland in 1921. Yet We Desire It above All Freedom does not mean happiness right away the free world hides more traps than tyranny mastiffs let loose from chains passions exceeding the horizon steps entangled in the ropes of old bonds that try to pull tight again Freedom both for scoundrels and those who sacrificed themselves for it freedom for those who feel as pure as a diamond and want to cut deeply surrendering passionately to a new slavery—of hatred from which the earth cracks like under dynamite changing the course of rivers

seder 2010

the leaders

the beautiful Chef P

the wine (sideways and much maligned)

the famous plate filled with bitter herbs, lamb bone, etc.

We had another perfectly delightful Passover dinner last night and
I do believe the food gets better every year. Even the Matzohs tasted
fresh and, of course, the guests and hosts always make it so terrific.
I never tire of hearing about Freedom and all the Jewish symbols and memories. Thank you Great Plotniks for such a special evening.

twelve plus elijah

Passover is a lot of work ~ thanks Ms. and Mr. Plotnik!

Maniechevitz wine, the passover plate, Haggadah books and a yamaka

Every year gets even better at the GREAT Plotniks' passover dinner.
Last night we had a surprise visit from Elliot/Elijah, who now lives in
North Carolina and has been with us for the past two celebrations.
There was so much good food (beef brisket had the starring role) and
by now we feel like we know Pippa, Steve and Lois too.

I had a thought while reading about the unleavened bread last night.
No, it wasn't gratitude that the stores actually had matzohs this year,
I contemplated how so many Jews (husbando included) are genuinely
concerned with freedom and human rights around the world. Perhaps
this has to do with the yearly reading of the plight of their people
escaping slavery so long ago and being admonished time and time
again that if one group of people is enslaved, no one is free. No one.

A truly delightful evening, thanks again to the hosts.