Good times
The famous and true saying is that man plans and God laughs. And though we believe that God is in control all the time, sometimes He does things for us — both good and bad — that let us know who is in charge. And it isn’t us. We can think there are things that we can control, but in reality, it isn’t true.
For three weeks I had the privilege and pleasure of hosting my Israeli cutie pies. We were at my home for some of the nights, we were in a hotel for some of the nights, and it was all wonderful. The day before their flight, I drove them out to the Island of Long. First, we went to see Matza Ball and his parents. Danish has become very fond of Son and DIL #3 because they have spent a lot of time together in Israel. As a parent, I am so grateful when my Oreos have quality bonding time.
Danish could not wait to see her aunt and the new baby. She had a balloon for them, and she was raring to go. Bringing a 2-year-old to see a new baby is not an ideal situation, but DIL #3 could not have been more gracious (and then we quickly ushered Danish out into the hallway). And it made me so, so happy when two of my Oreos took pictures together with Matza Ball who, I am assuming, is a future Oreo.
In any event, after the visit, I took the Israelis to Far Rockaway, where I was depositing them at DIL #2’s mother’s house because their flight was leaving the next day from Kennedy. We unloaded the car, and then I said my “see you soons,” and got back into the car. Danish climbed onto my lap (in the driver’s seat) told me to close the door and then started saying goodbye to her parents. I gave her back, but I wasn’t happy about it.
The first thing God did to distract me from my Israelis leaving me was to have me sit in traffic for almost two hours. Nothing like bumper-to-bumper traffic to get your mind off anything. I get home and I start going room to room to clean up the three weeks of toys and diapers and cheerios in the carpet.
And then I go down to the basement. And there was the smell. And then I opened the door to the part of the basement that houses the sewer house trap. And then I started laughing.
Nothing like the sight of floating excrement to get your mind off of pretty much anything else you have going on in your life.
And then Husband #1 informed me that the shower in our bathroom was not draining. And then I laughed again.
And then, even after changing the light bulbs in our bedroom, they started flickering again. And then I laughed again.
The good news is that I got to see my friend Pedro from Drain Doctor. I had written a column about him a few years back because he had asked me to leave my house because I was freaking out about the backed-up toilets caused by one of Son #3’s friends, who insisted on using flushable wipes even after I told him not to. All good.
Pedro and I got to catch up while he fixed the shower drain and then cleared out the sewer situation. Thank you, Pedro.
A few hours later, my favorite electrician came over to help figure out why my lights were haunted. Turns out that even though we changed the dimmers, it was the lightbulbs I was using — who knew that was even possible? All good.
Before I knew it, my Israelis were back in Israel and I started my countdown to when I will, God willing, see them again.
And as I write this, Husband #1 and I are back on the road to the Island of Long for Matza Ball’s shalom zachor. Thank you, Hashem. It’s funny because I missed Son #3’s shalom zachor because he was born on a Friday morning and I was still in the hospital.
Wishing you only simchas always.
Banji Ganchrow of Teaneck at this point can drive to the Island of Long with her eyes closed. It’s a really neat trick.
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