From Afar
Cancer-free for 15 years. Praise the Lord!
Dear Neighbours,
You don’t know us, but each year, we anxiously wait for you to decorate your house for Christmas. That is because of your banner, praising God for another year free from cancer. We have counted cancer-free years with you since we moved into our house. You were only seven years free from cancer then.
This is our last year here in this house. We will always think of you this time of year and pray for your continued health and strength.
Best,
The Frummies
Shluffy Boy
He tried so hard to stay up until “bery, bery late.” He made it all the way until 10:00pm. But five minutes into his third viewing of “The Caped Crusader Caper” (The New Scooby-Doo Adventures), he was lost to the world. Fast asleep on his Mama’s bed.
Adieu, 2010.
Snapfish Snafu — The Resolution
And now…for the rest of the story.
Having shared the tale of a misdirected pillow sham cover, I was contacted by someone at Snapfish’s corporate headquarters. Which turned out to be a good thing. Because the original call I had placed to Customer Support yielded no result.
Sara-at-corporate, however, took care of the problem immediately. Most importantly, she offered a sincere apology. If nothing else, saying “I’m sorry this has happened” and “let me see what I can do to fix it” go a long way.
Sara-from-corporate said that and so much more. She told me that a new sham cover was on its way AND I was given a full refund for BOTH items.
Which didn’t seem right. But when I questioned this, and suggested that the refund ought to be for the problem item alone, Sara-from-corporate brushed aside the idea, saying “I don’t think you should have to pay for something that we didn’t deliver on time.”
One day later, a new sham cover appeared. In fact, both items from my original order were overnighted to me.
Whoops. What happened to Peach?
This is NOT how it was supposed to look. The online proof had his whole face on the sham cover.
And do you know what Sara-from-corporate did?
Credited me for a new one.
So Snapfish — you have a customer for life. You have the best customer service I have experienced in a very long time.
Thank you.
What’s Behind the Counter Now?
Prior to the legalization of the purchase of condoms by unmarried persons in 1972, one interested in buying the said prophylactic was forced to walk up to the counter of the local pharmacy and request the item in question.
In other words, condoms were behind the counter.
With the ban lifted, and the sexual revolution in –you should pardon the expression — full swing, condoms were released into the aisles, available to all those in need.
(Though recently, for shrinkage control, condoms are once again behind glass doors.)
Joining the “keep it behind the counter” movement is my local Barnes & Noble. For that is where such titles as The Cannabis Grow Bible and others of its ilk are now located.
Because if they can’t read about it…
Or maybe it’s also for shrinkage control.
Just One?
No. Not “just one,” movie ticket-taker guy. Or restaurant hostess. And no “we are not waiting for one more,” other restaurant server.
It’s me. Not “just me” or “just one.”
Sounds so marginalizing to qualify a person as “just.”
My brother had a friend whose mother would identify herself at the door or on the phone as “just so-and-so.”
Which made me feel sad for her.
When God creates, there is no “just.”
Necessary Solitude
Just a couple of days. With nothing to do except what I want to do. Or, as in the case of sleep, need to do. By myself. Responsible for no one. No one else, that is.
Retreat. Turn inward. And emerge rested. And renewed.
Starting…in twelve hours.
Sibling Love
Tough ride home tonight, you two??
FrumeSarah: What movies do you think you kids want to watch on New Year’s?
Poppyseed: How about “Be Quiet, Peach,” followed by “Why Can’t You Just Leave Me Alone?”
When things get a bit strained,
remember the good times.
(And, for the record, it was all I could do to control myself when she said this.)
Cultural Misunderstanding
So last week, a good friend invited us to her home for Christmas dinner. We were really touched by the invitation to share in the holiday observance with our friend and her family. However, since Christmas began on Friday evening, we reluctantly sent our regrets, explaining that we’d be with family for Shabbat dinner.
Only to discover that when my friend said “Christmas,” she actually meant Christmas day. PC and I had assumed that the big dinner would be on erev Christmas.
Silly us.
Net-net: A very enjoyable après-dinner evening filled with good conversation, fabulous music, and delicious pie.
Same Old Story
It’s happened before. The public defamation of Jews.
But in Seattle??
An organization, known as the Seattle Mideast Awareness Campaign, paid $1,800 to place the following ad on twelve Metro Transit buses in Seattle:
A visit to their website encourages folks to pressure the United States to end its financing of the “apartheid state,” “war crimes,” “ethnic cleansing,” etc.
No mention on the site of the suicide bombings, continued shelling of citizens in Sderot, kidnapping/murdering of Israeli soldiers, etc.
Apparently, Metro Transit was taken aback by the public response and has now reconsidered their decision. A move that was prompted by some counter-ads that were submitted, causing Metro Transit to hastily change its advert policy.
It goes without saying that the Zionist lobby is being held responsible for clamping down on the free speech of the Awareness group…
{sigh…}
You Too
Nope. Not that one.
“You too” as in:
Salesperson: Merry Christmas
{pause}
FrumeSarah: You too.
The {pause} is the time necessary for me to consider which response I ought to give. Possible options:
(a) “Thanks”
(b) “Happy New Year”
(c) “I don’t celebrate Christmas, but thanks for the kind wishes”
(d) “Happy Chanukah”
(e) “You too”
Not one of these options feels entirely comfortable. “Thanks” by itself shows gratitude but does not extend any holiday wishes to the other person. “Happy New Year” deftly sidesteps the whole Christmas thing, but what if the person doesn’t observe the secular New Year? “I don’t celebrate…” starts a whole conversation that might be very educational, but is not always worth the effort. Plus, it isn’t worth shaming the person. “Happy Chanukah” makes no sense after the holiday has come and gone. Also, it’s a bit antagonistic. And “You too” can be a problem if the salesperson (or whomever) is not him-or-herself Christmas-observant.
I’m guessing that folks who are not a part of a religious minority don’t have this problem…
Frume Sarah is Shabbos-observant -- in a Reform way, that is. Please note that from Friday afternoons until one hour after sundown on Saturday evenings, Frume Sarah will be unavailable, in observance of the Jewish Sabbath.
Comments made during this time will be held in a queue, to be moderated afterwards.
Thank you for your understanding...and gut Shabbos!!! 
Frume Sarah's World 