One Step Forward…
The human body has its own time frame when it comes to recuperation and it doesn’t take kindly to being rushed.
After a very energetic service on Friday evening, the headache and backache reappeared. Over the course of the weekend, my neck began to stiffen again and I felt just awful. PC wanted me to call the doctor but I knew that she would send me to the ER and they would do an LP and it would show that I have meningitis. Which I already knew.
One of things that I really love about my doctor is that she is very responsive and is always able to fit me into her schedule. (I also love that she went to a HS with a HUGE jewish population up in Ottawa and “gets me” even though she is Vietnamese!)
Dr: So you need to be in bed and really lay low. It is the only way for you to get healthy.
FS: I’m supposed to leave for San Diego on Wednesday for Thanksgiving…
Dr; (interrupting) You won’t be doing that. You really need to be in bed and not hanging around a lot of people right now.
FS: (continuing) and I’ll be back on Friday for Shabbat.
Dr: You have a service on Friday?
FS: Actually, I have two services on Friday.
Dr: Will your father be there?
FS: Yep.
Dr: Good because you won’t. You’ll be in bed. I know that they want you back but if we don’t get you better now, you won’t be back for a long time.
Well, that was sufficient enough to scare me. I left with prescriptions (pain med, anti-nausea, etc) and headed back to my folks’ where the big kids were waiting.
How sad for them to have to stay behind…again. The doctor was really clear that being in bed did not mean resting on the couch after getting everyone ready for school, carpool, homework, etc. Nor does it mean being on the computer (thank God for my Blackberry!). So at Bubbe’s they will stay until PC takes them to San Diego on Wednesday.
So that’s my story. Thanksgiving will be spent in my bed…thankful that we have so many blessings. Meningitis is awful — but let’s put it into perspective. It’s not life-threatening. Though a bit debilitating, that is a temporary condition that will resolve itself with time, rest, and patience. I have a loving husband who is a fabulous dad to our three kids. No turkey, dressing, or pie — but lots for which to be thankful!
Weekend Reading
The Ima has put together a terrific edition of Haveil Havalim. Check it out: Haveil Havalim #192: The Thanks and Giving Edition
(www.imabima.blogspot.com)
Unexpected Kindness
When I arrived at the office on Wednesday, our executive director was quick to inform me that there was a special delivery awaiting me in the refrigerator. “How nice,” I thought, “one of our congregants must have sent flowers to welcome me back after my illness.” Imagine my surprise when I discovered it was from one of my blogger peeps. And, even better, it was one of those AWESOME fruit sculptures from Edible Arrangements.
For two days, I have been unable to get this thoughtful gesture out of my mind. It was so caring. And nothing I would have ever anticipated. Which made it all more sweeter.
(Don’t want to embarass her so I’ll wait to see if she lets me tell you her identity. At the very least, I can send some traffic her way!)
A zisen Shabbos!!! (A sweet Shabbat!!!)
A Clean Bill of Health
After nearly two months on the disabled list, PC has been given the all-clear to return to work. Of course, he’s not certain if he can resume all activities. Apparently PC never took the class that covered “Questions to Ask the Doctor.”.
She’ll be returning our phone call later today 🙂
Baby Steps
I have started to emerge from the fog that is meningitis. Most of the pain is gone, though my back is still a bit sore. I tire so easily and am not quite as sharp as I usually am. My doctor assures me that exhaustion, back pain, and mental dullness is all normal. And temporary.
I have started back at work in a limited capacity. This will enable me to have the energy needed for emergent situations. For example, we have had a death in our shul and the fact that I am ill is of no consequence. The bereaved family has the right to expect that their rabbi will be present in their time of need.
So in-between the most critical obligations, I sleep and do my best to shake this darn thing!
And be back with more thoughts from Frume Sarah’s World. .
Two Words
Spinal meningitis.
I’ll have more to say when I am feeling better — may that day come soon.
For the Record
My posts are, unless otherwise noted, real events with no embellishment. Sometimes there is simplification in order to streamline the story. But otherwise, they are snippets of life as lived by Frume Sarah. Snippets. Glimpses. And not necessarily the entire story. In fact, rarely the entire story.
So yes, the post about the woman looking for the mezzuzah is 100% factual. For reasons of simplification, I omitted the fact that there were not one but two rabbis in the study. I also omitted the age of the woman and the brief words we exchanged where she made it clear that she had no connection with Judaism other than a few culinary favourites. No matter how persistent I was.
Speechless…
A woman walks into a rabbi’s study.
“Is this this gift shop?”
No, says the Rabbi.
“I’m looking for the gift shop. I need a mezzuzah….”
The rabbi rises to help show the woman to the shop.
“…for my non-Jewish friend.”
The rabbi sits down.
“You see, my friend has this dog.”
[Now that would just beat all — a mezzuzah for the dog-house of the non-Jewish friend. But not so fast…]
“And this dog is very ill-behaved. I heard a story on the radio about making a loud noise to help with behaviour modification for the dog and of course I immediatly thought of a mezzuzah.”
The rabbi blinks a few times.
A mezzuzah??
“Oh I mean that thing that you swing around…”
Ah, a grogger. You mean a grogger. It’s a little off-season so I don’t know if our gift shop has any in stock…
“Off-season?!? But it’s coming right up!”
No. It’s about 6 months away.
“Six months away? That’s not right,” says the woman, “it’s in 3 months. In December.”
That would be Chanukah.
“Oh,” she chuckles, “you must think I am a very bad Jew.”
A sachen vei! (A great deal of woe!)
*You’d think that Job Had Nothing on You.
As if PC’s medical crisis wasn’t enough, Peach has been home ill with an NSV — non-specified virus. Poor baby.
Oh, and the kids had a playdate with friends who just got diagnosed with lice.
Terrific.
Moadim l’simcha!
*lyric from the song “All for the Best” from Stephen Schwartz’s Godspell.
Music to my Ears
The kidlets have always listened to music at night. Or, should I say, all night. Yep. Thank God for the repeat button.
For about 5 years, it was the SAME song. All night long. Curse those Wiggles.
Anyway, Beernut has loosened up a bit in the music department. And after I hit the “play” button last night, Beernut says “Hm…I don’t really feel like Mozart tonight.”
How did you know it was Mozart, Sweetie.
“Oh Mom,” rolling his eyes, “it sounds like Mozart. Can’t you tell?”
Well yes I can. I just didn’t know that my EIGHT-YEAR OLD could tell.
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 