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October 03, 2005
Seraphic New Year
Yesterday, Karen took Offspring #3 to Loehmann's. While in the dressing room they called Offspring #2 who was, at that very moment, telepathically, in the NY branch of Loehmann's. Totally unplanned, mind you. So when my girlses (not a mistake) shop it's a communal affair with lots of give and take and laughter. It's a joy for me, a male, to watch female society up close and personal.
We miss Ariel terribly. It's hard to believe that this is the third Rosh Hashanah without him. It's even harder to believe that we will spend the rest of our lives without him. Sometimes I look up and expect him to just walk through the door and say hello. I expect it because, well, it's enough already, this death thing, it's just gone on long enough. Hasn't it?
Karen and I want to take this opportunity to wish all our readers a happy and a healthy New Year. We thank you all for your generosity, for your kindness and for your infinite wisdom.
After the Holidays, we will continue with the How I Married Karen series.
Posted by Robert J. Avrech at October 3, 2005 02:21 PM
Comments
Seraphic Secret is private property, that's right, it's an extension of our home, and as such, Karen and I have instituted two Seraphic Rules and we ask commentors to act respectfully.
1. No profanity.2. No Israel bashing. We debate, we discuss, we are respectful. You know what Israel bashing is. The world is full of it. Seraphic Secret is one of the few places in the world that will not tolerate this form of anti-Semitism. That's it. Break either of these rules and you will be banned.
As long as Ariel lives in your hearts...he is still very much alive!
Shana Tova!
Posted by: Huntress at October 3, 2005 05:08 PM
Robert and Karen, I lost my dear sister, Pam, on Easter Sunday, 2004. I know just what you mean, I've dealt with this death thing so its time Pam comes home and we get on with life. How wonderful our Lord is to give us our loved ones to hold dear in our hearts. Continue to be blessed in Him. Suz
Posted by: Suz at October 3, 2005 05:42 PM
"Huntress" is right! Ariel will always be with us
because he permeates our thoughts.... especially at times of Yom Toven....he is with me.....he is with
all of you.......I would lose my way without him!
T.P.
Posted by: T.P. at October 4, 2005 04:48 PM
Shana Tova,
Yom Tov has been out in Toronto for a good hour and a half, and of course, I'm back checking blogs...
Just wanted you and Karen to know that I sat in shul yesterday and today, and aside from thinking about my own family, my parents, my siblings and their families, as I listened to the shofar blowing and hoping that we'd all be around again next year to hear shofar, I thought about your family... And Sara's... And Glen's... And Elie's ... And Alan's -- and the losses you've suffered, and how your chagim are marked by an infinite sorrow. And I hoped that your children are in a better place, free from pain and suffering, looking down on you and helping guide you from day to day, year to year, yom tov to yom tov...
Posted by: Pearl at October 5, 2005 05:57 PM
A happy, sweet new year to Robert and Karen and to all your readers. And thanks to Pearl for the kind words. May we all know no more sorrow in the coming year.
Posted by: Elie at October 6, 2005 09:18 AM
Shana Tova. May it be a great New Year for all of us.
Posted by: Jack at October 6, 2005 10:52 AM
Your comment about expecting Ariel obm to walk through the door struck a chord with me.
I have a cousin who was killed in an auto accident several years ago. I sometimes still cannot believe it. Whenever I visit my aunt, I expect to see him walking through the door with an impish grin on his face.
I cannot imagine what my uncle and aunt have gone through; likewise with you and Karen. I am so sorry for your losses.
Posted by: Tamara at October 6, 2005 11:25 AM
Gmar Chatimah Tovah
May you be blessed in every way
Do you ever come to NY?
Posted by: rabbi neil fleischmann at October 6, 2005 12:26 PM
Karen and I would like to thank all of you for your kind and generous comments. It is odd, but here in cyberspace among Seraphic Secret readers, I feel most able to vent my bottomless grief. Here there is a measure of comfort.
Posted by: Robert at October 6, 2005 12:45 PM
Robert, while I watched the hills burning behind my house last week, I thought about what I would take if we had to evacuate. All that mattered were the pictures. (of course, my husband, children, dog and parrot go without saying). Pictures are irreplaceable. As I read your entry, I thought about how pictures and memories are what you still have of Ariel. I remember people saying to me, "you have your memories of your father, he lives in your heart...that will keep him alive". I always cringed at that comment...because, as you say...you wait for him to walk through the door...then you will know he is alive...So it seems the pictures and memories, after all, are the way we know that someone we love, someone we know was here, who touched and changed our heart and mind...is still apart of us.
I am sorry for the pain you and Karen feel. Wishing you some sweetness in the coming new year.
Posted by: randi at October 6, 2005 01:30 PM
Shana Tovah to you and Karen. My heart goes out to you both over the grief you will always feel. Hopefully there is some comfort in knowing... from what I've read since I started reading your blog... that Ariel touched more people in his short life than most people could ever hope to over a long lifetime.
Posted by: Esther at October 8, 2005 08:59 PM
Esther:
It is true that during Ariel's brief life he touched many lives.We do take some measure of comfort from this. Yet, it never seems to be quite enough. Nothing does.
Posted by: Robert at October 9, 2005 12:18 PM
May you have a Gmar Chasima Tova. I look forward to your continued posts.
Posted by: hmmm at October 9, 2005 04:37 PM
Hmmm:
Thanks so much. The same to you and your family.
Posted by: Robert Avrech at October 9, 2005 08:57 PM