Tag: Community

Respecting the Distance

On By thestampsinmypassportIn Uncategorized2 Comments

For those of you who follow me on Facebook and Instagram you know that just over a week ago I had a very traumatic experience at Walmart. It was the weekend of hoarding and panic buying. It really sparked a level of anxiety I don’t think I have ever experienced before. I know I am not the only one who felt (feels) that way.

The start of my work week was much like the week before. I went to the office and it was all hands on deck. Being in the travel industry, which is an ‘essential’ service, we were helping people get back to Canada, facilitating clients who had to cancel their existing bookings and be there for each other. If you know someone who is a travel professional, you may have some understanding of what this time has been like for us.

On Wednesday I finally had the go ahead to work from home. When I left the office I called my parents to ask what they needed from the store as I once I got home I would not be going out again for many days.

I went to the No Frills at Centrepointe Mall. I walked over to one of the produce staff and thanked him. He said, “what for”? I said, for make sure all the customers got what they needed. He was very vocal about the insanity from the weekend before. He really shed a light on the process. Because of all the panic buying and food hoarding, it set back the supply chain about 72 hours. They can’t catch up while the people are storming the stores and grabbing everything in sight.

But that changed towards the end of the week. The city and province put rules in place for “social distancing”, limiting the number of people in the stores, recommending special hours for seniors and those with compromised immune systems. Thankfully I was tucked in at home and didn’t need anything.

Until yesterday…when I went to make KD for lunch and took out my milk, which had gone bad. Yup, no milk for my coffee or my KD. What was I to do? Well, nothing yesterday. It was already the middle of the afternoon and I wasn’t going anywhere at that time of the day.

I woke up early this morning and arrived at No Frills on Centre about 8:45am. There was a line which didn’t bother me. I got my cart and took my place in line. I would say that for most folks they were leaving a shopping cart length between, except for the man behind me who didn’t have a cart and was too close to me. I moved up two inches, he moved two inches. I was about to say can you back the “f’ up, but just moved the cart around.

I was observing the folks leaving the store. Do you know what each and every cart had…you guessed it… TOILET PAPER.

I spoke to the owner when I entered the store and thanked him. I told him that this was the least anxiety I have had since this started. He said they were just waiting for the directives to be put into place to help level it off.

There was meat, chicken, lamb and more. There was a full case of meat and chicken in the Kosher section, milk, eggs cheese and more. Some of the milk options were limited, but there was at least milk to buy.

I thanked the clerk who checked me out and came home. Home is where I plan on staying for quite a while. There is no need to leave (except for walks). My fridge is full, my freezer is full and my pantry is full.

I was quiet at home, resting on my couch when I got a text message – it said go to ur balcony. I had a nice surprise visit when my brother brought my two nieces for a quick hello from the street. Made my day.

I am looking forward to talking to you, my friends on the phone or on FaceTime any time you want. Those of you with families have a busy house with lots going on. Take the time to remember those who are alone. Social distancing, or self isolation is hard for those who live alone, no matter the age.

I think we all need to get used to this new normal as I feel it is going to be here for a while. I think quite a while.

I will be here, and sharing my love for storytelling with you. I hope you will come on this journey with me. What else do you have to do?

Stay home, safe and secure and most of all stay connected.

Lisa

 

How I Kept it Together

On By thestampsinmypassportIn Uncategorized4 Comments

For the last several weeks you have probably seen a lot of advertisements for Shabbat Project, a global event celebrating Shabbat across the world. There was countless advertisements on facebook, through the different Synagogue communities, signs all over this city.

What does it all mean? Well, in very simple terms, Shabbat is a 25 hour period where we disconnect to be connected. Sounds complicated, you would think? Well, I am here to tell you that yesterday I did just that. I disconnected and became REALLY connected, in a way that I wasn’t quite expecting.

I chose to attend Thornhill Woods Shule. It is not within walking distance from my home (well it “could” be, but that is a whole other story). I drove there. It is not all or nothing as Lori Palatnik always says, so there was no issue for me with that.

I was greeted as I always am, with open arms, hugs from the wonderful people in this community. I have known them for over two and half years since I went to Israel with JWRP at they were my hosts for the trip. The women and families of this community are incredible wonderful people. I went on my own, but you can’t be ALONE in a community like this.

I sat down in one of my first two classes of the day. The class was a supplement to the parchat which was being read this week – Parchat Noach. Noah, was a Mensch. What is a Mensch, and how can we relate that to our everyday lives. The discussion affected me in a way I wasn’t prepared for. Due to some recent events in my life, I have been faced with many questions and it brought me to tears. The women were so compassionate in this class and it continued all day long.

After the class was a wonderful Shabbat lunch. I was again welcome to sit with my friends and their families. We ate, sang, and listened to words about community and how even though this is a special Shabbat, that every Shabbat is warm and welcoming and we should all come all the time.

After lunch was over, my friends asked me to come back to their house and stay in the community. I was more than happy to do that. We walked to their house, and sat and had tea and more discussion.

Another friend knocked on the door at 415 to walk to another house in the community for another class. This class was also on a similar theme and again, brought me to tears.  I was told a couple of years ago by a Rebbitzen that I respect greatly that growth is (and can be at times) painful. But at the end of the pain comes greatness. I felt like I was working through my pain allowing my greatness to come through.

Our last stop of the day was for the Suedah Slisheit, which means the third meal. This was for women and children while the men were at Shule and having their own Suedah. This was social and fun and lots of great conversation and lots of time to ask questions from the women who knew much more than I did. At one point I apologized for asking so many questions and someone said, “not to worry, it is a good thing. Sometimes you may ask questions that others who should know but don’t want to ask, and you beat them to it.”

After walking back to my friends house, Shabbat was over. The Havdalah candle was lit, prayers were said, spices smelled, wine sipped and a new week begins.

What did I learn by “Keeping it Together”? More than I can even begin to write about. When I went on the JWRP trip to Israel I went open to all the possibilities and received more than I could have ever imagined.

I had many offers to spend a weekend in the community and spend sundown to sundown connecting. I know that the people who made the offers will ask me again and I promised I would be back.

I was told that this ‘amazing’ day happens, ‘every week’ and that I should come back for more. It was said jokingly, but I think that it needs to be noted. Just because this global Shabbat Project was one 25 hour period, there are people all around us that spend this 25 hour period disconnected every week. There is something to said about it.

I had a wonderful, spiritual, meaningful day “Keeping it Together”.

However you spent your day yesterday, I hope it was wonderful as well.

Shavua Tov everyone! Have a good week.

L