conscious virtue

This morning I get called up in Synagogue. This is conscious virtue, but not of the happy sort. I told my niece Johanna that she was one of only two people in the world I would do this for: she informed me that when she had children I would do it for them. Was I forcing my aunts into drastic promises when I was thirteen?

Why is it so much easier to talk to a vast horde of unknowns about mysterious subjects than to mutter a few things in Hebrew and stand next to the Torah?

I have made a bet with myself for this morning. Heads is that someone wll suggest I should write Mills & Boon (my brother seggested it last night already) and tails is that someone tells me "you look like your sister." If I am really, really lucky, I will lose both bets. And if my luck continues I might stop being grumpy sometime in the next little while. Grump is due to two nights with a total of eight hours sleep and to flu, and is so pretty unavoidable. I am going to be happy for Johanna today, though, so grump is due a fast fade in the next ten minutes or I will threaten it fiercely.

much beauty in my day

If you except the callup (I was brought up orthodox, so am *really* uncomfortable about being called up) the bat mitzvah was totally awesome. Johanna's speech was short and insightful and discussed the exact segment of her portion that she read when my sister and I were called up.

She did a superb job and ran almost the whole service. And the rabbi brought out examples of her origami - dragons and dinosaurs and angel fish and winged horses - to illustrate *her* sermon. I got to boast to the whole world that "I started her off with origami." The thing that made me cry, though, was realising that she was wearing a necklace I had given her, rather than any of the pieces she could have made herself or any of her recent presents or anything made specially by her jewellery-making sister. Johanna has a special place in my heart - it is nice to know I have a place in hers, too.

Mum's place, we found out, is an alcoholic one - someone managed to tip a whole tray of full wine glasses onto her lap at the Kiddush. I wonder if being bathed in just-blessed wine at your grandchild's bat-mitzvah has a special meaning?

Tomorrow is "be charming" day, since it is the feasting bit of the celebrations. Expect mischief on Monday - I can't be charming without exacting retribution, since I am just not a nice person.