Good morning, my dear readers. The past three nights have been filled with singing, eating, ritual slaughter, bitter herbs, mortar, Turkish coffee, and my raucous debates in which my cousin Vashty expressed her vehement views on animal slaughter, women in biblical times, men in biblical times, children in biblical times, the position of women in the Jewish people's mutiny against Pharaoh, cross-dressing, sexuality, God, life, the universe, lung cancer and Turkish coffee. The past three days, however, have been some what parallel in style. The days have comprised mostly of napping, reading, Turkish coffee, soft slow talk, solitary card games, group card games, and large games of Settlers of Catan- a board game introduced to me by my cousins Tom and BB, and my uncle (hereafter known as Daddy-Uncle).
As you may have guessed, or know, or have been told by a Jewish friend, we (Jews) are currently in the process of celebrating the religious holiday of Passover. However, I'm kind of playing it fast and loose with the word celebrating, because this chag forbids the consumption of bread or anything that might possibly have risen or have to potential to rise at some point. Therefore, the only foods that are accepted during Passover taste akin to dry cardboard.
On Friday morning, the four of us left Grandma Edith's apartment and drove for about an hour to Ann Arbour, where Vashty lives. Then (after an hour-long tour of University of Michigan, complete with anecdotes of my father's time in college there), with Vashty in tow, we began the slow journey to Ohio, where Daddy-Uncle (Vashty's father) and his family reside.
Friday night was Shabbat, and almost completely devoid of singing, ritual animal slaughter, Turkish coffee and cross-dressing. Saturday night however, was a different story. The theme for the Seder this year was college t-shirts, and although the majority of Daddy-Uncle's children who are of university age attend or attended a state university in Ohio, the table was dominated by University of Michigan attire. Vashty took advantage of the theme and invented a character for herself which, as aforementioned, involved cross-dressing in a somewhat hilarious way. BB also dressed up, in pink Michigan sweatpants and a smiley t-shirt, Jack (another of my cousins) dressed up as his sister Spike, and Spike dressed (somewhat) normally.
The Seder is split up into twelve parts, and halfway through it is the festive meal, commonly known as suppe (or midnight snack, depending on how late your Seder is). However, my severe cat allergies prevented me from attending the Seder past this point, because the tiny red Benadryl pill sent me straight to sleep.
The second Seder was somewhat less interesting, because I spent most of it escaping from the yeuchy smell of Gefilte fish with Tom (who is a vegetarian and also hates the smell of fishies), on short (and I mean long) walks around their neighbourhood. What we spoke about I hope will remain in confidence.
This morning my dad, Grandma and I drove back to her apartment in Detroit, where we feasted on fried cardboard (Matzah) with cinnamon and sugar. Tomorrow we might do some more shopping, and HOPEFULLY this time I will find some clothes that actually fit.
Chag Sameach, Jews!
-- Katie J.
As you may have guessed, or know, or have been told by a Jewish friend, we (Jews) are currently in the process of celebrating the religious holiday of Passover. However, I'm kind of playing it fast and loose with the word celebrating, because this chag forbids the consumption of bread or anything that might possibly have risen or have to potential to rise at some point. Therefore, the only foods that are accepted during Passover taste akin to dry cardboard.
On Friday morning, the four of us left Grandma Edith's apartment and drove for about an hour to Ann Arbour, where Vashty lives. Then (after an hour-long tour of University of Michigan, complete with anecdotes of my father's time in college there), with Vashty in tow, we began the slow journey to Ohio, where Daddy-Uncle (Vashty's father) and his family reside.
Friday night was Shabbat, and almost completely devoid of singing, ritual animal slaughter, Turkish coffee and cross-dressing. Saturday night however, was a different story. The theme for the Seder this year was college t-shirts, and although the majority of Daddy-Uncle's children who are of university age attend or attended a state university in Ohio, the table was dominated by University of Michigan attire. Vashty took advantage of the theme and invented a character for herself which, as aforementioned, involved cross-dressing in a somewhat hilarious way. BB also dressed up, in pink Michigan sweatpants and a smiley t-shirt, Jack (another of my cousins) dressed up as his sister Spike, and Spike dressed (somewhat) normally.
The Seder is split up into twelve parts, and halfway through it is the festive meal, commonly known as suppe (or midnight snack, depending on how late your Seder is). However, my severe cat allergies prevented me from attending the Seder past this point, because the tiny red Benadryl pill sent me straight to sleep.
The second Seder was somewhat less interesting, because I spent most of it escaping from the yeuchy smell of Gefilte fish with Tom (who is a vegetarian and also hates the smell of fishies), on short (and I mean long) walks around their neighbourhood. What we spoke about I hope will remain in confidence.
This morning my dad, Grandma and I drove back to her apartment in Detroit, where we feasted on fried cardboard (Matzah) with cinnamon and sugar. Tomorrow we might do some more shopping, and HOPEFULLY this time I will find some clothes that actually fit.
Chag Sameach, Jews!
-- Katie J.
