Running Towards the New Year

Photo courtesy of the author.

I just put away dinner service for fifteen: knives, forks, napkins, salad, dessert and dinner plates. Every goblet and wine glass. All the pitchers and wine bottles. What a holiday celebration! The cheese platters and the cheeses. The fruit and cakes. And veggie sides. And my fresh baked dinner rolls, some with a whisper of Provance seasonings and some with cranberries throughout.

And oh! Crackers, stuffing, cranberry sauces — three types. After all, some like it lumpy, some with orange flavor and some just prefer it beat into oblivion with a hint of Grand Marnier. I have been busy.

We had dinner out celebrating my son’s and my good friend Margie’s birthdays. All I had to do was drive over the bridge to the next town where I will be served. Hooray….

Talking about my son; he is recuperating from a spinal procedure that took three weeks to get him upright and willing to lug and schlep all these tablescapes, veggie casseroles and carry two gazinta turkeys and a brisket. I couldn’t dream of doing this without him.

My cousins from the San Fernando Valley came. It was so wonderful, We’ve been reconnecting these several months since my elder cousin passed away. His lovely wife explained there’s no excuse not to keep this up. Her son drives, and my son drives. We just need to coordinate.

As for me, I have three bulging discs and a small fracture across my very lower back that’s been restricting me for months. I finally went to the doctor who sent me to another doctor who sent me to another. Seems that’s not really the problem—could have fooled me.

What I really have is a disintegrating 12^th lumbar disc that is all splinters and will sever or puncture my spinal nerve if I sneeze. I need surgery ASAP. I carefully explained to the spinal surgeon who works on young and old cancer patients like me that I am far too busy during this past holiday season to stop for that. There are birthdays, holidays, dinner parties, celebrations, and I’m the house and hostess for much of this.

My Hadassah sisterhood and other friends have been fabulous and promise to take care of me as well as assist during all these events. They even promise to visit me during the five days in hospital and three weeks in rehab, which will not be local. And I hear it’s six to nine months of at home recovery with more and more physical therapy.

By the way, did I mention there are fifteen steep steps in three clusters of five just to get into my living apace? There is no electric chair or elevator that seems to fit that pattern — indoor and outdoor.  I live on a hill. Beautiful views, but ugh!

When I do something, I do it big. I’m very consistent that way.  I have the fabulous “Vodka and Latkes” fundraiser for Hadassah in Long Beach and the annual Hadassah L’Dor V’Dor 2025 officer installation with our Hadassah National President Carol Ann Schwartz presiding on my calendar. I will not miss my granddaughter’s birthday.

And I will enjoy the long weekend in the desert for New Years. It’s an annual get-away with two really good friends from Hadassah and a nice dinner with the previous rabbi-cantor from our synagogue who now spends winters down there. We also celebrate another birthday for Ellen.

I will not miss this wonderful life I’ve created. I am lucky. I am grateful. I am sure to survive and survive well. Happy New Year everyone!

The opinions expressed by this author do not reflect the opinions or viewpoints of any organization the author may be connected with.