An excellent Thursday

[magid]

Yesterday was a good day. I woke up far too early, but was able to use the time productively, getting tasks done around the house. I baked winter squashes, toasted pumpkin seeds, sauteed spinach and froze it reasonably-sized portions, got the s'chach up (only one splinter, kindly removed for me), bought groceries and a few other items, did a little apartment straightening (though no one who is not me would be able to notice that last at all).

Interspersed with this productivity I kept getting good wishes for a happy birthday; I think that knowing so many people are thinking good thoughts towards makes the day a better one, even without anything else happening. I found myself out walking and grinning, just enjoying the day, the weather, feeling coddled by blessings.

I got taken out for chocolate wonderfulness twice (!). The first time featured a lovely conversation about the different roles of women in the books of Ruth and Esther. As we talked, I realized that Ruth is a rather modern woman, a single woman working to support an aging mother(-in-law); taking others' advice, but using her own ideas to evaluate it; finding a partner who values her for her values and her actions. Esther, on the other hand, doesn't come across as having a brain in her pretty little head, but more as a political puppet placed by Mordechai in case of need. She acts on his direction, not realizing on her own that the situation might need her attention. Also, it reflects the post-first-Temple-destruction times, being identified as Jewish culturally, but not really religiously. I have to admit I was pleased when something I said was written down to be used for a guest lecture in a college Bible course :-).

The second time was less literary, but more social, which has a lot of charm, too. Post-theater discussion is always interesting, comparing notes on something as ephemeral as live (unrecorded) performance, then following whatever thoughts come from that.

Other good things: I got to have conversation with someone whose writing I enjoy, and food-geek. I also made sukkah decorations, drawing pictures on white handkerchiefs that I'll pin up today. One has a pomegranate, with a border of leaves. Another has Jerusalem. The third was just doodling, curves and squiggles and flowering hearts. The fourth has the two blessings that are most specific to the holiday, the ones for sitting in the sukkah and waving the lulav and etrog (I'm pleased that my Hebrew printing came out reasonably well :-). And the fifth handkerchief was decorated by Scholargipsy, a cartoon of Moshe in the desert receiving manna from heaven, a much more talented piece than any I could do. Still, it's satisfying to have made something. I just hope that the salesclerk was right when he assured me that the markers are indelible...

Comments

[mamadeb.livejournal.com]

I disagree about Esther.

She was her cousin's pawn until she married Acheshveros, and just a "queen" right after, but when the crisis came, and she decided to act (because she did have the choice) at the risk of her life, she took over.

Everything that happened after she said "If I perish, I perish" was due to her - she planned the wine parties and the disgrace of Haman, and she made the request that would save the nation, and afterwards it's clear she's running the show and the kingdom - her name comes first, before even Mordechai's.

[magid.livejournal.com]

[Just a place-holder, since I'm not going to be able to think coherently enough to give this a proper response before yom tov.
Shabbat shalom and chag samech.]

[magid.livejournal.com]

I didn't assume that she planned the parties; I could see it going either way, her planning them or Mordechai working out a plan with her for the parties, followed by the request. I also could see her name being before Mordechai's because she is queen, and he is counselor, not necessarily because she is actively ruling without his guiding hand.