BS"D

SOME GROWN-UPS ARE JUST CHILDREN ANGRY AT G@D, BUT IN OLDER BODIES

STILL August 16th...
Drive into NYC with R' Dave, cruising through New Paltz, a cute little town with a community oriented, earthy flare if I ever did see one. It was a gorgeous, sweet day. Althought the country is where my heart is, I was happy to be heading back to Manhattan. I had never spent any time east during the summers (well, *very* east, like Europe or the Middle East, but not North America), so was very cautious about how humid my work environment was. NY State wasn't as bad as Iowa, for sure, but R' Dave had air conditioning in his apartment, which was a help.
I remember last year while writing the Megilat Esther for Shaarey Tefilah that each time I cooked a meal the qlaf would curl up & of course I would panic. Even with all the windows & doors open, plus the kitchen & bathroom fans on, making dinner would still curl the parchment. It was fine, barukh haShem, but it didn't look good to me, & of course I delivered the Megilah in perfect shape. Even though it's more humid here than that, the Sefer qlaf does not curl. Probably just because the pieces are larger. Thank G@d.
I called Shuli from R' Dave's phone - it was great to hear her voice. I sure do hope we can see each other during what little time I have left in the USA.
Nissin & Sarah cme over to R' Dave's & we visited - I really like them a lot. I feel so lucky being brought into the same orbits as there special people. Also, I met a very holy man tonight named Dudi. He told truly wonderful, hilarious stories about his adventures in trusting G@d. I admire him very much for that & could benefit by emulating his acts of release. When he heard what I do for my living, he paused & looked extremely thoughtful. Really went far "in", if you know what I mean. I quietly said that reading & hearing the Torah is a community, not an individual, obligation & women are members of the community. So what would a woman not be equally obligated to write Sifrei Torah. "Maybe I should say a brakhah. This is the first time I've seen a soferet."
I was deeply humbled & looked at my shoes, blushing.