I have never been big on ceremony. Especially when the ceremony directly involved me in some way. I did not attend my college graduation, or either of my two graduate degree graduations. Maybe I didn’t want to say goodbye to the whole experience and found difficulty in closure. Then again, maybe I just couldn’t be bothered. I remember wanting to change my attitude and perspective after my second graduate degree. I bought a cap and gown and told everyone in my class I would be there so I would feel accountable to show up. On graduation day, I awoke to a massive thunderstorm and a downpour of rain. That was all it took, one look out my window with one eye open to happily fall back asleep and continue dreaming for a few more hours. I awoke hours after the graduation had finished and I had no regrets. I was relieved and felt settled in myself. I guess ceremony just isn’t my thing.
At my Nephew’s Bris however, something changed a bit. I had no idea I would be involved in any way but as I was sitting in the shul I got asked to step outside the main room. My brother simply said “Ok Tals so you hold him (the baby) first and then pass him on to…” The tradition is for the siblings of the father and/or mother to all pass the baby to one another until he is finally taken into the main room for the main event…eeek! (I think this is the tradition but please post a comment if I am way off base with this!) Never having been directly involved in a Bris before, this was all new to me. Anyway in that moment while holding my 8 day old first and only nephew so far, I felt a deep love and connection with him. It was awesome. And of course I am now obsessed with him as any aunt would be.
Recently I attended a very good friend’s wedding shower. Every lovely lady that attended was directly involved because we all brought bucket loads of love and support for the gorgeous bride to be. It was special to be a part of that and amazing to be able to meet so many friends and family members of the bride I had never met before. A wonderful time was had by all and the party took on a whimsical happy vibe that stayed with me for hours after.
So I guess ceremony and I can get along sometimes and it feels really good when it happens. I suppose this is my way of saying thank you to ceremony for not giving up on me. And a big thank you for the Bris and the wedding shower of course. Ha! That sounds like a great name for a book or a movie. The Bris and the Wedding Shower now playing in a theatre near you…
