We’ve been busy the last three days, each day was a different dinner with a different feel. Each day we starved ourselves till dinner, then fressed out when we got there. Although, I think the food wasn’t even all that great as we had expected it to be…
Sunday was Yeshiva Derech Chaim’s dinner. Adiel learned there for a while after he came back from Israel and the dinner guy convinced him to go. I had my own reasons to want to go, my brothers both learned there (Moshe still does) and my uncle is very involved. The dinner was in the Brooklyn Marriott which is Downton Brooklyn, a very cool and historical place. I wasnt so interested in the honorees or Rabbeim speaking, and Adiel and I were on completely seperate sides with a mechitza. But I sat near Mommy and shmoozed about her trip to Chicago so that was nice.
Monday was Aunt Leah’s shloshim. It was in Mercaz Hasimcha, in Flatbush. We were of the first there (as usual) and I must say it was a very inspiring and emotional night. Because my mother’s family has 7 sisters and only 2 brothers, they did something unusual: all of the siblings, besides one spoke. It was so touching to hear all of the memories and words that my aunts and uncles said. Mommy was really great. I recognized some charactersitics and stories, but there were also some new things mentioned which I found fascinating. The women speakers added a real emotional touch and I’m so glad it was done that way. At the end of the evening, there was a beautiful slide show with pics of Aunt Leah over the years, set to music. I was in one of them! And there were a number of family members that were in the pictures and are unfortunately no longer with us. We were all very touched and a number of us were crying. Adiel and I sat on differnet tables, but were able to see each other and wave. I sat near SR and shmoozed with her all the different relatives. It was a beautiful evening with about 70+ close family members and it really made a roshem on all of us.
The dinner that I had the least to do with but might have been the most fun was last night, the Yeshiva of South Shore (Mesivta Ateres Yaakov) dinner. Adiel works there and basically got a free invite. I think I need to pay a little. But anyway, I digress. The dinner was in the Sands, which is a mechaya to get to from Far Rockaway, and just GORGEOUS! There was a HUGE lavish buffet with sushi and loads of other foods and the best part was: it was mixed seatig 
. I had lots of fun hanging out with my hubby and meeting some of his (non-Jewish/frum) colleagues. I barely knew anyone, but it was still fun because I had my guy on my side. The food was great and even the presentations were done very well. Beautiful videos, short and poignant presentations, and limited speeches. After the dinner, there was a vienesse desert table with loads of yummy deserts (like make your own crepe) and a few guys singing. What fun, even though it was supposed to be a boring dinner.
Anyway, tonight on the way home, Adiel asks what we should have for dinner – ‘Should I got get some chinese?’ “NO WAY!” I was tired of store-made meals and wanted to eat at home. We realized we didnt’ have too much food but somehow Adiel threw together a beuatiful milchig dinner. Soup, corn, salad, and spaghetti-ziti-pies. .
B’Teavon!