So Shavuous was very very nice this year. We went to Nooch’s house in Cleveland. A bit of a daunting trip, but we’re so glad we did it.
Motzai Shabbos we left FR about 10:30, got to my sisters house and traded cars with my mother who was in Detroit for Yom Tov (she flew). Then we made tha long drive into New Jersey, onto the I-80, accross the whole Pennsylvania (about 300 miles) and finally into to Ohio. We reached Cleveland at 6:40 AM, great timing cuz we left about 11:30 and stopped once for gas. Adiel and I both drove and its a little scary though also amazing to drive 80 MPH on dark, empty roads. Reminded me of the awesome road trip I took with Navah when I was engaged to surprise Adiel for Nooch’s twin sons’ brissim (they are 2+ now).
Anyway, we get there early in the morn and drive a few blocks away to where Miriams parents were hosting us. THey weren’t actually there but we were sleeping in their house and boy do they know how to do hachnosos orchim. A welcoming note, homemade pastries and hot drinks waiting, everything very comfortable and inviting. We took naps until around 12 which is when Shabsy finally pulled up with the rest of the gang (we were supposed to travel together but whoops). Ate pizza, shmoozed with everyone, Nachums kids are adorable and so big. Everyone wanted to hold Shaina like she was some kind of toy or doll so we had to let everyone take turns. It was also SHMOILING hot but all the kiddies were jumping in the pool so it was OK.
So the rest of the afternoon we relaxed and got ready for Yom Tov. And what a hit it was! Sunday night I served the bourekas and mushroom sauce I made, with Devorah Leah’s help. I’m proud to say there were no leftovers after Yom Tov! That meal started so late because it was yom tov (we’re used to early Shabbos) and it was in Cleveland, a good 20 minutes behind us. Also, only the two kids were up at night (and Shaina of course) so it was not as noisy as usual but still lots of fun. The day meal was packed with kids and commotion and night meals nice and adult like. The singing is a treat because the Langsner brothers sing BEAUTIFULLY. The food was amazing, good shmoozing about everything under the sun and it was nice to be with ‘family’ again.
Some interesting stuff: Adiel stayed up all night learning with Shabsy. Woohoo. He enjoy it too. That means he stayed up almost all night two nights in a row. One of the reasons we decided to drive back during the day.
Also, the weather was crazy hot but it also POURED. Not like rained, but like ‘you expect to see the animals lining up two by two’ poured. As I was taking the 8 minute walk from the place I was staying to the Langsners, I actually got caught in the downpour Monday night. If it was just me I would have kept running, but I had little Shaina Nechama with me and she had a cold and cought (and ear infection we found out later) so I did a classic Esther Price thing and just knocked on a door which I hoped was frum. A little boy opened it and I practically collapse in with my soaking body and wet infant seat. My first words were ‘You don’t know me’. BH, the lady was the sweetest frum woman who actually has a twin sister living right near by. We sat and played Jewish Geography for a few minutes and about 15 minutes later the rain had abated and I continued on to the Langsners. Miriam lent me a robe cuz I was drenched, but b’h the baby was dry as can be.
The next morning, second day of Yom Tov, I woke up late. Shaina had a hard night the night before and we were both up for more hours than we should have been. So when I woke up at 9, I said ‘just another few minutes’ and fell back to sleep. Until 10:25 when I woke with a START and realized I needed to get to Yizkor! I threw on clothing and threw the babys stuff together and than threw her into her stroller (BTW, its a lot harder to do this quick dressing thing when you have a tiny person in the equation). At about 10:45 I was out the door and on the way to the Langsners, because I had left my shaitel there the day before (so not to get it wet). The plan was to throw on my sheitel, leave the baby and run to the shul that Miriam tells me is the most likely to not have said Yizkor yet. Unfortunately I realized a few minutes into the walk, and when I hit a big ‘Obama ‘08′ sign that was NOT there the day before, that I was going the wrong way. I started despairing of missing Yizkor. And this is the worst thing somoene who has lost a parent can do. Really it’s not but you feel like this is the least I can do and how can I miss it?! At this point, I said forget the Langsners, I am going to say Yizkor in shul even if it means doing it in a SNOOD and asking a stranger to watch my baby. Anyway, I was stopping random strangers asking where the latest minyan was. SOmoene mentioned chabad, or something half a mile away, and someone showed me wehre a bunch of shuls were.
Then I saw something hopeful. In SHarei Tefilah, there were people outside, including adults. Adults mingling outside of Shul, often means yizkor. So I zip over and ask if it’s Yizkor. Someone says no, Rabbis speaking. Oh, that makes sense. What are they up to? Just finished krias haTorah. Yay! So I shlep the baby up (that infant seat is getting heavy!) And run in. I see a nice young woman, ask if she can watch the baby while I’m at Yizkor. She says she’s there for Yizkor too ( I always feel sad when I hear this) but her son can watch the baby. Poor Shaina is still in her sleep diaper and sleeper and is going to be baby-sat by a 10 year old strange boy. I’m shvitzing and in my snood. But I am in shul and its before Yizkor. I’m telling you, Abba helps me out with these things. I shmooze to the lady about small talk, she’s actually from Chicago. Rabbi finishes his speech. I’m about to go upstairs, slightly worried about my little girl when the door to the men’s section swings opened and out walks the most beautiful sight — my husband and Shabsy, Nochum and Menacham. Can you believe that after running around circles in Cleveland, Ohio I ended up in the same shul as Adiel. Hashem is good and Abba wanted me to say Yizkor without the slightest worry in the world. That was a special Yizkor and when Adiel gave me back the baby, he said ’she smells like she needs a new diaper’. Thanks, honey!
Anyway, besides for those adventures, we really had a nice good old fashioned family time. I left my mark in Cleveland, which is actually a pretty nice place, for Out of Town I guess. It’s pretty, very nice people, a lot of frum people and good shopping right nearby! Plus for a studio apartment here, you can get a 4 story mansion there, so I can definitely see why people like it. Not that I”m moving anytime soon, but I was impressed with the little town.
Wednseday we drove back, it took like 11 hours cuz we drove during the day and stopped a few times, including by this River park that I found where we ate lunch. Shabys and the boys went into the water. What fun! Thanks Nochum and Miriam for doing such an amazing job hosting us. Can’t wait to see you soon!!!
Guess what? Instead of just one or two pics, here is a whole album of pics from Cleveland on my Facebook account!
BTW, I expect a LOT of responses. This took a LONG time to read and I will feel very bad if only C&M and Rmm and Bracha respond (love all of you btw)
a family in front of a set table with bread and menus. The waitress asked ‘How was your day?’ and we all burst out laughing. Then she’s like ‘what can I get you’ and Aharon pipes up ‘an advil?’ There was a lot of family laughing and joking going on as the tension melted away and we finally spent time together and enjoyed some delicious, fresh, fleishig food. The service was great and the food came out pretty quickly. Somehow or another, there were 5 vegetable soups brought out instead of 2 but we all managed to finish it. In general, the food got passed around and shared and at the end there was not a crumb left in the house. Definitely a good idea to stay and eat, we all felt a lot better with full tummies.
ride, we saw a welcome sight: our hotel, the Raddison East! And what a hotel it was. Of course, I was the one who booked them and the rooms really worked out nicely in the end. They had all our luggage ready and helped us up to the four rooms near each other. There was also a beautiful surprise fruit package that was not for our family from the Kallah, but special for me and Adiel from an annonymous friend. We unpacked and settled in, greatful to finally be on beds and excited about the following day. After all the excitement and running around, we had to remind ourselves: AHaron was getting married tomorrow!
 
