Life moves in one direction...

In a three day period I visited a friend healing from surgery, celebrated Shabbat with a friend and three of my kids, officiated at a wedding and the next day officiated at a funeral.

I am now back in Milwaukee with a "very happy to see me" Sam. He is checking out some of his new television shows on his iPad (He loves The Fairly Odd Parents. Can't imagine why). While he is ensconced in looney cartoon antics, I am listening to a medical pump riff a real mean bass line. No, seriously, this pump sounds like a bass line straight out of a 1980s video game or a Stallone Action film. You know you've been in and out of a hospital too much when a medical pump sounds like it is playing a mean bass guitar. You've got to find amusement where you can get it. It feels good to shed my suit and tie, sit back in shorts and a t-shirt with my Sam an arm's reach away.
 
Sam is protesting today by refusing to walk with his IV pole. Thus indoor calisthenics. A series of Bed Angels, Bed Bicycling and Angry Bird throwing does just the trick. I even got him to walk in place and do arm cardio by allowing him to use my stomach as his punching bag while I sang the theme from Rocky. I am a true believer that you must make your fun where you find yourself.

Tomorrow Phyllis and I will take David and Yael to Olin Sang Ruby Union Institute in Oconomowoc, WI. This will be David's 8th year at camp and third year as a full time camper. It is a great and sad day as today always marks the day my whole family sets off for two weeks of work and fun at camp with our rabbi/educator/cantor/camp friends. Many of us have spent the last five years working together these same four weeks at camp. It is a special time spent in a special place with special people. This is the hardest scheduling loss my wife and I have suffered in the wake of worrying about Sam's health and spending as much time with him during his treatment. Sam is our utmost priority, but we've spent a year planning and dreaming about these two weeks. We will visit with our friends a day here and there, but every evening at ten o'clock a small piece of us will be in Oconomowoc with our summer family toasting Sam's quick recovery and return to complete health.

It is obvious to all of us that life changes daily. We are granted a moment at a time. If we are lucky our moments slip into hours that fly by as we do the things we need to do. And before we know it we are closing our eyes and calling an end to another day we've been blessed to experience. My friends who suffered a loss in their family this week had their lives changed in a single instant. One second their loved one was with them and the next their loved one was gone. Life changes on a moment even when we aren't looking.

So I feel blessed that Sam is having a good day. I feel most blessed to have officiated and celebrated the wedding of two dear friends. I feel blessed that I was able to be there for my other friends in their greatest hour of need. I did my best to conduct a funeral both mourning and celebrating the life of their loved one. Two weeks ago I did a baby naming for a couple whose wedding I co-officiated. Last week I did a baby naming for a family just entering my life. I feel most blessed for all the love, friendship and support that surrounds me. I am strengthened by all my support. I feel the love pouring in from around the world and feel how inadequate a simple Thank You always feels. So I pour my infinite love and gratitude out into the world each day in hopes that everyone feels how grateful I truly am for all of you in Sam's life and the life of my family.