Wednesday, July 23, 2008

The rain in Connecticut falls mainly on us

Telling a story is not as easy as it sometimes appears. What details are important, and which are extraneous? The subway system in New York, for example, is a wondrous thing. It's truly marvelous when you consider a metal tube hurtling down a tunnel deep beneath the earth. The AC generally works too, which makes the whole thing even more marvelous. There is a large article on Wikipedia that is dedicated to the NY subway system, and many websites whose whole raison d'ĂȘtre is this wonder of America. Nevertheless, when I write that I took the subway somewhere, I don't devote two paragraphs to the experience. I took a subway. I survived the experience. Go me.
I bring up this important topic because of today's MS experience.
The first time I wrote about visiting elderly people, and their reactions, it was nice. The second time was more of the same. The third? Well, we won't got there. My point is that today was more of the same. Yes, it was very nice. We put Tefillin on one man, and visited with several more people, bringing hope and inspiration to the teeming millions of Northwest Connecticut. Nevertheless, it wasn't exactly scintillating work. There were no brilliant lines, no ripping repartee, no incredible shocks to the nervous system. Oh yes, it rained heavily today. Our visibility was, for a time, obscured. We also ate dinner at Chaim's Deli in Waterbury, CT. I always feel bad when I'm served by someone older than me in restaurants; after all, are we not taught to respect our elders? At the same time, I don't like when people who are younger than me serve me in restaurants; who am I that people should do things for me?
The answer to these piddling concerns is that for these people it's a job, and I shouldn't let my hangups stop them from earning a living. And even if you're serving me for free, don't worry; I can deal with it. By the way, in case you're interested, I got a corned-beef sandwich with mustard, fries, and a peach Snapple. What did I write earlier about not recording extraneous details?

So now that I've written a post that will probably not make it onto www.rovingrabbis.com, as three of my other posts have (thanks Menachem), I think I'll wind this one up with a short anecdote. If I can think of one. Which I can't. Unfortunately, this means that you're blog reading experience will end a bit earlier than was previously planned. The good news is that I can go to sleep that much faster.

9 comments:

Anonymous said...

whole raison d'ĂȘtre
pshh impressed it was spelled properly with the little hat on top!

Anonymous said...

it did make it!

Cheerio said...

peach Snapple! yum!

Anonymous said...

Cheerio, I don't remember you ever drinking a peach Snapple at PMI, and it was free over there!!

Just like a guy said...

Fan: 4 million Yeshiva education didn't go to waste, eh?

Anon: Yes, I am quite surprised. He even posted the parts that weren't supposed to go on the official blog. Will wonders never cease?

Cheerio: Funny, I always almost drink raspberry, but yesterday for some reason I chose peach. And it was, as you so eloquently put it, "yum".

YN: You remember what she was drinking? Impressive.

Cheerio said...

ok, i favored nestle lemon tea, but when i wanted that something special... PEACH ALL THE WAY!

Cheerio said...

oh and yn, why suddenly so shy?

Anonymous said...

I was gonna call you on the Neste.

As far as I was concerned, much better choice, considering what a pain in the rump it always was filling the Snapples.

Cheerio said...

brain-snap - sorry - NESTEA! glad to know i made your life easier...