Sunday, August 3, 2008

Serious shtuff

Well, that was certainly quite strange. In case anyone is still interested in reading about Merkos Shlichus, well then, today is your lucky day.
Yossi and I got in our trusty Chevrolet and drove down the road to Southbury, where we found the house of our longing without too much trouble. Eli, for that was the name of host, welcomed us with open arms. He seemed genuinely happy to see us, which was nice. We met the family, Eli's mother, wife, and sister, and then began to chat. Nothing incredibly interesting was said by either side; we just exchanged some family histories and they found out that I'm a big fan of Tahdig, the golden-crusted Persian rice which no human (at least the ones that I've ever met) could possibly resist. We chatted about Eli's father, who passed away in March, 2007, and is still sorely missed. I mentioned that the Temple was destroyed 2000 years ago, and we still haven't gotten over it. The only solution to the aching pain in our hearts, nestled (you're welcome Nemo) deep within our collective conscious, is for Moshiach to come. There's really no other solution for our problem. After this rousing conversation Eli put on Tefillin, we said a little Tehillim for the health of everybody involved, and then it was out to the door to grandma's house we go.
Well, not exactly grandma's house. In fact we chevied our way up to New Milford hospital, where we were informed that a Jewish patient was on the second floor. The 2nd floor of the New Milford hospital is the location of the ICU, and consequently we weren't so enthusiastic. Sure, it's great to visit people, but it's not so great so see them lying on beds with bunches of tubes sticking out in multiple directions. Anyway, we got into the ICU, and besides for a couple of nurses and a police officer (she was just sitting in there, reading a paper), we found neither Jewish hide nor Hebrew hair. The nurse suggested that we pay a visit to maternity ward, and off we went, feeling even more apprehensive. When you visit an ICU, everyone expects clergymen to pop in and administer last rites, or comfort the patient/family members/pet goldfish, whatever the case may be. In a maternity ward though, nobody expects a couple 21 year olds to just pop in and say, "Hey, we just thought we'd pop in."
Fortunately, the we met a kindly nurse who asked the father to come out, and we were quite happy to wish him a hearty Mazel Tov on the birth of his daughter Cameron, who was born just a couple hours before we rambled in. He seemed happy to see us, and it sure was nice for us to finally be in a hospital for a good thing.
And that, friends, was another day in my life. Shocking, but true.

31 comments:

Anonymous said...

There is plenny to do in a Maternity ward, such as; give out Shir Hamalos cards, Shabbos candles, arrange Jewish name for girls, arrange bris for boys. Etc..

Just like a guy said...

We were actually considering giving birth, but unfortunately we didn't have time to do it.

Anonymous said...

Giving birth? Or giving birth?
Comprendez?

Just like a guy said...

Giving birth!

Anonymous said...

LOL

Just like a guy said...

(He thinks I'm joking) Yeah.

Anonymous said...

You didn't have time to deliver YOUR OWN baby or SOMEONE else's????

Just like a guy said...

As I wrote, we were planning on giving birth. What's so hard to understand?

Anonymous said...

You pulling my leg?

Just like a guy said...

Didn't you know? TRS stands for "The Real Shlucha"

Anonymous said...

AHHH... NOWWW I get it.
YOU are one of those patients.... Oh man! Till now I thought you were doing the visiting...

Just like a guy said...

Get it? Got it? Good.

Anonymous said...

this sounds like it is coming from the insane ward we had the other day

Just like a guy said...

No, it's coming from the maternity ward. What's so hard to understand?

Anonymous said...

what were you doing in the maternity ward if you wernt having a baby? i know you wanted to but why didnt you?

Just like a guy said...

What was I doing in the maternity ward if I wasn't having a baby? I was visiting someone who did have a baby. Brilliant, no?
As for why I myself didn't have one, I thought we clarified that-I didn't have the time.

Anonymous said...

but you said yourself you are a shlchua (the real shlcha) so why didnt you have a baby? how can you not have enuf time? it comes when it comes, no?

Anonymous said...

Where's the warden?? Lock these guys up!!!

Just like a guy said...

How come my previous prelude, which was much crazier than this post, got two comments, while here there's 19? One little joke...and BOOM!

Anonymous said...

well we are very curios to know the answer? if you were having a baby why were u too busy to give birth to it then? why wait?

Just like a guy said...

Shlichus is an extremely demanding occupation that runs on a strict time-frame. If there's not enough time for something, even birth, then you just got to suck it up and try again later.

Anonymous said...

but what about the poor baby? what did it do wrong?

Just like a guy said...

Everyone knows that growing up on Shlichus is tough for kids, but believe you me, they wouldn't have it any other way-right Eliezer?

e said...

This conversation is dumb. Period. Eventually, this here commenter is going to grow up (as I have done fairly recently) and realize that leaving anonymous, pointless comments is not a kuntz. Anonymous, pointed comments, on the other hand...

Just like a guy said...

e, proud of you so much we are. Your new-found maturity is truly a light shining unto the nations.

e said...

Why aren't you out and about bringing the hearts of Jews closer to their father in heaven?

Just like a guy said...

I'm busy recovering from a session of adult endangerment therapy; i.e. subbing as a counselor at the local Gan Israel day camp. I'm also busy preparing a Sicha to learn with someone tonight, and later on we';; be going out to the farthest reaches of human bounds to find Jews and lift them, higher and higher and higher.

Cheerio said...

sorry, i'm still stuck on the whole "suck it up" approach to delaying labor. i think you'd be better off just pushing it out, and then moving on.

Just like a guy said...

Listen Cheerio, go through labor first, and then we can talk. Until you've done it like me though...

Anonymous said...

Reminds me of a story. Don't remember with which Rebbe and don't remember details. However something to the effect of this guy trying to fool the Rebbe that he was a woman and needed a brocha for children... does anyone know the story? And then he actually did become pregnant! Ya. So be careful there.

Just like a guy said...

Yeah, I remember something like that. Since I was never able to find out any specific details, I put it down to the "my Rebbe can do more shtuff then your Rebbe" not quite true Rebbe story genre.