It's official

Yakov will be a Tarheel.* But not before a year in Israel. At least he didn't pick out a Carolina blue cap.

When we first moved to NC, I would see house flags throughout the neighborhood with this image.I wasn't really aware of the tarheel phenomena yet and I kept wondering why anyone would have a house flag that meant "We have stepped in it again" or at least that was my naive interpretation. Gradually I became aware of the UNC Chapel Hill Tarheel connection and realized my mistake. PRM

* For my confused readers, that means he is going to the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill for college.

Seventeen years old

How did that happen?

Tonight she is going to her first big concert, Dave Matthews Band, with a friend. They have driven to Charlotte, about a 70 mile trip. The ticket is my gift to her. And for this Jane Austen addict, we also have a copy of Pride and Prejudice and Zombies. We will celebrate with a family dinner out and cake Saturday or Sunday night.

She is such a treat, so self-possessed and confident. She deserves a better photographer. PRM

Dinner last night prepared by

NOACH! Thank you, Boy Scouts.

Noach was practicing his cooking techniques because he has to cook for his patrol on their campout this weekend. Another boy was planning to do this when they made out their menu Monday night. He chose fried chicken. When that boy canceled, the leader called Noach Tuesday and gave him the opportunity to fulfill this advancement requirement. Noach grabbed the chance.

So Wednesday morning, Noach went to the grocery with $40 and bought the food for all the meals for his patrol. And Wednesday night, he practiced frying chicken. After a discussion about the difficulties preparing chicken, we hit upon the idea of frying the chicken in strips rather than using bone-in pieces. I well remember my more experienced sisters-in-law advising me prior to my wedding to avoid the temptation to try frying chicken until I had more experience cooking. Chicken frying was not as easy as it appeared, they said. I am experienced now but I still don't fry chicken well or often. Actually we just don't eat much fried food.

The requirements include planning the menu using the 4 main food groups, budgeting, proper storage of uncooked food as well as cooking the meals. We have discussed Salmonella risk with chicken and the need to wash hands often with soap and water. Raw chicken in this setting disturbs this old gastroenterologist. Salmonella enteritis can be serious business.

I know there are issues with the Boy Scouts, especially about homosexuality and atheism, but I have seen how much Noach has gotten out of his scout experience. He is more confident in many ways. He's not an outdoor guy but the activities get him outside and he enjoys them. It has really stretched his comfort zone. I have to be grateful for that. PRM

Break's over

At least, I hope so. There are so many projects in play right now, college decision, trailer trip in less than 3 weeks, Bar Mitzvah to plan, summer camp and year in Israel, just to name a few, that I am finding blogging to be a task and one I can put off for another day.

I love a good road trip but 1720 miles in 7 days was a trial. Noach and I left home last Sunday, and returned Saturday, weary. We enjoyed visiting family and accomplished much in Hot Springs.

Noach will be 13 in July, time for a young man's Bar Mitzvah. We have chosen to have his Bar Mitzvah in Hot Springs rather than in our local synagogue. Our favorite rabbi, the teacher our children adore, moved to Arkansas 2 years ago. Noach wanted Rabbi Fox there for his Bar Mitzvah as he had been for Yakov's and Shoshie's. Fortunately Hot Springs is much closer to their homes for some members of our family so we decided to travel there for the service and festivities. Planning a Bar Mitzvah is hard work for me and even harder at a distance.

My 88yo mom traveled to Hot Springs with us, her home being a convenient halfway point. I think she enjoyed the trip but we were all exhausted when we got back to her house. And we returned to hear that her sister, my Aunt Jean, had fallen and broken her hip that afternoon. Another reminder that so many of my relatives are getting quite elderly. PRM

Blog break

It's Pesach.

Then working field trip for Noach and Mom. More info next week. PRM