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Hi Anne,
You know I always joke how life would be easier if there were only one flavor of ice cream (as long as it’s chocolate mint chip)? Well, living here in Ashland, at Aleph Springs, where we built our house, it isn’t for people like me who have trouble making those “big” decisions. Seriously, despite that “shortcoming,” we couldn’t be happier.
Hold on a second. Dan’s reading over my shoulder. He says hello. He also says I shouldn’t speak for him. True. Dan never had trouble deciding (he chose me, thank God, over that blonde he was dating 42 years ago. It did take him six months, though he’ll never admit it.)
Anyway, Dan’s got his routine. When it’s sunny, he grabs Avram next door to play nine holes of golf at Oak Knoll about six minutes away; if it’s not, they bike over to the Y for a swim and a steam. (We’re two steps away from the bike path, did I tell you?) Though, from the cream cheese on his sleeve, I think they end up at the Little Shop of Bagels, but that’s his business, right?
If it’s Tuesday, Dan and I meet up next door at the Havurah (our own personal shul) at noon for torah study with Rabbi David; in fact, I’ve got to run in a couple of minutes. Or on Thursdays once a month, they have a Wisdom Seekers series. Last time, they had a Muslim professor from the University giving us the scoop on Iran. (It’s a mess, but there’s hope, he says.)
Me, it’s still about my morning coffee. And that’s when I get into trouble. The Roasting Company is closest; it’s cozy and haimish, but Noble makes the best mocha lattes. Then, there’s upstairs from Bloomsbury Books. I love the smell of books. Not to even mention Starbucks. And that’s without getting in the car. Who can decide?
You know when I feel most like I belong here? When I go grocery shopping. The Co-op’s just off the bike path. Only I have to give myself an hour just for schmoozing; there’s someone I know on every aisle. And most of them I know from home, I mean the Havurah. Same thing, really.
I don’t know if we’d be offending the rabbi, but Dan says he feels like we’re back in college, only instead of having the student center, we have the Havurah. We spend as much time there as we do in our living room, what with services and classes (I’m studying Kaballah, like Madonna), the Wednesday night Jewish films on the big screen, concerts, lectures. And when we have the neighbors over for a pot luck and it gets too crowded, we just move it into the Hav.
Dayenu. Just living in Ashland would have been enough, what with the Shakespeare festival and the University here and such a sweet downtown. (Okay, so they could use a good Chinese restaurant, but you can’t have everything.)
Sorry, I’m jumping all over the place. Did I tell you? I got my watercolors out and I’m painting again. How could I not with the view we have through our living room window of Grizzly Peak. (You know we designed the house ourselves, right?) It’s easy to be inspired. And when I walk through the Railroad District, every other shop’s a gallery. Being a photographer, you’ll really love it.
The kids have already visited us more here than they did before. So it looks like we’ll be seeing the grandchildren more. (The kids like rafting on the Rogue River.)
Oh, if you come visit this summer, you won’t have to miss your yoga. The Yoga Center is on the way to Noble. I’ve started taking a Vinyasa class. And they say anyone’s welcome to drop in.
Anyway, I’ve got to go. Torah class is starting in two minutes; I’ll make it. I just have to put on my slippers.
Love,
Judy
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