In recent years, my sister brings fruit to holiday dinners.
Mostly because she doesn’t cook.
It’s easy to order a tray of cut fruit.
For the requisite finale at family gatherings.
This year, though, our Rosh Hashanah gathering is smaller.
Daughter, off to be cantor at a shul in Connecticut.
Sons, in distant states.
So, the full tray a bit too much.
How about four pints of berries? I asked her a few months ago.
Sure, she agreed.
But, this morning, she called.
Prefaced the conversation with this might sound strange.
Then asked, how much is a pint of fruit?
Rather than explaining pints and quarts, I pivoted to packages.
Just bring four packages of berries. In any combination.
For example, two strawberry, one blueberry, one raspberry.
Or, whatever looks best.
She hesitated, but said, okay.
New Years is a time to learn new things.
A grandson, starting college.
A daughter, leading services.
Bob, changing a toilet seat.
My sister, choosing fruit.
It’s not a time to judge others.
Only to take stock inside.
Be honored that a person trusts,
feels safe to share, confide.
Hold another’s doubt with care
as though ceramic, and could break.
Once fallen and in pieces,
hard to rebuild, and remake.
All of us confront not knowns
whether simple or complex.
Be kind to others and to self.
For new learning can perplex.
Lynn Benjamin
September 16, 2023
