It’s a wonderful life

September 20, 2009 - 7:33 PM by David

holidayIt was one of those pre-Rosh Hashana crunches that most of us have experienced – a bunch of meals to shop for and cook, a house to clean, phone calls to make, and errands to do. That’s why two last-minute calamities almost did us in.

First was the emergency light in the car going on indicating a malfunction in some vital system. The second was evidence that the pipes leading from our bathrooms were totally clogged. Erev chag, Friday morning, while my wife waited for the plumber (who happens to be a good friend in the neighborhood), I took my chances and drove into my garage in Jerusalem, knowing that the window of opportunity to get it fixed in the few short hours they were going to be open were slim.

Sure enough, after rigging up the computer to the engine, Shimon the mechanic said, indeed there was something wrong with the car (gee, thanks) but that they wouldn’t be able to check in depth until Monday, after Rosh Hashana. He advised that I not drive the car until then, meaning leaving it with him.

However, we already had plans at our congregation in Jerusalem, where we drive to on Shabbats and holidays – my wife had an aliya honor scheduled and we had a meal planned with friends. In addition there was still a trip to the supermarket on tap, and various other tasks requiring a car.

I called home and relayed the bad news that we were going to have to cancel our plans and stay close to home for the holiday, and started walking toward a bus to go home. As I passed an Avis Rent a Car, I thought of the old Devo song, “Are We Not Men? No, We Are Devo” and thought, what would an adult do in this situation? Rent a car, of course.

So, ignoring the flashing overdraft in my bank account, I went in and walked out 20 minutes later with a chugging Suzuki sedan with stains on the upholstery.

Meanwhile, back at home, our plumber was solving that problem, and when hearing about our transportation woes, immediately invited us for dinner that night, along with two other families we were friendly with.

So, a few hours after we started with no car and clogged toilets, we had a rent a car, clog free pipes, and a great dinner invite. We brought our food we had already prepared along with us, and had a delightful time. The rest of Rosh Hashana was great, my wife shined on her aliya to the Torah, the Suzuki ran like a bumpy dream, and our bank is happy at getting that additional interest we’ll be paying on the overdraft.

Shana Tova!

Tags: , , , • Category: A New Reality, General, Holidays, Israeliness, Life, Religion 

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One Comment on It’s a wonderful life

  1. It’s a wonderful life | JewPI on Tue, Oct 27th 2009 9:57 AM

    2. [...] to shop for and cook, a house to clean, phone calls to make, and errands to do. That’s why two Read More » Share and Enjoy:Tags: bunch, house, phone calls, rosh hashana, wonderful lifeIsraelity [...]

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