1
Even though saying the word gym
still seems foreign to me I dislike gyms
all those people who look like hamsters
back and forth and back and forth gym outfits
in particular the whole idea of fitness and wellness even though
gym is not for me I belong to the JCC. Why is another
subject. One reason is it’s around the corner
just two blocks from Fairway. On my tour when
they opened years ago several of the other tourees asked
about the library (would there be one? yes was the answer)
and I thought that if I had to go to a gym this was the one for me.
2
Mostly I take yoga classes. Sometimes meditation.
For a while I had a trainer.
(a different poem.)
3
Because JCC stands for Jewish Community Center
and they are an odd kind of congregation this week
they called all their members to ask How
We’re All Doing.
4
Haim a rabbinical student called me.
He asked how he could help me out and I told him
to tell me a story. It didn’t have to be Talmudic.
5
OK he said
I was born in a small town in North Carolina. A very
small town. I was home schooled and went to UNC
and then Jerusalem. Back and forth. Jerusalem. North
Carolina. Jerusalem. North Carolina. And now I’m here
at the Jewish Theological Seminary. I’ll be a rabbi soon.
6
I liked Haim. Did he know my friend named Jacob
when he was at UNC.? Jacob was home schooled too.
We were friends Haim said. Not good friends but friends.
Postscript
Later that day I talked to Jacob. Do you remember Haim
I asked. Jacob is just 30. He remembers everything. Haim
he said. Tell me more. Home schooled. Jerusalem. Becoming
a rabbi now. Yes said Jacob. I knew him when he was Colin.
That was before he converted. But I did hear he’s Haim now.
Thanks for a lovely story Esther
thank you Dean xxx
thanks for writing Dean xxx
I’m really enjoying your poems Esther, thank you. especially during this crazy scary time in our lives, I love when you talk about the JCC, thinking’ of all the wonderful yoga classes w Roxlyn and hoping and praying that we are back there very soon!! Sending love & healthy energy Cathy Goldbas
Hi Cathy: Would you like to join ROXLYN’s online breathing class on TUESDAYS?
If yes send me your email to my bookdoctor@rcn.email and I’ll send it along to her. And THANK YOU THANK YOU for reading my poems.
Loved your vignette. Funny thing , David’s roommate at UNC was Colin! A different Colin, but pretty funny coincidence.
We don’t know Haim-Colin but Jacob came for dinner about 3 weeks ago and that evening was the last time we socialized with anyone. Jacob is a poem himself. We see people on Zoom and FaceTime now, not nearly as fun as having Jacob over for dinner!
funny (!)
life is always amazing xxxx
Love this. Baim indeed! To life.
A healthy happy Pesah!
Love, Fran
love to you Fran xxxx