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Last night was my first ever Seder, at ![[livejournal.com profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/external/lj-userinfo.gif)
rafaela's grandmother's house, and a grand time it was. It was a small affair, just four of us—the three aforementioned, and Anna's brother's girlfriend Vicki, who was also a first-timer. all went very smoothly, and quite beautifully, with Anna leading the abbreviated service ("The Short, Short Version," she called it), skipping pages without skipping the symbolism, which is good. I had been prepared in advance by a meant-for-kids-but-still-readable illustrated "Cliff's Notes" on Passover that she had picked up, so I followed along reasonably well; having Vicki there as a fellow novice helped, too. Dinner was magnificent: baked chicken (two kinds), potato kugel, matzo stuffing, green beans, carrots and prunes, matzo ball soup, sponge cake for dessert, all homemade by Bubbe. (Why do they have to make dinner plates so damned small?) As I said, a grand time.
A few thoughts on the evening:
1) I thought Anna was kidding about the Maxwell House Haggadah.
2) I informed everyone that earlier that day at work, I'd gotten a call from a Long Island inmate who'd identified himself as Elijah, so if he didn't show up, we'd know the reason why. Just as well: when Anna went to open the door, Bubbe yelled, "If he's there, don't let him in!"
3) I must have singed my taste buds off at some point in my life, because I liked the horseradish. (Prepared, not raw, thank you.)
4) Kosher grape juice instead of Manischewitz. Probably for the best, since (a) I'm a lightweight, and (b) I had to drive.
5) Anna singing in Hebrew kicks ass. Just sayin'.
6) Note to self: If you put those ten drops of wine in the same spot on your plate instead of higgledy-piggledy all over, you won't have to go towelling it off when dinner comes.
7) No pillows. Bummer.
8) Did I mention that I ate really well?
rafaela's grandmother's house, and a grand time it was. It was a small affair, just four of us—the three aforementioned, and Anna's brother's girlfriend Vicki, who was also a first-timer. all went very smoothly, and quite beautifully, with Anna leading the abbreviated service ("The Short, Short Version," she called it), skipping pages without skipping the symbolism, which is good. I had been prepared in advance by a meant-for-kids-but-still-readable illustrated "Cliff's Notes" on Passover that she had picked up, so I followed along reasonably well; having Vicki there as a fellow novice helped, too. Dinner was magnificent: baked chicken (two kinds), potato kugel, matzo stuffing, green beans, carrots and prunes, matzo ball soup, sponge cake for dessert, all homemade by Bubbe. (Why do they have to make dinner plates so damned small?) As I said, a grand time.A few thoughts on the evening:
1) I thought Anna was kidding about the Maxwell House Haggadah.
2) I informed everyone that earlier that day at work, I'd gotten a call from a Long Island inmate who'd identified himself as Elijah, so if he didn't show up, we'd know the reason why. Just as well: when Anna went to open the door, Bubbe yelled, "If he's there, don't let him in!"
3) I must have singed my taste buds off at some point in my life, because I liked the horseradish. (Prepared, not raw, thank you.)
4) Kosher grape juice instead of Manischewitz. Probably for the best, since (a) I'm a lightweight, and (b) I had to drive.
5) Anna singing in Hebrew kicks ass. Just sayin'.
6) Note to self: If you put those ten drops of wine in the same spot on your plate instead of higgledy-piggledy all over, you won't have to go towelling it off when dinner comes.
7) No pillows. Bummer.
8) Did I mention that I ate really well?
