PESACH SAMEACH

Pesach (Passover) is and has always been my favorite holiday. When I was young, I loved the family all coming together for the Seder. There were usually grandparents, aunts uncles and cousins to enjoy it with. I still remember the ones at my grandparent's in Portland. THat's going back over 50 years. Then, there the ones at my parents where we all got together. Then, there was my mother's last one at my house with absolutely all the aunts uncles and cousins. That one and the ones at my grandparents are the two that I remember every year. For the last few years I have been going to The Savta's (friends who earned a strange nickname in 2008-Savta means grandmother, it's what I call Mr. Savta for some decidedly grand motherly behavior one day). Seder at their house is a proper from beginning to end Seder. Not a word is skipped. It's all just the way I like it to be from beginning to end. It always gets me to thinking that pretty much ALL the Jewish folks in the world are sitting at a Seder table somewhere in the world, reading the exact same words from the same book, and doing the same ritual things all other Jews are doing to commememorate the exodus of the Jewish People from from Egypt all those many years ago.I also get thinking, usually on the ride home that Pesach is quite possibly the oldest continuous holiday in the history of the world and that is wonderful to be a part of it and belong to the people who celebrate it every year, and to have the privilege of living where I do and being able to be a part do of such a wonderful Seder every year. I also like the complete change in foods for the week of Pesach. I really does make me stop and think and be thankful that I am me. I love Pesach.