Sept 29, 2017

Jewish Family Service closed today at 1 p.m. in advance of Kol Nidre, this evening. I watched and listened as friends and colleagues wished each other a (much) better year ahead, with fierce hugs and a fair share of tears. These are caregivers who truly need a break, but, rarely show their personal pain. It was hard to watch and I felt a bit like an intruder.

It’s been a whirl-wind week. The bike has turned out to be wonderful! I’d like to credit the Dara family (friends of Hannah’s) for the loan – they opened their garage and heart and told me to pick any of their family bikes! (But, made me promise to ride carefully – which I am .) Monday found me very tentative – riding the sidewalks and avoiding the roadways at all costs. I quickly realized that the roadways are both safer and faster, (along with actually being legal). Houston hasn’t quite mastered the art of “curb cuts” making sidewalks a real hazard. By today – I am RIDING up the ramps in Tina’s parking garage, and trying to time my ride to beat the traffic lights, (I swear it was YELLOW.) But the real story of my bike ride is this: Last week I drove past the debris piles, in a car, and found them heart wrenching. Now, seeing them at eye level, as I ride past on a bike, adds a whole new dimension of pain. From the vantage point and speed of a biker, (yes I am slow), the debris transforms from meaningless trash to unique, often irreplaceable, personal possessions, now destroyed, lost forever, and sitting curb side waiting to be hauled away.

We made real progress on Case Management this week! I feel totally guilty even saying that. Yes – we made progress at JFS creating order out of monstrous paperwork stacks, getting people entered into the system, and figuring out what’s next for most clients. But, our progress doesn’t represent adequate progress for people who need (honest) contractors, access to low-cost furniture, clothes, mold-mitigation, and for heaven’s sake a positive ANSWER from FEMA! On the brighter side – according to Tina, the relief organizations here have enough diapers to cover every man, woman, and child in the city of Houston for the next two years.

Today was actually a good day. We made 45 calls letting clients know that their $1,000 grant checks were ready. One woman insisted that I give her a name at JFS so she could write us a thank you note. (Who actually writes thank you notes anymore??) We have been rushing to process over 600 applications, but, it takes time.

Here’s the details of the grant – truly wonderful, huh?!

Well, friends, I am off to Kol Nidre services for Beth Yeshurun at Lakewood Church – which was an ARENA in a past life. I am told it is an experience not to be missed, so there you have it.

I miss all of you and Seattle more than I can describe. When I ride my bike to JFS in the morning, I am drenched – and that is BEFORE I even start. Humidity was invented here in Houston . I swear I will stop complaining about Seattle’s weather, though no promises about traffic.

May you all be inscribed for a good and sweet New Year!