Dragonsglass

I finished up the hamsa’s I am giving to my classmates to say thank you for being with me during the journey to our B’nai Mitzvah. I am very happy with how they turned out. Today the first two will go to their new homes. I decided not to add dangles or anything because I wanted the hamsa to speak for themselves.

And now…I can clay to my hearts content without stress hovering in the background. I feel some more canes about ready to burst forth plus more hamsa, book marks, and so on
Chag Shavuot sameach!

Finally, after a year or preparing, and months of studying Hebrew, the day of our B’not Mitzvah arrived. Now, could I sleep in until 7:30 or 8 this morning so I would have less time to let my mind go crazy? Oh no, not with our zoo. 6 AM, sun coming up, a small warm tongue began the job of cleaning moms face. That was sort of ok, but when the tongue went up the nose to clean the back of the eyeballs, well this mom decided maybe the little girl was trying to tell me to get up and take her outside. So there I was, now all wide awake. I made coffee and read the newspaper. I mean what else was I to do?

I hatched Karen out at 7:30. She is so happy to wake up in the morning….NOT!! She schlepped out for her exercise and caffiene while I headed off to shower. When she showered I gathered up our talits, kippot, services and drashes, a couple soda’s and a bottle of water. Off we went at 9:20.

We arrived at Temple to find folks already there, the kitchen was buzzing as Marilyn and her crew were starting the food prep. We headed off to find Rabbi and give her her thank you gift. She loved it. (whew) We put our drashes on the lectern and headed out to greet folks. Me, I ran outside for a smoke….or two. Of course there were pictures to be taken…a ton of them. Here is one of them. it is the 4 of use BEFORE the service. I am amazed that we all looked so calm.

Right on time (amazing thing) the service started. Rabbi called up the folks who were presenting our talit to us, the prayer was said, and the talit’s wrapped across our shoulders. Let the service begin. Poems, prayers, and sayings that we had chosen from many different sources were what made up most of the service, along with the needed prayers and songs. It really represented the 4 women who chose them. I know it resonated in the 4 of us, and I think the congregation felt it too. Of course, having Rabbi sing one of my favorite songs allowed me to clear my mind and let the music flow and calm me.

Then it was time for the Torah service. Wendy carried the Torah out and the rest of us helped to “undress” it. Then it was time for us to read our drashes. because my Torah portion was the last one, I read my drash last. and…of course I read my Torah portion last. A good thing? Who knows. But, in hearing my fellow B’not Mitvah read theirs, sing the Torah blessing and then read their portions, I knew I could do it. After each one of us finished our readings and blessings we did impromptu hug fest. Finally, Suzie did the HafTorah blessing and reading and it was done. The only thing left was for me to carry the Torah back. I managed to do this without falling down the stairs. The final moment was Suzies grand daughter doing the Kiddush and then we did the motzi.

We all hugged and then down off the bima heading to the food. As I say, Jewish folks know how to eat. There was 5 different cheeses and crackers, fresh fruit (watermelon, cantaloupe, honey dew melon, and strawberries), nuts (almonds from local growers) cream cheese, bagels, LOX LOX LOX and more LOX (can you tell I love lox?). Ya hungry yet? That was only one table of food….three more to go Then there was tomato slices, raw sliced purple onions, kugel, egg salad, tuna salad, a killer black bean and mango salsa, pita bread, humas, some wonderful mild and hot stuff from a Mediterranean resturaunt, more kugel. lets not forget the med. pasta salad with fresh feta cheese covering it. Then there was the cake. I can not wait to show you a picture of it. I promise to share it when I get it. Let the nosh begin

finally…it is time to head home, the trike loaded down with fruit fruit and more fruit. And, a few other things that we will eat but really shouldn’t…like the pita bread Hey…we love that stuff. Needless to say we both went over our alloted points for the day and most likely used up all the extra points for the week. But I ask you, how many times does one get Bat Mitzvah? Sometime in the next couple weeks I should be getting pictures in. I plan on putting up a slide show on my .mac site to share. I am also going to add a section to the Temple’s website with our drashes there.

Anyway, I think thats it in a nutshell. The day was long, the day had anxious moments, the day had moments of great joy and peace. I am glad, both in my head and my heart, that my journey led me down this path. I can’t wait to see what the next bend in the path shows me. Shalom.

and I thought I would share my reply to her in email. Most of you know my Bat Mitzvah is happening in 3 days. Maybe my thoughts will give you an insight why I am going through this right now in my life.

Why? because it is part of my journey that *I* need to take. I converted to Judaism 4 years ago after a long path searching for a spiritual life that fit my soul. I studying many different spiritual paths and when I found Judaism it was like a perfect fit. After my trip to the Mikvah, when I was sharing my experience, Rabbi said I was born with a jewish soul, it just took the rest of me a bit of time to catch up. So of course, being a JBC, I didn’t have the chance for a Bat Mitzvah at age 13.

Why now? Because it is the right time. I am not sure I can really explain why it is the rightht time, or how I knew, but the class, the timing, and the days all seemed to fall in place for me to be in this last adult B’nai Mitzvah. I truly believe G_d had this time line all set for me. And who am I to argue with that? It is also part of my growth. I was nominated to take part in a leadership class for our Temple, which I completed last year. One way to lead is by example. How could I honestly speak of personal growth in my Jewish life without the step of a Bat Mitzvah? I also think it sets a good example for the kids in their own study towards their B’nai Mitzvah. Another reason….study. What a wonderful way to do an in depth study of parts of the Torah, then preparing a drash on ones Torah portion. It is amazing the things I learned and read on the internet when researching it. I am a perpetual student, I love learning so this is another opportunity for me to grow in my mind.

How does your art express your Connection to Judaism? Hmmmm, most of my art lately has been making canes so I have something to reduce when I get frustrated that my brain will not hang on to a simple Hebrew word like v’nay. While I am practicing my Torah portion my mind pops up with designs for things for the Judaica shop at Temple. I now have a list of things to create after the 19th. As for the other part of my art…the caning lets my mind think about the next few days to come, my art has grown in style and perception and design since I started this journey. I have learned on this journey that just to create something beautiful is good. I don’t have to sell it, I can give it and get just as much reward.

Advice for other adults? start learning/practicing your Hebrew on a daily basis. If you are feeling overwhelmed with it then try what works for me. I let my mind go in caning for an hour at a time and then take a 10 minute break and go over a couple words, a line, or a verse from my Torah portion. Once I started doing that I found it was so much easier then sitting for an hour trying to stuff it in my head without feeling frustrated. Another little tidbit….enjoy the learning, enjoy the time with your Rabbi (or whoever is teaching the class), enjoy the time with your classmates. This is a special time in one’s life be they almost 13 or 50 plus. And be positive about it. Rabbi told me that any derivative of can’t was not allowed in my vocabulary. period. It is a joyous journey, a hard one, one in which they will learn more then they thought they would and in the long one, something they can take pride in completing.

Thank you so much for your thoughts. And, for the questions. They made me think, and after writing my answers down, clarified it even more for me *WHY* I am doing this. They also calmed the butterflies that have started in my gut.

A further note: today I had a private Torah reading session with Rabbi and if we could of, I think both of us would of done the happy happy dance on the Bima. Rabbi was impressed with my speed, my comprehension, and all that jazz. And having Rabbi happy and proud of the work I have done, well it pushes the ole perfection streak to the back and I am confidant with my ability to read my Torah portion.

Again, thank you Toby, for making me think, for making me put to words what have been bubbling in my head and heart. Thank you for being you.

So here I sit tonight, with the final of Survivor on and thinking about this upcoming week. Clay is calling me, my glass is pulling me to the studio and my Bat Mitzvah is in 6 days. Anyone have a spare cave on a mountain top that I can go hide in?

This last week I have been really studying my Hebrew Torah portion and feel a lot more comfortable with it then I have in the last couple months. I guess studying does pay off. I came up with a system that has really stopped my frustration. Instead of sitting there and reading it, saying it out loud over and over again for hours, I clay for 50 minutes and then take a 10 minute break and read my Torah portion. It seems to of worked well. Now if I can figure out how to remember the uv and vey starting words then I will be a happy camper. There are like 6 works that still smack me brain dead.

Yes, I said I had been claying between speaking Hebrew. I made a couple new canes that I am very happy with. I figure if you have read this far you might even want to see the canes. So here you go.

This first one is a Hopi Thunderbird cane. I have probably 20 2″ sections ready to go, either in my Etsy store or for the Sandy Camp store in October.

This next one is a pre-columbian Aztec turtle. I so love the different colors I used in this one. A walk in a different palette for me.

This one too is in my etsy store and some saved for Sandy Camp. I actually started early getting stuff ready for Sandy Camp. An amazing feat for me Heck if I keep cranking out a couple native motif canes a week I might even brave the cost of E-Bay and put a group or two up there. I found a new pacific northwest design I want to make. I think it will turn out great. I also need to make another PNW hummingbird cane. the one I made last year is pretty much all gone. I have about 3/4″ left of it.

Happy claying to everyone this coming week. May your Muse make all the pretties you want

So, today I mixed up some custom yellow color to finish up a cane I started last week. I had to fudge the color with premo, fimo, and kato and not the original yellows I used (cause I ran out dang it) I managed to make a perfect match. Don’t ask me how cause I sure don’t know, but I can not see where the old yellow and the new yellow touch, and they DO touch. I posted the cane on the PCC message board already but wanted to show it here too, in case there is someone out there who doesn’t go to PCC.

I have also added the cane to my etsy store. There is a link in the left hand bar if you wish to visit there I am thinking about making a grouping of my canes but haven’t decided if I want to group them by design, color, or what. Guess thats what my brain will be thinking on this week as I make a few more. Yes, I said more. I have a Hopi Thunderbird on the table in pieces. so stay tuned…..