I am not at all feeling guilty to be writing this as throngs of people are watching the Super Bowl. Somehow football never did anything for me. The Rangers and the Habs certainly played a role in my life, and the Yankees will always be my favorite despite the awful performances we have seen of late. There are certain traditions that I work hard to maintain, and one of them is attending the YU seforim sale each year. It excites me to see all the new publications on display, and the seforim growing in number each year. In sync with a new tradition I have begun in our growing family, I always purchase the latest in cookbooks for the large number of granddaughters I am blessed with. One slight adjustment I have made in my buying habits is that I am concerned about the local Judaica stores in our community and feel they need our support more than YU, so I purchase one or two of the books at the sale and then visit a local store for at least 10 if not more of whatever I am buying.

Today being a quiet day, I decided to prepare some special treats for my family who will be visiting for Shabbat. I thought about how much I appreciate my “old” cookbooks. I took out my old staple, “Pleasures of Your Processor,” which was written by my late friend Norene Gilletz. A Canadian hero, Norene’s first book, “Second Helping Please,” was seen in every Jewish home when we arrived in Montreal. It was the staple for every young bride. She went on to write many other books, including more recently her collaboration with Daniella Silver in books such as “The Silver Platter.” Unfortunately she passed away several years ago, much too soon.

I enjoy reading my cookbooks, of which I have many, and find that some of my old favorites are just as popular today as they were years ago. I also have my old mainstay, a box of index cards filled with tons of recipes, some written by my mother when she wanted to pass on a recipe to me. I wish that I had a way to convince my children that these are not to be thrown into the dumpster. The way it looks to me, that dumpster will be really full one day!

We all know that the generation today is not accustomed to holding on to the “old.” This adage applies to so many things. For some, after a number of years pots and frying pans need to be replaced, whole sets of dishes no longer have the same pizazz, and the idea of driving a car until it dies is no longer in anyone’s mindset. As I was told when we moved here, leasing is the way to go, and getting a new car every three years makes so much more sense. I learned that when in Rome, I am doing what the Romans do. However, I do have many pots that I got when we were married just a few years ago and have no reason to dispose of them. I think most would say the food still tastes yummy, and between Brillo pads and some hot water they still shine quite well.

I am definitely not a hoarder. I love new things just as much as anyone else but have difficulty discarding something just because others have seen me wearing the item more than twice. I am thrilled for Yad Leah that we are living in a disposal-mentality world, where many feel that after one season their clothes need to be recycled in the homes of other people. I have to laugh at some of the things in my closet. I too enjoy shopping but have difficulty in disposing of something I feel still has potential to be worn and admired.

One of the things hanging in my closet is the suit that I wore to our son Akiva’s bar mitzvah. Quite honestly, no one knows that, and over the years I have worn it and received many compliments. With the good fortune of having many grandchildren who have married and some who will one day be married, I find it wonderful if I am able to rewear a gown that I have worn to a previous grandchild’s simcha. Depending upon the color scheme that the kallah has decided upon, I believe the wedding should be all about the bride. Although I try very hard to look attractive wearing the proper color gown, if it is already hanging in my closet, why not wear it? As a grandmother I had my turn to shine. I remember how impressed I was with a lady I knew in Montreal who married off three daughters. Her husband was in the manufacturing business and he certainly had access to many clothing affiliates nearby. She decided that for two of her daughters’ weddings she would wear the same dress since she really liked it. Financially she was well able to buy anything else but saw no need.

I cringed at a discussion taking place in the Link office one day when a former employee discussed that she needed to buy new living room furniture because hers was already 15 years old. I came home and laughed to my husband and asked what our problem was in not finding the need to replace what is to our taste and working so well. When we moved to Brantford, Ontario and rented a big old house we realized that one of our first purchases would have to be a dining room set as we eagerly looked forward to inviting our balebatim to our home for Shabbat and Yom Tov meals. I drove to Hamilton with a friend who lived there and purchased a lovely dining room set. I am proud to say that our purchase still stands in our dining room here in Bergenfield! In case you are wondering, the insinuation is that it is quite old. It really looks fine to me.

I feel exactly the same way about our bedroom set, which we purchased prior to our wedding in Korvette’s for $199. Sorry to say that store saw its demise together with so many other major stores from that time. We could have bought a set for $2,000, but we chose to buy what was in our budget. I still think it is fine and have no desire at all to purchase a replacement.

Tomorrow I will recreate two other recipes from an old cookbook for Shabbat. I am also into experimenting with the many new developments in the kosher kitchen. Who knew there was any other lettuce than iceberg and romaine? Who would have wanted little sprouts that look like worms to be adorning their plates? Who would have thought that tuna tartare would not be distasteful? Who would have thought that the way to prepare and eat a steak is to have it with the blood gushing out? Yes, the times they are “a-changin’!” Some of it is great and, for me, going back to the old is greater!