We are beyond excited. What many
take for granted is a totally new experience for us. We are in Florida, walking in warmth amongst the beauty of palm trees, hibiscus trees flowering along the boulevards and coconuts dangling from palms trees and we are in awe of the many lulavim we see jutting out of the middle of the top of the palm trees. We have never been “snow birds.” Rarely have we been south during the winter months and the enormity of the fact that we now are enjoying this experience makes the smiles difficult to erase from either of our faces. We are amazed at how many people we meet each day that we know from our many different past lives. Friends from our YU days, our Torah Leadership Seminar days, Montreal, Teaneck and Nefesh. Is everyone here? The weather definitely has a major effect on one’s state of mind and puts people in a brighter mood. However, we seem to be alone in our sense of awe. For those that come each year or several times a year the experience has become an expected part of their lifestyle. How can one not feel happy while walking in the middle of February without all of the accoutrements of winter with the sun shining down upon them?
We feel as though we have been chosen to win a special prize. Both of us take turns remarking on the beauty that surrounds us. Today we went to a nature walk and were thrilled to see the hatching of blue herons as their eggs were being protected by both their fathers and mothers. We watched a mother alligator bring a twig to her babies (we counted nine). All of this again a reminder of the wonders of Hashem. Every once in a while Nina asks if this is really us. This is not an experience that we are accustomed to. For many, going south in the winter is the norm. Obviously not for us and we are extremely grateful to have this opportunity. It is a reminder of the fact that our parents frequently stated, “Anything in excess is not appreciated as much as something which is experienced sporadically.” Yet we do remember Tevye’s discussion with Hashem.
In our daily lives we see how this adage applies to us. If we allow our children excessive amounts of freedom they will want more. When children are accustomed to frequently eating in restaurants, that “one special time” will no longer be something they can appreciate. In our own relationships we see couples who frequently travel and wonder if they appreciate it as much as the couple that only has the opportunity to do so every few years. We see those who feel the need to change their cars regularly and wonder if they feel as excited with their new car as the person who waits to get a new car until he has “paid off his (old) car,” so that it finally belongs to him? Nina remembers growing up and only having meat or chicken on Shabbat if her family had hot dogs or hamburgers during the week. To this day she considers meat a luxury item. We could easily extrapolate on this subject. What will the children of today consider as luxuries? Where will they travel to that will be really exciting? With Pesach and Sukkot programs in Costa Rica, Hawaii, Mexico, Florida, Israel, various European locales, Whistler, Mt. Tremlant and tons of other destinations the only thing that we can think of that might be exciting is Pesach on the moon. It is possible that one day that might be an option. We hope though that when the program is announced that the sponsors of it will have the wisdom to make it non gebrokts!
Seriously, we are grateful especially to our benefactors who planted the bug in our ears to take advantage of an offer that was too good to pass up, and they were right. We have learned in our marriage that nothing should be taken for granted. Not our partners, not our beautiful children, not our good health and especially not the everyday wonders that we have been blessed with by Hashem.
By Rabbi Mordechai and Nina Glick
