Many of you were not happy with the snow that befell us this week. We looked at the flakes on Shabbos and remarked how tiny they were. We remember much larger flakes in Montreal. Throughout the day we would comment how beautiful it was and marveled at the majestic look of the white fluff on the trees. Our backyard looked like a winter wonderland and the table that we frequented practically every day during the summer looks as though it is now covered with a large, white powder puff.
Granted we had no flights to take, no reservations made and absolutely no concern about how we were to entertain our children now that the weather had interrupted vacation plans. We were happy to “chill” and take advantage of the opportunity to cuddle and take life quietly. Yes, after all of these years we still love being alone with each other. Our only regret at the time was that we did not have a fireplace in this house. Roasting marshmallows did seem as though it would be the right thing to do for a mini melave malka last Motzei Shabbos.
We sat in our house not contemplating going anywhere. Vasikin minyan at Beth Abraham, with 40 stalwarts present, was the farthest that either of us had gone during the day defying the weather. Suddenly, we thought we heard a noise, and lo and behold through the mist of snowflakes we barely recognized two beautiful souls. There they were, Tzvi and Shira Hagler, two fifths of the Hagler clan fighting the elements and shoveling us out. Any of you who made the attempt to shovel, especially when it was still snowing, knows that it was not easy. They came to us after they were busy on their street with their neighbors, each helping each other out to clear their sidewalks, driveways and paths. Their faces were red from the forces, each had blisters on their hands which they had gotten through their gloves and yet they were still smiling and laughing and doing this enormous chesed for their bubbie and zaidie. Naturally, they were rewarded with hot chocolate topped with whipped cream and pizza bagels (part of the stash which is always ready for unexpected grandchildren). We giggled and laughed and they relaxed after having worked extraordinarily hard. Suddenly we thought to ourselves that this is one of the joys of living in the neighborhood. It is a continuing realization of how our children have raised their families. Their midos excel and in situations such as this you see them being acted upon in the most heartfelt way. Although we knew the special qualities that they had from afar, now we are living on a day-to-day basis watching, as an old diehard Yankee fan would say, from box seats right behind the dugout. This is our Grand Slam, our Triple Crown, our Stanley Cup, our Grey Cup, our Super Bowl win, we have it all and living here has made us that much more aware of it.
By Rabbi Mordechai and Nina Glick
