Penguins

She starts off by saying she just saw a documentary about penguins. She says it was the most beautiful thing she ever saw. She goes on about how their devotion to one another and sacrifice for having children is unsurpassed.

At first I don’t catch the gist because you don’t expect someone you’re trying to make a shidduch for — who you haven’t really kept in touch with for 20 years though she moved to Israel at the same time as you who was actually your first birthing coach — to start talking about penguins. But then I hear something there I feel needs to be said.

“Can I hear more about penguins?” I ask. At first she’s taken aback that I’m so interested. She doesn’t really want to continue because she can’t see the purpose but I ask again and explain I have a reason.

“They’re so beautiful” she says.