What We Are

I think my friend Esther’s roots are a mixture of Syrian and Salonikan — something like that. The truth is we’ve talked about everything under the sun but that. She’s from Brooklyn I’m from New Jersey were both Jews and we laugh and cry together.

That’s enough for us.

It’s funny how my son Dovid has introduced me to the greatest friends throughout the years by being their son’s friends. I’d talk to Esther on the phone about what our boys were doing where they were off to and what they were into. But Dovid kept nudging me “Ima my friend’s mother really wants to get together with you.”

Deep down I’m an introvert so I tried to avoid this at all costs but — how long can you put off the inevitable?

I remember the day I went to meet her. Esther’s mother was visiting from Brooklyn rolling kubeh and stuffing borekas. One daughter was washing dishes. Esther was somehow flying around never touching ground trying to make sure I had enough to eat and drink and felt totally comfortable while at the same time stuffing bags with food for me to take home.