Old Key West

We returned yesterday from our MD trip, and today we are heading over to WDW to check in to OKW for two nights for our wedding anniversary.  Tomorrow, Dec. 21, is our 42nd wedding anniversary.

It's also Weigh-in Wednesday.  I am 267.6 this morning, meaning I have gained about 4 and 1/2 pounds since last week.  I am not surprised because there was a lot of eating and over-eating this past week.

Our train trip was great, very comfortable and no delays.  It actually started snowing Friday afternoon  as we were heading to Cindy's.  We took her out to lunch and to finish grocery shopping, and when we headed up the hill from the store to her house, I was actually slipping and sliding.  The icy little snow pellets were quickly accumulating and making the roads treacherous.  We were happy to get all settled in.  Fortunately, it ended that evening and the roads were clear Saturday.  It was bright and sunny Saturday and Sunday, so all traces of the snow were gone.  When we left Monday morning, it was so sunny and moderate temps, that I didn't have to wear the big coat, just my sweater.

While up there, we had a marvelous Saturday morning Shabbat service.  When we walked in, dear long time friend, Rabbi Ron Kopelman, was on the bima as following Gabbi while Rabbi Saul was at the Torah.  Ron's wife, Barbara, called to me to sit with her.  WOW!  We have been friends for over 40 years and now live all over the place.  We hadn't seen Ron and Barb since Lowell's wedding in 2014.  When Mark and I were called up for an aliyah, we all had that warm feeling that it felt like old times.

Then Saturday night our Hanukkah party was just perfect.  We had great food, fabulous presents, Hanukkah lighting with Lowell, and Texas Hold'em Dreidel!  Ken was the big winner for that.  Just having six of our family members together was very wonderful.

Sunday was the BIG event, the installation of Rabbi Saul Oresky.  Mark and I were part of the skit so we had to arrive at 2:30 for a rehearsal.  The evening officially started at 5 p.m.  Lowell, Ron, Barb, their daughter Sarah, her husband Scott, and their three little girls, Natalie, Veronica, and Samantha (only a month old who never woke up the entire time!) plus our friend Frank Perlman and his friend Marie were our table of 10.  It was an evening full of fun and love and, of course, latkes!

Hanukkah and Christmas presents under Cindy's tree

Father and son, both wearing great shirts. Well, actually Lowell's is a sweater.

Playing Texas Hold'em Dreidel.

So much fun

Lighting our menorahs on night five.

Great blanket from Emily's parents.

Emily modelling her Winter Tale scarf that we got her.

Brett surveying the room when we arrived.  He is the current president of Mishkan Torah and the school principal as well as tonight's MC.  He and his committee did a great job.

Barb and me, friends for 40 years.

So happy Lowell came to honor Saul, who was his bar mitzvah teacher as well as his friend.

Sarah and Scott.  Natalie is the oldest, with the purple top.  Veronica is the middle child, on Scott's lap.  The  newborn is on the floor in her car seat sleeping through everything.

Brett opened the program

Rabbi Ron took a lot of photos.