Hi Everyone

Its Sukkot again, Judah is absent.  Benji and Alissa helped decorate this years Sukkah.I string blue and white lights that Judah used for a lantern that he assembled.  I remember the varieties of Sukkot that we built over the years.  First on the front patio, using the doors as posts, flimsy at best.  Then we graduated to a custom built sukkah of redwood.  Each side was numbered with thumb tacks so we could assemble it again the next year.  However, we need the thumbtacks to hang the decorations so we lost our guides.  Well that one didn't last too long.  The next one was built by Frank G. from work.  Sturdy, handsome, made of wood.  No thumb tacks, just a square that lined up no matter which side went where.  Used this for years, until the termites decided that they enjoyed the sukkah immensely. Next came a pop up tent, with the top removed and poles slung over the top, which supported the palm fronds.  This seems to be the most permanent one.  I just remember lots of people, lots of food, alternating between hot weather, and cold nights. 

I enjoyed having Benji and Alissa with me.  Benji returned to Taipei. As part of the Sukkah rituals we invite guests to visit, usually this refers to the spiritual world, but as we invoked their presence the door bell rang, and lo and be hold a cousin from NYC surprised us with a visit.

Rosh Ha Shana this year was celebrated in Westport .  Alissa , Benji and Andrew my nephew went to the great North Country.  Judah's tree is growing nicely as is my Mother's tree.  The weather was perfect, we went to Lake Placid synagogue and to Plattsburg Synagogue.  Both communities were welcoming and very warm.  Judah loved the area and the house.  There are pictures of him everywhere I look.  I feel connected to him when I go .

Speaking of Trees, Judah's seedling that he made me save, is now a fifteen foot tree on the front patio.  I have it in a pot so I can take it with me where ever I go.   So in many ways he is still here.

May the new year bring you all blessings.