Last weekend, I was fortunate to have my parents join me for Passover Seder at Penn State Hillel. I have not had a Passover with my family since I came to school because the holiday always fell during a weekday and I could not get home. I would have gone home this year, but I was in charge of Passover for Hillel and was not going to be able to leave. So, my parents came to me.
Thursday night, I took them to go see Aron Ralston speak. My mom and sister had watched the movie, and when I told them he was coming to Penn State, they were very excited. Aron was a very good speaker, able to combine the tragedy of his rock climbing events with some well placed humor. One of the comments that stood out to me was "you would do it too." We don't know what we're capable of until we're put in that situation. It surprises us, maybe even grosses us out to think about what we would do if we were stuck in a canyon, trapped beneath a 600lbs boulder with nothing to drink but our own urine. He certainly put my bad days in perspective when he commented that there are no bad days when you don't have to drink your own urine. I was also intrigued when he talked about the boulder being a gift. Most would look at this situation and remark about how horrible life is because you got stuck in a canyon for 127 hours. But by the end of the speach, Ralston was thanking the boulder for giving him his life. It was only because he was stuck was he able to realize what was important in life--his family and friends and his future son. After the lecture, my family and I received tickets to the reception with Ralston where my sister and mom were able to meet him, take picture and get autographs--they were very excited.
Friday, we spent the day preparing for Passover. We had brunch at the Waffle Shop to fill up on leavened carbs before setting off to the Pasq to set up for our 300 person seders. My parents were a huge help, getting the rooms together three hours before Seder started--usually we're working until a half hour before people get there. I enjoyed having them in my Seder. I led a 25 person Women's Seder, using the hagaddah I wrote last year. I really enjoyed Seder this year because the people in my Seder wanted to be there, they wanted to participate rather than just eat the food and drink the wine and be there because their mother sent them. I really enjoy this holiday--it's probably my favorite one because it was always a family day. I'm especially glad I was able to celebrate it with my family this year.
Thursday night, I took them to go see Aron Ralston speak. My mom and sister had watched the movie, and when I told them he was coming to Penn State, they were very excited. Aron was a very good speaker, able to combine the tragedy of his rock climbing events with some well placed humor. One of the comments that stood out to me was "you would do it too." We don't know what we're capable of until we're put in that situation. It surprises us, maybe even grosses us out to think about what we would do if we were stuck in a canyon, trapped beneath a 600lbs boulder with nothing to drink but our own urine. He certainly put my bad days in perspective when he commented that there are no bad days when you don't have to drink your own urine. I was also intrigued when he talked about the boulder being a gift. Most would look at this situation and remark about how horrible life is because you got stuck in a canyon for 127 hours. But by the end of the speach, Ralston was thanking the boulder for giving him his life. It was only because he was stuck was he able to realize what was important in life--his family and friends and his future son. After the lecture, my family and I received tickets to the reception with Ralston where my sister and mom were able to meet him, take picture and get autographs--they were very excited.
Friday, we spent the day preparing for Passover. We had brunch at the Waffle Shop to fill up on leavened carbs before setting off to the Pasq to set up for our 300 person seders. My parents were a huge help, getting the rooms together three hours before Seder started--usually we're working until a half hour before people get there. I enjoyed having them in my Seder. I led a 25 person Women's Seder, using the hagaddah I wrote last year. I really enjoyed Seder this year because the people in my Seder wanted to be there, they wanted to participate rather than just eat the food and drink the wine and be there because their mother sent them. I really enjoy this holiday--it's probably my favorite one because it was always a family day. I'm especially glad I was able to celebrate it with my family this year.
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