July 28, 2011

Chabad at Penn House - Pine St.

Lucas and I drove Elias to the airport at 5am and went back to sleep at 5:45, I had set up my iPod alarm for 6:45, still undecided about attending morning services. The alarm woke me up twice. It was 7am by the time I got out of bed and decide to make a run for it. The warm summer breeze caressed me as I rode my bike. I took the longer way (adds 1 minute) through Clark Park because staying on Baltimore Av. for the second block of the up-slope form 43rd St. (the block from 42nd to 41st) really tires me out. More so after yesterday's 6 hour hike in the Poconos. I got there at 7:30. To0day is Torah day; I can arrive late and still say Kaddish. A surprise expected me on the steps of the house. Peter, with his Tallit and Tefillim on, exclaimed "Thomas is here." A smile fleetingly appeared, only to be follow by a languid face. "we are only nine; can you get your son?" Poor Lucas, went to bed at 2:30am, got up at 5am to drive Elias to the airport and now I was going to wake him up at 7:30. "there is a woman here that came to say Kaddish. She in the Shloshim" The first thirty days of mourning are very important. Lucas did not answer. I called Patricia asked her to see if Lucas would come and if she could drive him, bringing his bike as well. She roamed the house looking or Lucas. "There are two persons in his room sleeping face down on the floor. I can't find him".... let me see if he is in the family room....it must be one of those two... " some moaning “once is fine, but twice is too much ..." I hear him complaining. "He is coming" said Patricia. Seven minutes later he gets out of the van completely asleep. “We saved the day!!!"