Friends

Hey everyone! Yet again, I haven't updated in ages. Ages that grow longer all the time. But I thought I'd finally catch you all up, while I'm here waiting around at the Portland (ME) train/bus station. In lieu of the traditional retrospective New Years' entry, I'll just update you on the 4 months or so that you've heard nothing about, if you're relying on this journal still for info about me.

So, my last update was on August 24, about plans to visit NYC in September. I made that trip and had fun seeing friends, as well as singing with a small professional choir at the 5th ave synagogue for Selichot, where I'm unofficially invited to return next year. Singing went very well. I stayed with Suz and Graeme, and visited Dave, Ilya, and possibly others who have slipped my mind at the current moment.

I sang a couple weeks later in Williamantic, CT, where I'm cantorial soloist for the high holy days. I felt nervous and underprepared when I arrived, but after an intimidating first service, it only was and felt easier for the coming ones. So much repetition of the same music from service to service, and fewer new things each day. I got some constructive criticism from the rabbi, primarily regarding the silent/independent prayer parts of the service, which are relatively unfamiliar to me as a reform Jew. Which parts and paragraphs do I start leading, how long do I continue before trailing off into independent bits, and when and where do I pick up the concluding phrases? It may seem odd when there are all these big, intricate cantorial prayers that the little in-between bits and pieces would challenge me most, but that's where I had the most trouble. Having lead all of these things at least once, though, I'm confident that I will be able to repeat and improve it for the coming year. My contract from last year had my return built in, stating that I'd come back and lead again unless either party gave notice prior to February that they planned to find someone/where else. I heard nothing but compliments from the congregation and the temple leadership, and everyone seemed eager to have me back, so I don't expect to hear anything different in the next month.

The day after I returned from Yom Kippur in CT, in late September, I started my new job at Red Oak after school program, part of the Boston Chinatown Neighborhood Center. With my partner group leader, Cindy, who had started only a week before me, I planned and managed activities and watched over a group of 20 first and second graders. 20 hours a week, with benefits, requiring neither evenings nor weekends and perfect for supporting erratic musical work financially without getting in the way of the required time. It was trying at times, but fun, and I really loved my kids. And, as I found out when I was laid off a couple months later, they loved me too. I was laid off purely because I was last hired -- parents were laid off, pulled kids out to save money, and fewer students meant there wasn't enough income for the organization to maintain my position. We asked the kids to make something -- anything -- for me on my last regular day, and provided them with art supplies. I was touched by the things they made, and the tremendous affection they showed me once it was announced I would be leaving. I was touched particularly by the one student who gave me the hardest time, who I would have sworn hated me, but who, when it came time for these last impressions, wrote "I love you" on the card she made for me on my last day. It's amazing what an impression I made in just two months, but I was once again searching for jobs.

Meanwhile, everything had been going fabulously with Miriam, my girlfriend. We had wanted to be closer for a while, and I had been tied down by work, and she by school, so it had never happened. I thought, if I had to look for new work anyway, I might as well look in Portland, ME. She was ready to move out of her current apartment, where she REALLY doesn't get along with her roommates, and I was looking for a new place, and we thought we'd move in together. I had hoped to find a job in Portland before making a year-long, binding rent agreement, but that didn't happen in time, and Miriam wanted to be settled in her new place before the next semester started. We were finally looking at apartments, and ready to sign a lease as soon as we found the right place, when life threw us a curveball.

I was substituting most of the day New Year's eve at Red Oak, before singing in the evening at All-Saints. While I was there, the director told me of an opening, in a similar position to the one I had been laid off from. Actually, the same position by title, though I'd be working with kids a year or two older this time. At the time, it was probable they'd offer it to me if I wanted it, and since then it has all been confirmed, and I'll start Monday, Jan. 11. I was conflicted at first, because financially I couldn't justify not accepting it, but I really wanted to live with Miriam, and didn't think she'd be able to follow me to MA. After she discussed it with her parents and friends, she told me I should accept it, and she planned to follow me to Boston.

Given some more time to think about it, she's planning on getting her finances and such in order for a few months in Bangor (home with the parents, free rent) before making the leap to come to Boston. We are still expecting that to happen at some point, though, if nothing goes dramatically wrong. Meanwhile, I'm concerned that we won't get to see each other much if I'm working 6 days a week in Boston and she's living in Bangor, but we'll see what we can do. She'll probably have to visit me a lot more than I'll visit her, at least until she finds a job -- and I think that's okay, because I was driving out to see her a lot more while she was in school and I was unemployed.

As it has now been a few days since I started typing this in a bus station, Miriam is now here in bed with me. We're going to watch The Land Before Time, which (gasp!) she has never seen before. And she loves adorable animated kids' movies. Clearly, this needed to be remedied, and soon! So, another time, LJ...