Passover at Valerie's

My mom admits she has a problem.  She really doesn’t have any fears.  She is independent and bravely ventures anywhere and everywhere.  But, and she admits this, “I get very nervous when I have to be somewhere at a certain time.  I have this fear of being late.”

We are meeting six people at Penn Station at 5:15.  If we leave at 4:10, we have more than enough time; it only takes 45 minutes at most to get there.  Around 3:15 I can see my mom getting antsy.

What time are we leaving?

Shouldn’t you start getting ready?

How long does it take to get there?

How do we get there?

Are we taking the bus?

Do we need to transfer?

We don’t need to take the subway, do we?

How often does the bus come?

Now she’s making me nervous.

Around 3:45, I suggest we take a picture of the two of us before leaving.  “The doorman can take it downstairs,” I say. My mom likes this idea because then, she thinks, we’ll be leaving earlier than the 4:10 I had suggested.  “Let’s bring our coats and we’ll leave afterwards.”   I decline and I know she’s disappointed.

The doorman takes a picture.

We leave at 4:05, five minutes earlier than planned, and arrive at Penn Station 30 minutes before we need to be there, but my mom is happy and relieved.  We made it!

There are 13 of us at dinner.  We have an abbreviated Seder, limited to the four questions and some readings.  Amanda impresses everyone with her knowledge of the Seder plate and does a lovely presentation ala Vanna White, educating us all. Adam and Michael have everyone falling out of their seats with their hilarious in-flight stories of fellow passengers.  

And who can say no when the youthful grandmothers want a photo with the boys?