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What if I get mugged? What if I die? Those were the hysterical thoughts running through my fast moving head. As I looked up I began to see the letters of the sign form

I’ve always been pretty independent (fiercely, my mom might say) and I suppose I didn’t often ask for advice or get into touchy/feely stuff as a kid, teenager, or young adult If you’ve read my mom’s writing, you know she has a way with words – and her sense of humour is sharp. I miss that our language is often guarded…in some ways that’s a good thing, but in many cases, it’s plain silly. What’s something you always wanted to do but didn’t ― and why didn’t you?

And this year, I’m excited to add another tradition to the mix: The Chanukah Pledge Pledge (see image below). For example: volunteer at the Out of the Cold program four times this winter; or clean my closet three times this year and donate the clothes I have outgrown or don’t wear anymore to Just a Second Shop, “a thrift shop where clients of Jewish Family and Child can shop in dignity for clothes and household items”; or visit an elderly neighbour once a month…and bring a challah too! ; or put $1 in my Tzedakah box every Shabbat. For example: volunteer at the Out of the Cold program four times this winter; or clean my closet three times this year and donate the clothes I have outgrown or don’t wear anymore to Just a Second Shop, “a thrift shop where clients of Jewish Family and Child can shop in dignity for clothes and household items”; or visit an elderly neighbour once a month…and bring a challah too! ; or put $1 in my Tzedakah box every Shabbat. * Feel Inspired: By the last night of Chanukah, we will have our completed Pledge Pages to help us light the way throughout the year!

Ahhh…after a packed winter with a full work schedule, some health challenges (I’m feeling much better now), and far too many hockey rink visits to count (and definitely too many carpool texts to tally), my long-awaited weekend up north finally arrived. On Thursday night after work, I packed a bag (I use “packed” loosely…some cozy clothes made their way into an oversized purse) and drove two hours north of Toronto to a picturesque resort called , in Huntsville, Ontario. In our day-to day-lives, sometimes we just want some assurance, a soft place to land ….we don’t want to take too much of a risk. I didn’t want to board a plane, I didn’t want to be far from home.