Sunday, April 15, 2012

No Complaints

Yes, Pesach is a hard yom tov to prepare for.  I don't care how little or how much you do by way of cleaning, but this is a yom tov that tends to bring company with it, and company means cooking, and cooking means shopping and preparing and cleaning up.  For most people their kitchens are not as convenient to work in as those kitchens are the rest of the year, with items being stored wherever a place can be found, and that's not always in the kitchen itself.  And then, as was the case this year, when yom tov and Shabbos are interwoven, there isn't the "leisure" to cook on yom tov itself--everything needs to be completely prepared before yom tov starts.

However.......
I miss Pesach.  I'm sitting at my desk with plenty of cook aheads in the fridge so there's no preparing a meal for tonight.  And it is quiet in the house...a bit too quiet.  There are going to be no leisurely communal meals and sitting at the table to catch up on what has been going on in everyone's lives. There are going to be no helping hands running up and down the stairs so I don't have to.  There are going to be no gabfests while lounging around on the couch.  There won't be the multiple voices in the chorus of "gutten yom tov's" that accompany the comings and goings to shul.  The dining room table looks strangely bare, decked only in a tablecloth without dishes set for a meal.  Where books should be stacked on the coffee table there is only plain wood. 

Yes, I worked hard and long to bring in Pesach, but I have no complaints. The yom tov was truly joyously celebrated, and memories were added that will last a lifetime.  And yes, being gathered together and being able to talk to each other face to face was worth all the effort.  I heard someone say today "Thank God that Pesach is finally over."  I'm going to amend that statement to one that pleases me more--"Thank God for Pesach."

4 comments:

tesyaa said...

And it is quiet in the house...a bit too quiet.

I'd PAY for some quiet in my house

:)

Mark said...

Me too!!! :)

But everyone tells me that after the kids move out, you begin to miss them a lot.

Miami Al said...

We also always have a major appliance fry during Pesach prep... yet somehow, it all gets done, food is great, and a great time for all.

I actually found this schedule amazingly convenient, if a blur... I mean, you have to cook ahead for the Sedarim, so the only inconvenience from Shabbat/Sunday as the schedule is that you have to prep Shabbat lunch ahead of time... we made a ton of sides over the week so Saturday lunch was the same side dishes with a simple crock-pot Hamim dish... Sunday was pretty leisurely with everything behind us.

But as we've upgraded out Kitchen over the years with better appliances/stuff, Pesach reminded us how much better it is... rolled back to ancient mediocre cookware and a disorganized kitchen.

I also find Friday/Saturday an incredible convenient schedule. Because you can prep-ahead for Shabbat, Shabbat meals could be prepped at a leisurely pace on Friday, and with 4 full days of Chol Hamoed, there was time to have fun, function professionally, and have a great Chag.

We also had a wonderful Pesach, the kids had a great experience, and everyone was in a happy, festive mood. After a wonderful Chag, it is nice to see things "back to normal."

I'm glad you seemed in a better mood with Pesach this year, not filling your blog with weeks of dread.

People complain about the Yom Tov schedule for every schedule... my attitude is that "it is what it is." There are positives and negatives to all schedules, but if you "neg out" then you take the joy away from the holiday.

Caveat, when we lived up north with the older style cabinets, woodwork, etc., the spring cleaning aspect was much more exhausting. Living in Florida with modern appliances, cabinets, and a modern home was more pleasant, not needing to spend as much time dusting and cleaning when your windows aren't covered in 3M shielding.

Abba said...

i'm glad you had a good chag.
my thoughts on cleaning
http://abbasrantings.blogspot.com/2012/04/thank-god-for-pesach-cleaning-and.html