#BlogExodus: Freedom

Inspired by Ima on (and off) the Bima's #BlogExodus initiative, this is one in an occasional series of posts loosely tied to Passover.

Early this morning, I sent this email to my sister:

At some point this weekend, we must discuss the Passover menu so that I can do the shopping and start cooking.

Here's what I envision:
 
Aunt Claire:  soup, matzo balls, gefilte fish/carrot/potato (like she always makes it)

JEH:  brisket, charoset, asparagus (or some other spring vegetable?), farfel stuffing, Lenox seder plate, Elijah's cup

AEH:  chicken breast, dessert(s)

Miscellaneous:

Horseradish

Seder plate contents:  shank bone, parsley, salt water, lettuce, hard boiled egg, charoset, orange

Daddy to bring from NJ:  Haggadahs, Miriam's cup

Wine/grape juice

Flowers (yellow tulips?)

We'll talk...

Must go to work....xoxo.

For the first time ever, my sister and I are making a seder.  In the spirit of the season, we are, of course, free to do it however we want.  But the seders we knew and loved were always created by our mother and our aunt--except for the matzah balls (floaters, not sinkers!) their mother always made.  

Now, without our mother around to advise and counsel, we’re going to--as is said in the vernacular-- “just wing it.”  

And yet, we’re not really winging it at all.  Despite the freedom we have to do things our own way, when it comes to the seder, we’re following closely in her footsteps and standing gently on her shoulders.  We really couldn’t do it any other way.

I hope that when all is said and done, and we finally sit down at the seder table (replete with a vase of yellow tulips to match the haggadot covers) next Friday night, we will have pulled it off and made our mother proud.