It all began when my older brother was able to get greatly discounted tickets to this year’s “Disney on Ice” at Barclay’s Center. He gathered his little brood of boys and offered tickets to his nieces and nephews as well; it was a sweet Chanukah present for all the children. An extra pair of hands was needed to chaperone, so they gave the ever-dutiful Aunt (me!) a ticket as well.

To the outer world, I like to pretend I’m a trendy yuppie with a hopping social calendar. I meet the girls for drinks, then I attend some swanky East Side professional-networking event, and finally, I freshen up my lipstick to meet a dashing date.

Yeah right.

My reality is more “with the kids” than “with the band.” More “Dora the Explorer,” less 22 year-old exploring. Of course I love being with my nieces and nephews, but whenever I attend a Sesame Street Show at Madison Square Garden (3 times so far) or toddlers’ amusement park, I’m reminded of how “un-adultish” my existence truly is. When my friends are too occupied to meet me (which is usually the case), I’m left with no other alternative but to color, er, paint the town with a trio of 5-year olds. If it involves a stash of Care-Bear DVDs and Mott’s apple juice on a Saturday night, then so be it.

As far as this “Disney on Ice” situation? It was different than the usual “Oh-my-G-d, why-am-I-here?” sentiments that Uncle Moishe concerts brew in me. I haven’t seen a Disney film in years, but when Sebastian sang “Under the Sea” while doing Triple-Axels that evening, I felt very happy. You read that correctly. Happy.

 

“Ten Things We Did Better as Children”

This girl is wearing her "Invisible (or not so invisible...heh-heh) Crown." Yay!

 

       As mentioned in a previous post (October’s “Parshat Vayeira, Hurricane Sandy, and Children”), I don’t believe it’s a mere coincidence that recent head-lining tragedies have centered around the murder of children (Casey Anthony, Leiby Kletzky, the two children and the nanny in Manhattan, the child that passed during the Colorado shooting, and now the Connecticut massacre). As I forge my way into adulthood, I only realize now how “cheated” I feel over my lost childhood. A child’s unadulterated optimism and belief in humanity have not yet been overshadowed by adulthood’s cynicism, embitterment, and blasé attitude towards (almost) everything.

        Many children have a sheer confidence towards life, a “fall down to rise again” doctrine, and a fascination with the smallest trinkets and bugs and flowers. The horrific tragedies involving children not only remind us of how incredibly fragile they are, but also of life’s general fragility. Although I attached this link to October’s post regarding “Children,” I’m not sure if actually worked. I don’t like to take chances again, so I re-typed “Ten Things We Did Better as Children” from www.ThoughtCatalog.com This article is by Chelsea Fagan. It’s worth a read!

 

An End to This Horrific Week, Parshat Veyeira, and Children

 

www.sundayinbed.tumblr.com

         The East Coast is still reeling from Hurricane Sandy. Areas in NY such as the Rockaways and Staten Island, as well as towns in New Jersey, are straining to salvage whatever they can from their flooded homes. Their power is still weakly wavering, they are waiting an hour for a pump of gas, and their grocery markets can’t even supply basic items such as milk or flashlights (being that they’re all sold out). As we’ve mentioned in a previous post, our hearts and thoughts are with those who have suffered terribly as a result of this natural disaster.

www.app.com

 

         It seems as though the earth itself is sagging from the weight of her inhabitants’ financial, personal, and emotional turbulence and is reacting by “letting off steam”  or “blowing a fuse” (literally and metaphorically). Obviously, Hurricane Sandy’s devastation is what mainly occupies NY and its citizens. It occupies my mind as well. Yet, in midst of all this chaos and calamity, I can’t help but think about another NY tragedy that occurred merely a week ago. I’m referring to the unspeakable event that occurred in Manhattan involving a nanny, two young children, and an unsuspecting mother returning home from work. I don’t want to flicker a smile off your face and replace it with a grimace or a frown, but I don’t feel it’s respectful to proceed forth in my blog without giving mention to this horrific action either. Our hearts are still aching for the father and mother who have to endure this immeasurable pain.