Day 195

Last night I was asked what the key to happiness was for me. I paused a moment before saying my family. I only consider a few of my extended blood relatives to be in this category. But my family also consists of my friends, the Temple community, my boyfriend and his family. It’s a family that I’ve cobbled together over the last decade and one that has been instrumental in keeping me going during these painful months without Mom. As Rabbi Stern pointed out to me last fall and Rabbi Kim mentioned in my mom’s eulogy, I have built my own mishkan, with lots of help, but I chose to stay and keep building out my home, my safe place, this unconventional family that has become so important to me. I feel very lucky and incredibly grateful.