CBI Blogs

Shalom Chaverim,

Last week I was fortunate to travel north to say hello to family, reconnect with my summer home (and memories) on Lake Huron, and be sure to get my body in the water for a swim.

On Sunday evening, as we walked through the airport in Detroit, the heavens had opened, and the rain was pouring down. Thankfully, in the time it took us to collect our luggage from the belt, go back up and down to get to the rental car shuttle, push our way onto the shuttle and get to Hertz, the rain had stopped. In its wake was a miraculous 76 degrees.

Since moving to Texas in June 1998, Jonathan and I have traveled back to Canada more times than we can count. Our parents are still living there along with a myriad of aunts, uncles, and cousins. Typically, a relative will select an evening for everyone to come over and there will be a BBQ (not Texas-style) with food, fun, and reconnecting. This time, with only 6 days to spend, I opted for more short one-on-one hellos with many of our loved ones.

It started on Sunday evening, after we crossed the Ambassador Bridge into Windsor, when we made our way over to a ball-diamond where younger cousins had gathered for the 7-year old’s baseball game. Hugs, “how are you?” “Sorry it took us so long to get here…the traffic on the bridge” and then delicious pizza with those who were able to do so. These delightful visits continued on Monday evening with a meeting for drinks, and Tuesday with more cousins, and meals with aunts and uncles.

On Wednesday, we finally got to the purpose of the visit, a swim in the lake. Since our arrival in the dark on Sunday evening we had gone for a couple of walks but the lake had been rough, I had been in my socks and running shoes, and I hadn’t yet put my feet in the water. Between Tuesday evening and Wednesday morning the wind had shifted from a North (off the lake) to a South wind. The waves were no more, and the water was crystal clear. There was no more waiting.

The swim was even better than I thought it would be. The water was a warm 75 degrees while the air a balmy 79. We stayed in the water a good 45 minutes before we decided to head in. We were chilling on floaties, and we just let the small wake carry us in.

As we sat in our chairs. Drying off and taking in the magic around us a thought occurred to me “maybe the beach is the great equalizer.” I mean, once a family has poured all their belongings onto the sand it is impossible to determine anyone’s status. Nobody’s car is nearby to have any idea what they traveled in to get to the beach. Everyone has a folding chair, or a towel, or a blanket. Beach toys can be plastic shovels or gardening tools or your hands. A cooler can be a Yeti on wheels, or a plastic bag filled with ice.

Because the day was so beautiful we were surrounded by families. A Muslim family to our left where the adults were speaking Arabic and the kids English. With a request to collect toys from an adult the kids sprung into action leaving one young boy to drag the full bag back from the water’s edge. Within minutes the bag was emptied again as large sticks were being “planted” in a circle. A family in the lake speaking Spanish. Playing, splashing, throwing young children in the air. A couple older than us lying on their blanket soaking up the sun. Our own family, the second and third generation sitting on the same beach, staring at the same lake, watching the people and the sea gulls.

It was a glorious time.

Beyond the beach, the produce the farmers of Lambton Shores Ontario bring from the earth is second to none. We had missed cherry season, but the peaches and sweet corn were on point. My parent’s garden was overflowing with vine ripened tomatoes, cucumbers, and beans.

In this week’s parashah we read:

“8] For the Eternal you God is bringing you into a good land, a land with streams and springs and fountains issuing from plain and hill; 8] a land of wheat and barley, of vines, figs, and pomegranates, a land of olive trees and honey; 9] a land where you may eat food without sting, where you will lack nothing; … 10] When you have eaten your fill, give thanks to the Eternal your God for the good land given to you.”  (Deuteronomy 8:7-10)

As I sit back at my desk here in Austin, Texas, and write this message I know that I am thankful for the good land that I come from. The abundant produce, the rolling farmland, and the mighty Lake Huron. I am also thankful for the time given to me by my colleagues so I can return home rejuvenated and ready to transition from a more relaxed summer schedule to all the excitement that comes with the start of fall semester.

Hoping all of you have had the chance to fill your cup – wherever and however that may be – during these summer months.

Shabbat Shalom