New Year's Eve 5771

Something mad about the countdown to the Jewish New Year 5771. Mad dash for last minute things like soft drinks, wine and synagogue seat tickets, then it hits you how expensive it is to be a Jew. There's also all the family stuff to get through, kind of like that Richard Ford novel surrounding a Thanksgiving homecoming kind of weekend. Lots of shpilkes. As my late great uncle Menachem used to say, "Aways plenty to worry about," and to that, I toast, l'chaim. Here's to me & family, hoping for a happy and healthy 5771.