Passover

So, barely had everyone left when we began to get ready for Passover. I spent the week before buying afikomen gifts, baking gluten-free chocolate cookies (which turned out badly, for some reason; not sure why), packing, etc.

We left at 10:30 a.m. on Friday morning and the first order of business was listening to Prince's "Purple Rain" album (he had died on Thursday and I was very upset), on the highway. I had forgotten what a fantastic album it is -- not a clunker song in the bunch -- and it was gratifying to hear Rachel singing "Purple Rain" very softly in the back and saying that she liked the album. We think we've just about decided to keep her in the family.:)

We listened to "1999," another not-as-good Prince album, and then by the time we pulled into NYC (around 5 or so), we did what we'd promised Rachel: put in Taylor Swift's "1989" album, which starts off with, "Welcome to New York." When I grumbled a bit at having to do that, she shot back, "We listening to YOUR music, Mom, now we get to listen to mine. It's time." And she was right.

We had a lovely Passover dinner, as usual, at Daniella's apartment. Beautiful Seder table, delicious matzoh-ball soup, chicken, etc. It lasted way late -- past 11 for the kids and past midnight for the grown-ups cleaning up, but so worth it! We managed to sleep in a bit the next day, which was nice.

The girls hung around the apartment and watched a movie while Drew and I took a walk around the neighborhood and bought pizza for lunch. Around 3:15, we headed to Mom and Dad's, and then Dad took Rachel swimming while Mom played the piano and I got to sing (geez, I've missed that).

When Drew, Dad and Rachel got back from the pool, Rachel said excitedly that she had jumped off Grandpa's shoulders! When I looked at him reproachfully and asked him why he'd let Rachel do that, he said, "Because I used to do the same thing with her mommy," and I was so moved.

We went to a delicious Spanish restaurant where I ordered a paella I am still salivating over, only to remember that during Passover I generally try to adhere to all the dietary rules, which I broke by eating shellfish. Sigh. So I resolved to extend my Passover kashrut diet for one more day -- Saturday afternoon -- when I am meeting a friend at a burger place and will end things at that time.

Our drive home was longish, but we managed to avoid traffic until we got to the Baltimore-Washington Parkway. But I still got in to work on time (just barely). What a great getaway, and thanks so much, everyone, for making it a wonderful trip.