Finally, the day of departure draws near. After a couple of negative remarks by others on this forum, we decide to skip the POM meals. The fact that in Tokyo we are staying within walking distance to both kosher restaurants makes this decision easier. I am also concerned that the POM meals would defrost once we depart Tokyo to the Kansai region.
We load up on dry goods at the kosher supermarket – this is what the 5th knapsack is for. As we are driving home in heavy traffic from the supermarket, Mrs. Shwarmabob discourages me from cutting off the troopers ahead of us – why can’t those guys speed up a little? She explains that getting a court summon two days before our family vacation would be something that only a nincompoop like yours truly can accomplish. I listen to her gentle words –not for nothing our sages said that she possesses
Binah Yasaira – and we cruise home peacefully.
The following day, a sweltering commute in a subway car packed to the brim with sweaty straphangers prepares me for our journey. A NYC parking ticket that I appealed gets denied. I also get a letter from that beloved government agency, the IRS, that they can do a much better job deciding what to do with those few dollars in my pocket than I possible could therefore I should quickly dispatch a check to them for underpayment of taxes.
Now, I am not generally a yoga guy, but at this point I do decide to experiment with some deep breathing techniques. After my impromptu subway meditation, I reach the conclusion that these are all mysterious signs from the Divine whose summary message is:
Get me out of here!I pick up our Hertz rental on the way home. Once arriving to our Yiddishe Heim, I realize that the only one that needs to finish packing is actually none other than yours truly…
Next morning, we return the car at Newark Airport, hop on the Airtran to terminal C. Our flight is United 79 direct from EWR to NRT. After dropping off our luggage and getting our boarding passes, we head back to Terminal B to visit Art & Lounge. We daven shacharis outside its closed doors, we are early - they open at 9AM. At the 9th stroke of the clock, the doors open and we are in:
We make up for the skipped breakfast at home:
My mood instantly improves:
