Synagoge-Should I go to the Retreat?

As I've said before, BL is Jewish and very active in her synagogue, and I'm Christian and ... searching. The synagogue she belongs to is CBST, the ONLY gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender and others shul in NYC. I really haven't been around the shul since a few unpleasant things occurred at the retreat last spring. Sue and I had heard that The head rabbi was now marrying a Jew and a non Jew (her wording-which I was trying to change.) We had also had heard from a member of the board that she was allowing couples where one was not Jewish to be buried in their cemetery (BL had been be nagging me to sign my will, and this was one item that was missing.) We spoke to the rabbi and she told us that there was no way that she would allow us to be buried together in the CBST cemetery-BL could, but no space for a non-Jew. Then I asked her about continually calling members of other religions non-Jews. She gave me a spiel about how there were so few Jews (in the world yada yada...) and she felt it was a political statement and intended to keep doing it.

Actually, I've been spiritually away since the head rabbi refused to marry us because I, a post menopausal woman and unable to bear children, was not Jewish. Yesterday we went to an adult Bat Mitvah of a close friend. I was so uncomfortable I could barely sit still. I had to meditate on my discomfort which is something I have learned to do. I realized that I was comfortable being 'other', but being told that you are 'other' and unwelcome in so many different ways was just too uncomfortable. I noticed unkind acts, like the man next to me who took up three chairs, yet was rarely in them. I was looking for things that were wrong.

The CBST retreat is coming up. I want my BL to go because she will have a good time and be amongst her friends. Should I go and try to detach, read my books, enjoy nature, put down my fists and stop trying to change the unchangeable? Or should I just stay home-and BK will probable stay home too?
 

Friday Five Millionaire

This weeks Friday Five has to do with all the game shows that have taken over the airways since the writers strike has taken away real tv. You remember that, Grey's Anatomy, House, Bones etc.

 

Well, our task is to choose the five things that we would do if a million dollars suddenly showed up in our bank account.

1. I'd call the bank to report the mistake-just kidding- Ok I really did win it on "1 VS 100" my personal favorite of this lot.

2. I'd buy a place to live for my me and my partner that's bigger than 500 sq. ft.this used to be called a studio apartment but is now called a "junior one"apartment inflation! Actually that should about cover the down payment in NYC, and we'd be left with a large mortgage. (A junior one in my building is selling for just under $600,000. and I want 2 bedrooms, is this too much to ask?)

3. OK,  I'm giving myself a downstate living allowance (something the state actually gives me.) Let's make it $2,000,000. I'd also quit my  job and go into private practice as a therapist.

4. I'd be much more generous to the non-profits and charities that I now support on a much more modest level.

5. Of course I'd put some in my retirement fund, which is still too slim.

"In your Easter Bonnet, with all the frills upon it..."

The Entry That's Not Here

Sunday, BL, my godchild and our niece went to the Easter Parade a long standing, wonderful custom in NYC. It's unlike any other  NY Street Event as it's held on 5th Ave. in the 40's and 50's (right in front of St. Patricks Cathedral.) but there are no vendors, nothing commercial at all. Just ordinary NYers in home made hats, wonderful creations made and worn by men and women. I've just been too tired to download, then upload the pictures.  After my long hiatus, work really takes up too much of my time and energy. Maybe tomorrow I'll have time to do it. Today after work I'm having coffee with Barb from Views from the Road

Happy Easter

We're on our way to the Easter Parade and then to see Chorus Line.

OK, Get this. If you think you're A Catholic, you may not be and you also may not be married

"Words make a difference -- so much of a difference that they can make a sacrament invalid, according to a declaration from the Vatican’s Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith published Feb. 29. The congregation said gender-neutral language makes baptisms null. Formulas used by some Christian churches to replace the phrase “In the name of the Father, and of the Son and of the Holy Ghost” are not valid in Catholicism, the Vatican ruled.

The official note, approved by Pope Benedict XVI, said those baptized with alternative Trinitarian formulas, such as in the name “of the Creator, and of the Redeemer and of the Sanctifier” or “of the Creator, and of the Liberator and of the Sustainer” must be rebaptized if they wish to remain Catholic or to convert to Catholicism."

Which means that if your parents had a forward thinking parish who followed the ideas of the Vatican Council and they tried to bring their churches and sacraments into the spirit of the era. And your parents had a child or several and had them baptised and the baptism used language that was the alternative formula which was much friendlier to women. You were not really Catholic, even if you received the sacraments and went to 15 or 18 years of Catholic schools-maybe you're a priest or a nun?  Or perhaps you got married and confirmed and made their first communion while not Catholic, well, you guessed it, gotta redo. Hundreds of lawsuits for priestly child abuse millions being paid out, I guess the pope though Hmmm..., how'm I gonna earn all this extra money, hey lets declare baptism's coming out of Vatican II null and re-baptise and re-marry. Of course there will be an honorarium to correct this 'mistake' and make everything right, uh huh... It's all so unbelievable what our current pope-a-lope will come up with next.

Good Friday

I wonder why they call it that. It certainly wasn't too good for Jesus Christ. He spent the day sacrificing His life for us in a very unpleasant way. Not so good. It should be called Sad Friday. And why did he have to die this way? Beaten, pierced by a sword, hanging on a cross by nails? Was it because when he came back from the dead, it was so unbelievable. If it happened today, I should think a nice open traumatic brain injury would make me a true believer. Sad Friday should be the new name.

The Easter Bunny

And part of the interview

Dr. Laura on cheating

Click on her lovely face.

Dr. Laura Schlessinger does it again

Speaking of Elliot and Silda Spitzer-former governor and first lady of New York. Elliot resigned after it was revealed that he had been using pricey call girls over a long period of time.

Laura Schlessinger said:
“If a woman doesn’t make herself sexually perfect for the husband then she drives him away. And, poor thing, he has to go use prostitutes for $80,000.” Leave it to Dr. Laura to beat up on the victim-something she specializes in!

I wondered what would bring Laura out of the closet after the mess she made out of the gay community, well she's baack!

To read more, go to the new website for women over 40 and the discussion between Liz Smith (I had dinner with her once) and Whopee Goldberg.
http://www.wowowow.com/

BL just got up and I read this to her and she said "Oh my God! Is this a joke? Is this for real? How can she say this?" Silda Wall Spitzer is such as strong, smart woman. All New Yorkers seem to feel really bad for her. She is a Harvard Grad. lawyer raising 3 terrific daughters, one just 3 years younger than the other woman. Which it has been quoted in various pubs. Silda Spitzer is outraged at and who wouldn't be shocked by.
I just couldn't not comment on this.