A Hanukkah poem

It's been a week since surgery, and all day today I was remembering that today was the day surgery had been originally scheduled. I'm so glad the surgery is behind her. Alison says this was a good day, the most she has felt her "normal self", the confusion lifting, the headache controlled, the vision issue surmountable. The Occupational Therapy home health specialist came out to the house to make sure Alison makes any needed adaptations in her home, and on her vision testing, she found that some of the area that was gone has come back! Alison and Kirk walked a bit in our break from the rain, and Al is stronger.

Kirk, Alison and Lara were graced by "like-a-daughter" Jen (their words), because that is the Monday night ritual - Jen comes to visit. Good food, relaxing together, I think they watched a fun movie, and Alison sounds content tonight.

I heard Rabbi Paula speaking here in Santa Cruz about the origins of Hanukkah, how it was originally a military victory that the rabbis re-interpreted to be an event that embodies hope and faith; the Maccabees lit the oil for the lamps even though it was obviously NOT enough. They didn't know if the oil would last, but they lit the lamp anyways. A lovely woman and fellow singer named Holly sent this poem, which sums up more than Hanukkah for me. An offering to you all, with her permission. Love, Deborah

Miracle

Even if you think
it’s too late
too long
too little
too much to ask
too much to expect
too much to dream
too much to risk

Strike the spark
kindle the wick
hover,
breathless,
as the dwindling flame
retracts its heat
deep down
into the oil
and then springs up
into brightness
engorged
with the green-gold essence
and dances
in firelight

Dances and dances,
beyond all imaginings
night after night
like a pillar of fire
guiding us from faraway
downtrodden
despair
back into faith

Back into Light
reconsecrated
rededicated
ablaze.

_\\//
hallel bat-malkah
aka Holly Blue Hawkins