We had only two friends, David and Bonnie, here for our seder this year, but that was much better than last year, when it was only Woody and I – and we both found it depressing as if it wasn’t really a seder.  Sometimes people are very involved with my Haggadah and find it moving. Others don’t like the liberation directives in it.  Some Jews are so secular that any spiritual dimension turns them off.  David and Bonnie are really in it.  We first had a seder together in 1970, I believe.

I am two weeks plus past my second shot, so I was able to see my osteopath, Dr. Libby, in Harwich for the time in many months. He said my upper back was in fine shape, but my lower back was a real mess.  I go back this Wednesday so that he can work on me more.  This time did reduce that pain.

Tonight we are having not only Dale and Stephen, or not only Tashe and Stephanie, but all of us together to celebrate various birthday around this time. Tashe is making hors d’oeuvres, Dale is making the birthday cake, and I’m doing the meal itself.  Spoon roast, bulghur pilaf, yellow squash pureed last summer and now curried.  Curry and yellow squash belong together.

For my birthday dinner Wednesday, Woody heated stuffed clams, one apiece, cooked lobsters and made an avocado tomato salad – andi had a chocolate eclair from our genuine local French bakery.  Among other gifts, he gave me what I most wanted, a tablet, in this case a Surface Go.  Now I must learn to use it. 

My friend Gigi came visiting yesterday bringing sandwiches from said French bakery.  I had salmon, she had a Frisian, that has ham in it [I don’t eat ham]. It was great to see him for the first time since the weather turned cold and we could not longer distance on the sunporch. 

Last night when I got up @ two-thirty to pee, I saw my white cat with dark blotches, Willow, running by with a mouse in her mouth, followed closely by Schwartzie, our large long haired black cat.  We are still looking around today.  If Willow got the mouse away from him, she killed it instantly.  If Schwartzie got the mouse away from her, then he would wash it lovingly and let is go. He thinks mice are cute. 

I was reading a manuscript for a friend all week –fascinating history but a bit over researched for a memoir.  We were watching the pirate documentary on Netflix till we ran out of episodes and also Aretha in 8 parts.  The pirate documentary will change your notion of who and what pirates were.

Yesterday Woody reached his two weeks after getting his second shot.  We are planning to go to Hyannis soon to Whole Foods and PetSmart and if the unfinished furniture place is still on Route 28, then a high stool for me to use when starting seeds in the storeroom sink. It felt wonderful to drive to Harwich on Wednesday.  It was as exciting as going to Europe used to feel. Hyannis!  An adventure.  Everything out of the house is a big adventure now.