There is an entire quiet army out there helping us. While I’m snuggling under the covers and watching the raindrops vibrate furiously against the window screen, there are people who have to go to Work. (Not just “work.” Capital letters here.) They’re out there, making sure the power doesn’t go out. They’re on call for emergencies. They’re driving ambulances. They’re running shelters. They’re making sure cell phones still work. Even those @$%&*^s at Comcast must be doing something right, because my internet is still happening right now. There are a whole bunch of people whose jobs specifically call for them to go outside on days like this, and they have to kiss their families goodbye and march out into the maelstrom as though it’s not dangerous and not unpleasant and not going to give them a nasty cold if they don’t wear hats that cover their ears. I hope they’re okay right now.
I hope they grumble to their coworkers this morning, and then I hope they say with grit and determination, “Okay everyone, let’s do this.” I hope all the 911 dispatchers have coffee. I hope the firehouse is warm and dry inside. I hope the hardhats of people who work for the electrical companies fit snugly. I hope no one gets a cold on my behalf today. I hope everyone has their vitamins, and I hope lunch tastes delicious.
Suzie told me years ago that Hebrew is not required to say misheberach. When firetrucks or ambulances drive by, we say misheberach together, starting in Hebrew with “misheberach avoteinu avraham v yitzchak v yaakov, sarah, v rivkah v leah…” and then we finish with a spur of the moment English prayer, usually something like, “may Gd bless you and keep you safe from all the craziness of the world, and may you feel safe in the hands of the EMTs, and may the EMTs be safe when they’re driving to the hospital…”
So this is my misheberach for all the people working during Hurricane Sandy. May everyone be safe today, and may Gd protect us all during this ridiculous Frankenstorm, and may the people working hard feel good about the work they do and get paid well for it and not be injured or even get the sniffles today.
V’nomar, Amen.
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