Late Lunch with the Rabbi

The entry in this Spirited Woman's handy-dandy DayTimer for Wednesday of this week was certainly a first: 1 p.m. - Lunch at the deli with the Rabbi

Me?  Breaking bread with a bona fide ecclesiast? Noshing with a known sermonizer? Enjoying luscious lox while laughing with a learned linguist?

Here's the backstory: Last week I completed a marathon editing project, the Rabbi's 400-page novel about a group of American Jews from Southern California who are moving to Israel, and the adventures they have on the luxury cruise ship that's taking them to the Promised Land.

It's a fascinating and often hilarious story. Several of the characters in the story are side-splittingly funny, and are familiar to me from various family members I have known. I was a bit apprehensive about taking on the project, as the Rabbi is not terribly computer-savvy; he asked that I edit the old-fashioned way: using red pen (and White-Out) on hard copy (paper). But...it all worked out very well.

We decided to meet for lunch, and that's when I realized I was a bit nervous about the whole idea of lunching with a Rabbi. Would I have to watch my language, my metaphors, my similes, and make sure they were squeaky-clean? Would I have to mentally delete any negative references to certain politicians I detest (initials GWB and SP)?

When I walked into the restaurant today, all my fears evaporated when I actually met the Rabbi. Not only did he give me a bear hug and immediately put me at ease, he told me I had done a magnificent job with the editing, and he was a sweet, charming, funny guy who was open to any and all topics of conversation.

His partner was there as well, and it turned out that she and I had a lot in common -- both of us have worked in or around television and broadcasting, and we both graduated from GW (George Washington University) in Washington, D.C.

So, all in all, my fears and apprehensions about lunching with a Rabbi were completely groundless. I had a very good time, and in fact we all said that we'd like to get together in the future.  Rabbis rock!

Linda Jay Geldens, www.LindaJayGeldens.com
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Comments

[Aloha Bears]

Linda, I know I can always count on you for the very best alliteration! But seriously, isn't that the human way to feel apprehension when first meeting someone with whom you already have a relationship, co-workers or otherwise? I can relate!