Katie Schwartz

This afternoon at 5ish it started raining. It rarely rains in Los Angeles, especially this time of year. Me and The Kid always went to the park in the rain. The first rain was never missed. No matter what time it started raining, even if it was 3AM, we were at the patch playing catch. I've always loved the rain and so did The Kid. Watching him run and shake himself off, the way he smelled of wet dog when he got back into the car. After a few tosses, he would look up at the sky with his mouth stretched open catching each and every drop of rain. It was just PERFECT. The joy it brought me made my heart push through my chest. They were uninterrupted, complete moments. I cherished each one of them. When Guthy mentioned how much she loved the Avinu Malkeinu prayer , it reminded me of why I love this prayer, "Avinu malkeinu (Our Father, our King) is a penitential prayer that originated on fast days as a plea for rain." Etc. Etc. Etc. Beautiful. Beautiful. Beautiful. Read . Yo...

The High Holidays are upon us Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur . This is my favorite time of year. I get way too inside my head and my heart. Oy, do I peel the layers. I cleanse. I clean. I organize. I reflect about the choices I've made, the people in my life, where I'm going, where I've been, who and what I've lost. So, so, so much to ponder. This year feels different for many reasons. Some I know about and others I don't--not yet, anyway. The Kaddish , a prayer for the dead, has always been one of my favorite prayers. This year, reciting it will feel different, too. I just know that. Guthy is Jewcying all month about the High Holidays. Be sure to hit it daily and read her wonderful posts and don't forget to comment. Yesterday's post, " Sit, Already, and Have a Little Something " is filled with fabulous, funny heebaliciousness. Today's post, " Kindly, with Open Eyes? " is about tolerance and pausing for a quick shalom. Run. Nosh. Now....