Here I am in another hotel room. We were home for about 15 hours before I had to pack up for another overnight for business. I will be home late tomorrow evening, G-d willing. As many of you know, we have been preoccupied with  family crises, one after another. We just returned from a loooong week in New Jersey and were hoping for some rest and quiet time together with our three sweet dogs. Unfortunately, our oldest dog, Miss Jessica Jane, is in failing health. We took her to the vet this morning and got the sad news: osteosarcoma and a short prognosis. We are researching the matter and praying for guidance. Obviously we are grieving the reality of losing her sweet puppy face and good, loving, obedient,  manners. We're having to get our minds around the idea of "when" to say goodbye to our sweet girl. It's a surprise.We just didn't think it would be any time soon. And we just can't bear to see her suffer needlessly. Sigh...

Before we left for New Jersey (to care for Lori's aging parents), my dear friend was also going through the shock and grief of learning about a grave illness in her dog. It's a lot of "sctuff" this year already to manage.

I keep looking at Psalm 23 and then thinking about the Psalms generally as a source of prayer when all I can think to myself is "why?" or even forbid, "what next?"  

So, I'm in this hotel room tonight and feeling a little envious of Joe and his "sitathon." The idea of marathon sitting sesshin for 5 days straight sounds blissful, even in its blank, crampy, crazyness.

Have lots to share about sound theory ready and general preparation underway for departure (2 weeks) to New Mexico to begin KZ3 with Rabbi Shefa and all my new classmates. Double happiness to get to spend a little time there with my sister and bff Laura Marsh who is nearby in Nambe Pueblo. Anyway, I wil fill you in on all of these details and get to crackin' already on all of the things that are rolling around in my head on topics of more sublime nature...or at least not so miserable as those immediately presenting. Hold us up in your prayers please as we hope to gently shepherd our sweet Jess into her perfect next form. May the process be gentle for all of us.