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5 ‘’All travelers arriving to Quebec will be required to isolate It was another meaningful afternoon visit to my dear elderly mother, 6

something I liked to do as often as
14 days in quarantine starting November 9th of 2021, until
possible. With my teenage son by my side, I turned her wheelchair
further notice.’’
I read the new messages again to ensure I saw right. into the dignified lobby of the old
age residence, and planted ourselves in a cozy corner; her
We spent the past two weeks arranging who could memories were fading, and we wanted to
attend Simi’s wedding. The wedding was originally interact with her and keep them from wilting, as one would want to
planned to be in Montreal, though was changed to take salvage a beautiful drooping
flower.
place in Boro Park due to evolving laws to protect the
The gentleman a few feet away, also in a wheelchair, a new face,
citizens against Covid. Although we all would have loved struck up a friendly conversation. He
to be present, only U.S citizens could travel by land and in had many questions, about our roots, and also about my son: “What
addition to the extra expense, each classmate had their are you studying now, what a nice
own valid reasons to decline, and the options were slim. young man, giving your Oma such naches....”.
But what struck him the most, were my son’s tzitzit. He wheeled
Finally, after much back and forth, convincing one
himself closer, and lovingly touched the
another, 15 classmates booked a car excitedly to travel
tzitzit strands, saying that he had not owned a pair since his youth,
back and forth and make it to the wedding! and would he even know how to
Simi was psyched with the plan! wear them again? His eyes became misty, and one could see that
I read the text again, how could the regulations change these tzitzit had evoked emotions in
him that he had not felt in many years. He had a connection with
now, quarantine for 14 days?? There was no way I was
this four-cornered begged (garment),
going to this wedding and let alone the others.
and obviously memories he cherished.
Within minutes, they all started calling, the wedding was Sometimes known for spontaneity, a.k.a impulsive ideas, the wheels
in a few days. What to do? in my head started to turn. I
Simi called me in a panic. I tried calming her down. Yet, I exchanged a glance with my son and said to him, in a whisper:
“I have a crazy idea. We don’t even know this
felt the nervousness in her, she knew what it entailed to
man, so I feel a bit awkward, and
come.
‘out of my comfort zone’
As the days passed the confusion grew, and one by one but we can buy him a pair of tzitzit-
girls trickled out. There was no way we could spend two we won’t ask him- let’s just do it. We can
weeks at home, with multiple checks from the RCMP. deliver it on a future visit.”
My son, being my son, was just as ready. It
It was Monday night, and the wedding was on
just felt right.
Wednesday, when the decision was clear.
In the end indeed, the friendly senior was
How can we let Simi arrive at her very touched with the gesture.
wedding with not even one Sometimes getting over that bit of
classmate there?? trepidation, and just ‘going for it’,
And so, regardless to do something for someone
when it is least expected, is
of the threats,
extremely gratifying and worth
rules and fear, the effort. We do need to judge
I managed to each
convince two more situation carefully, but the
girls and drove to her end-result satisfaction and
endorphins are a very welcome
wedding!
by-product!
The smile on Kallah’s face
when she saw us was priceless!

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