Lights of Love by Morgan Malone

Author:Morgan Malone [Malone, Morgan]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Morgan Malone

CHAPTER TEN

Monday dawned a crisp, clear, perfect New England winter day. Judy pulled on her warm boots and a down jacket, tucked her gloves into her pockets before she wrapped one of her signature challis scarves around her neck. After adjusting the knit cap that matched her gloves, she picked up a small leather backpack, a gift from Ruth last Hanukkah when she saw her mother lugging a tote bag back to the condo from a “quick” shopping trip into town to pick up a “few” things,” and slung it from her shoulder.

Growing up in Eastern Europe, Judy preferred the seasons experienced in New York and New England. Many of her friends had retired to Florida, and while she did enjoy a short vacation in sunny climes by the time March blew in, the heat and humidity of the South did not suit her for more than a brief visit. Len had often suggested that they could winter in Florida once he retired, to avoid the bitter cold and heavy snow accumulations of Boston. In those discussions, Judy had only agreed to January through March; she had no intention of ever missing a New England Spring or Autumn.

Still, despite the bright sunlight that greeted her as she stepped outside, a quick breeze stole her breath away. But the short walk to the shops of downtown Dickens warmed her and put some color in her cheeks.

Her first stop was to be Trim-A-Tree, to find electric bulbs to replace the ones in her old-fashioned electric menorah. She’d spent a quiet Sunday pulling her Hanukkah decorations box from the top of the closet in her office, then sorting through the contents. Some brought back sweet memories, like the tiny menorah that Ruth had received her first year attending Hebrew School and the package of birthday candles that were just the right size. Also, the bag of wooden and plastic dreidels that her daughter had collected from each year’s Hanukkah party at their Brooklyn, then Boston, synagogues. Those Judy arranged for Ruth on the dresser in the guest room, on a scratched metal Hanukkah tray from the same era, with some fresh gelt that she’d already purchased from the Sisterhood gift shop. The old electric menorah was in the box also—but the blue bulbs it needed to send a safe and welcoming glow from her living room windows were no longer working. Judy already planned to put it on a small table in front of the balcony doors, where it could shine down on the town commons as she turned on the bulbs each consecutive night for the eight days of celebrating Hanukkah. Folded around the menorah was a round white doily, embroidered by her mother with a blue Star of David over fifty years ago. Unearthing that memory from her past brought a tear to Judy’s eye. Her mother had been dead for ten years this past spring and she still missed her quiet strength and unwavering love every day.

She also unpacked a few decorative dreidels she had received as gifts from friends over the years.

Download

Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.