Rabbi Freedman
April 22, 2020
I Miss Your Smile
Last weekend, Lori and I decided to do a small amount of grocery shopping by actually going to Central Market. For several weeks now, going to the grocery store has been an anxiety-provoking experience but somehow this past week was worse. After leaving the store, I was wondering why was this trip particularly anxious and then it struck me--it was the deli counter! My favorite part of shopping is going to the deli counter. The folks behind that counter have been among the friendliest people that I encounter. But something was sad about our encounter this past week and it finally dawned on me what that was. There were no smiles. Because of the masks (which are most necessary), both theirs and ours, there was no exchange of smiles. Orders were spoken loudly from a safe distance and "thank-you's" were muffled. It made for a dreary and businesslike encounter. We tried to say greetings with our eyes but its not the same. I miss their smile and yours but, most of all, I miss giving you mine.
Rabbi Freedman