Wish me luck, as you wave me goodbye.

Cheerio, here I go, on my way.

Wish me luck as you wave me goodbye,

With a cheer, not a tear, make it gay.

Give me a smile, I can keep for a while.

In my heart while I’m away

Till we meet once again you and I,

Wish me good luck as you wave me goodbye.

So begins the words of the famous wartime song by sung by Gracie Fields and the Ovaltineys.  Yes I know you youngsters won’t have a clue what I’m talking about (ask your parents!)   The sentiments (which are perhaps worded in an old-fashioned way)  however are particularly apt for many of us as we wave goodbye to our sons and daughters, off to Yeshivah and Sem respectively, or even to University or a new life in another city/country.

It may be a life-changing experience for them, but also for us as our family dimensions change and a reality sets in that life will never be quite the same again.  Our children may come and go through the years but somehow the family unit that we built and nurtured will have different parameters and we, as well as them, will have to fit into this, finding our places once more.

For some of our friends this has been a liberating experience – time for them to indulge themselves once more in doing what they want, when they want, not having to think who’s at home waiting to be fed!  For others it’s a period of mourning when reality sets in that we are all getting older and our children no longer need us in quite the same way.  Perhaps it should be a balance between the two.  A time for renewal and a looking forward to the future as well as retaining our values and experiences from the past.  Perhaps this is what Rosh Hashannah is really about.  Time for change?  Time to grow?  But also time to reflect.

If over the past few weeks you have seen me more than once with unusually bright eyes, wiping away a secretive tear, then I hope you have been kind enough to indulge me as our youngest, Jonathan, goes off to Yeshivah.  My husband (as all men do), can’t understand what the fuss is about – “He’s growing up, he’s getting on with his life, Isn’t this what you wanted for him?”  Yes, Yes and Yes! – and Yet!

I’ve told my children I hope to grow old disgracefully and get my revenge on them – so you may have to indulge me a little more over the coming years!  However my children have told me I’ll have to be nice to them as it’s they who gets to chose the nursing home I may end up in!  In any case, for the moment, I’ll have to make do with the Stenecourt Family – which isn’t such a bad thing! 

From the whole of my family, to yours, may we wish you a Happy and Peaceful New Year – for us all.

RUTH HART

EDITOR