Invitation

As we all learned from Miss Austen, "It is a truth universally acknowledged, that a single man in possession of a good fortune must be in want of a wife."

It is also a truth universally acknowledged, in the estimation of one Gannet Girl, that a middle-aged woman in possession of a husband, adult children, mortgages, a gutter system on the verge of collapse, two broken toilets, a red Corolla, and A Call, must be in want of a sense of humor.

It's more or less settled. This particular such woman is going to drive that Corolla off to seminary next fall.

Luckily for all involved, she is also in possession of a stellar sense of humor.

*******

I told my employers on Monday, and then started telling my work friends. (Only a couple know, and they have kept my secret all year.) I teach in an Orthodox Jewish school. In the Orthodox community, women are not ordained and men do not touch women to whom they are not married (except when they shake hands with women like me, who are wont to forget that shaking hands is not is a sign of basic courtesy in all situations). Most excellent moments since I have begun to tell people:

A colleague, whose three sons have all been my students, says, "No, no, no. Do NOT tell me you are leaving." ~ And then, when she learns the reason, throws her arms around me and says, "How wonderful!"

A male colleague, the kindest and gentlest of men, he whose birthday was just celebrated by the entire student body producing a cake and a rendition of When I'm 64, whose face breaks into a smile as he reaches to grasp my hand before he gives in to a hug and says, "How wonderful!"

I am also in possession of a good fortune, in the form of friendships and generosity.