# 213 – Le Shana Tova

September 14, 2012

Came home early this morning – and shall leave again Tuesday afternoon.

Not very ‘kosher’ of me, as Tuesday is still part of the holiday. But work beckons.

But I AM here to be with the family. Today already, we were together, playing with the grandchildren.

And over the 3 days, we shall greet, eat, hug and smile.

And over the 3 days, we shall greet, eat, hug and smile.

5773 is the Jewish year, in case you’re interested.

We have a lovely addition to the family, as some of you know. His name is Matan, meaning ‘gift’ and he was born Sep 1.

As you see, Naya, now 17 months, is pretty happy about this…

2 weeks ago, we had the following situation..

 …..and I wrote…

Hello?

Hello.

Who are you?

I don’t know. You?

Tinokio. [‘Tinok’ is Hebrew for ‘baby’]

You Japanese?

I don’t know.

Where are you?

I don’t know. You?

I don’t know.

Why not?

I can’t see.

What’s see?

I don’t know. They say that.

Who says that?

I don’t know. The voices I hear.

I hear voices, too.

Strange place, this.

What’s it like?

I don’t know.

I’m floating.

What’s floating?

I don’t know. But it’s nice.

What’s it like?

Flying.

What’s flying?

I don’t know. But it’s nice.

Maybe I’m floating.

How do you know?

I don’t know. But it’s nice.

I’m leaving here soon.

How do you know?

I don’t know.

…but I have a feeling it’s time.

But you can’t leave me!

I won’t.

How do you know?

You’re my soul cousin.

How do you know?

I know.

And then……

Tinokio is out, is named Matan, but what’s her name is still inside. So I wrote…..

Hello in there.

Who’s that?

Still Tinokio.

Ah, my soul cousin. You sound clearer.

I’m out.

Out? Out of where?

I don’t know. But it’s brighter out here.

What’s bright?

Light.

What’s light?

I don’t know, but it’s fun.

I hear new voices.

It’s people.

What’s people?

I don’t know, but I think I’m one of them.

Am I one of them?

I don’t know. I can’t see you.

Ow! What was that!

It’s one of them….Naya.

What’s it doing?

I don’t know. Ow!

What was that?

It did the same to me!

Did what?

Stroked me.

What’s that?

I don’t know, but it’s nice.

It stroked me too.

How do you know?

I don’t know – but it was nice.

I’m off now.

Don’t leave me!

Never. I’m your soul cousin.

Where you going?

Snip snip.

What’s snip snip?

I don’t know. I’m not to worry.

What’s worry?

I don’t know. They told me I’ll be a Jew now.

Bless you.

What’s ‘bless you’?

I don’t know. But they say that when the other says ‘a Jew’.

That’s nice.

I’ll be with you for snip snip.

Why?

I’m your soul cousin.

Why?

I don’t know, but it’s nice.

Happy New Year to you all…

Stephen

PS – You can now read all of the poems in Stephen’s separate book, ‘Soul Cousins’ available online…