what a difference two generations makes.

A guy I know commutes to the city every day, so people frequently call him and ask for rides. Since he is going to work, his "policy" is simple. He leaves at six oclock. If you are on his driveway at six, you come along. He does not wait for you. He does not charge.
So one day he was driving this young woman and baby back to Lakewood, and as they arrive in town, she starts telling him where she lives like she is expecting door to door service.
So he says, I take you to my driveway, call your husband and ask him to pick you up.
"Well my husband is not available."
"So call someone else." he told her.
Sure enough she managed to find a sister who came and got her.
(why would she assume that this guy would go all the way to her house - it's forty minutes to get across town and back. Like cuz her husband is not available, it becomes his problem to take care of her.)

A couple of months later, he was giving a ride to an older woman who just happened to be the grandmother of the previous woman. When they reached town, she told him, just drop me off at Squankum and I will hitch a ride...
Since she was elderly, and also the wife of a chashuva rav, he insisted on driving her all the way, out of kavod.
All the way, she was insisting, it's okay, dont go out of your way, I know you're busy, I'll get a ride... etc.

what do you make of that?

Maybe someone can clarify this for me, I have been wondering for a while now. (not steadily 24/7 but on and off)

Most Ashkenazim, like myself are loathe to buy German goods, especially big ticket items like cars, etc.
Yet Sephardim are always driving around in German cars and every driveway in Deal has a couple of 'em.

Why?
I know they werent as affected by the Nazis,
but still-
don't they care about us?
Like six million of their "cousins" were killed and they are not "affected" ?
If anyone knows, I would like an explanation.

Did anyone notice that there are alot of contradictions in our way of life here.
for example:
Girls should get married at 19 and
Girls should have the ability to support husband/family.


Most mothers have to work either to support family or supplement husband's income.
and schools insist on sending the kids home all the time, such as on a fast day, which is totally unjustified, thereby complicating things for parents who are at work because their bosses dont give them off at 12:00 just cuz it's a fast day.

Men should learn in kollel for alot of years, and
be able to pay tuitions for and support large families.

Men should learn in kollel for alot of years, and
be able to pay tuitions for and support large families and
send daughters to Israel for two grand and
marry them off the next year in fine style and
support them for the next bunch of years and
do it again for their next kid and
their next kid and
their next kid...

I was having a bedtime conversation with my 9 year old son, about what he wants to do when he grows up- after learning in kollel of course.
Doctor? I asked him.
Maybe
Well you know you have to go to alot of school, you know.
Naah.
What else, then?
Maybe a beekeeper?

Isnt he cute??

I kept thinking of different things to write about and then forgetting.
So in the meantime, before I get back to my incisive commentary and stuff, I just wanted to get some opinions - I mean is this totally gross or is it just me?
I had a Shabbos guest stay over til Sunday morning and she came out and asked me if she could use one of my toothbrushes. (from the toothbrush holder in the bathroom)
eeeeewwwwwwwww!
Of course I told her NO WAY. and then she asked real innocently "why, do you each have your own toothbrush and are makpid not to share?"
double eeeeeeeeewwwwww!
I told her that was so disgusting, I dont know what happened to her in her youth that she didnt realize that
Maybe I should call her MOM and tell! I happen to know her Mom is a germ freak who washes her hands with soap every five minutes.
How's that for gross?

Latke Update

Happy Chanuka to all!

Last night's latke attempt none too successful.

Usually my latkes come out great, so perhaps I was a little overconfident, but I was just not having luck due to the fact that the stuff kept sticking to the frying pan.
Every time I tried another batch the same thing kept happening.
Only one latke came out perfect, and of course I gave that one to the husband. So later when I was kvetching about the latkes flopping he said, "What do you mean, they came out great!"

There Are No Secrets

The other night I mentioned to my husband that we are low on milk, so when he comes home from davening in the morning to pick up some milk.
The next morning I realized we are lower than I thought, actually completely out,and my husband was not going to be home till after my son left to school (and he would probably forget the milk, since I only asked him once)
So I ran out to the grocery to pick up some milk for my son's cereal. (what an excellent mother!)
After davening my husband (who DID remember) was at the store buying milk and they guy who works there says - Hey, you dont need milk- your wife already bought milk this morning!

Not that I think Rudy is perfect, but I do know, based on his record, that he IS a man of action, which is really important. I heard some interesting ideas from him re: the healthcare issue. Its actually the first plan I've heard that makes some sense, in a healthy way.

1- people who opt to purchase their own health insurance policies (instead of getting thru their companies) will get a $10,000 tax rebate.

2- this will put more people in the market for insurance plans, and insurance companies will offer more plans to cater to a variety of needs.

Similar to when the phone company was de-monopolized. Compare todays's long distance bills with those of 15 years ago. The consumer was the ultimate winner. This is an primo example of the free market system WORKING to our benefit. Hopefully a similar effect would result with the health insurance companies.

I think this makes alot of sense. Anyone see any downside to this?