Scents that Start the New Week: An Ode to the Saturday Night
Fresh Cilantro
Aromatic Nana Leaves
Lemon Wedges
Chopped Basil and Tomatoes
Brazilian Coffee Beans
Ground Cinnamon and Cocoa
These are a few of my favorite scents...
SNF...Infusing Saturday Nights with Flavor
When I lived in America, Saturday nights were filled with popcorn, movies and staying up however late you want. SNL (Saturday Night Lounging) was soon followed by an LSM (otherwise known as, Lazy Sunday Morning). Once I moved to Israel and LSM's were quickly replaced by QRD (Quickly Rush out the Door) and SMT (Sunday Morning Traffic) meltdowns, and the SNF (Saturday Night Funk) soon hit.
Let me tell you about the Saturday Night Funk. This funk is not like other funks that you're familiar with--run of the mill shoe funk, paper due in 3 days procrastination funk, or even the 'I forgot to put money in the meter funk'.
No.
The Saturday Night Funk (known by many as SNF) is a syndrome that is limited to Orthodox Jews who live in Israel. It is dangerous to one's health and I believe it to be my utmost responsibility to make you aware of it.
It begins at Sundown of Saturday, just as your husband starts to recite the blessing over the 'Last Meal', also known as 'the Last Supper' by SNF sufferers. It starts innocuously enough with you wondering, "how is the house so messy when I spent most of Friday cleaning it?" or, "How did I finish most of that chocolate cake on my own?"
But then it hits with a bang just as that door to 'arvit' bangs shut, and the kids remember that they...[flashback to Planet of the Apes] "MUST go to synagogue with Abba!", "NEED to dump out every toy onto the floor", "DIDN'T go to the park for enough time!", "MUST revert into screaming primates on the prowl".
And the SNF madness begins. But by the time you're wondering what ever happened to your Shabbat afternoon nap, both kids are crying for some unknown reason and then come the hives.
By the time they're finally sleeping, I'm so exhausted that I am in the throws of SNF...That is, draped on the sofa, with no energy to move, and a pile of dirty [insert whatever you want here].
Why is this you ask?
Because the next day is a school day and a work day. And those few hours of freedom while being able to perform Melacha are transformed into "prep for tomorrow" time. And it's just plain old bothersome. Often, the hard work of cleaning on Friday is for naught due to some spill or another, and it feels almost as if the bliss of Shabbat was obliterated. Even when we go to the in-laws, by the time the kids are in bed it is so late that the next morning is a zombie filled breakfast with a side of SMT (Sunday Morning Traffic). Let's not even start talking about the bags that then need to be unpacked that then join the MMM (Monday Morning Mess).
Okay. So maybe I'm exaggerating.
But maybe I'm not?
I propose to battle SNF with a myriad of tactics.
For one, send the kids to arvit next week (love you Buba!).
Second, I wrote this post. Awareness is the first step to battling this degenerating beginning to the week. I'm sure I'm not the only one who feels this damper, and who dreams of a white Sunday bagel and coffee morning.
Besamim, an age old tactic that our sage Sages have provided us with a solution that has withstood thyme and thyme again. It's more than just a technical part of the Havdalah service.
So I wrote this poem and am starting to dream about the wonderful flavors that I will infuse this week with. Hence the above poem.
These scents begin my week this week, focus my menu, and infuse spice into an otherwise bland evening.
Changing the SNF (Saturday Night Funk) into a (Saturday Night with Flavor).
Shavua tov u'mevusam.
-I
