Can We Influence Our Fate?

Much to my surprise, I gave a credible interview in Hebrew about Mom’s Alzheimer’s. I reached out to a young high school girl who is researching how adult children are affected by their parent's illness. Thanks to my weekly Hebrew comprehension class, I held my own in my second language and only resorted to English a few times.

I spoke about how I was glad to give advice and support to others as I had also been given when Mom was originally diagnosed. I remember being shocked by my friend’s comment that my whole identity would one day be swallowed in the tangles of Mom’s brain.

And yet, today, when I visited, Mom called me by name. It was grand to be recognized for a few seconds—before she spoke about me in the 3rd person. I don’t know if it was that interchange, the fact that she fell asleep while I was visiting, or just the inability to communicate, but I came home feeling extremely sad.

A friend and neighbor lost his dad this past week, and I am jealous that his father was aware and cognizant until the end.

We don’t get to choose our end. We don’t get to choose how our bodies move through the world. But we can influence events through our behavior. Do we keep ourselves in shape, eat well, find supportive friends, and place our trust in God? I think of the Rosh Hashanah prayer that suggests that prayer, repentance, and charity can change an unfavorable heavenly decree. We have in our power the capacity to make a difference—in our lives and the lives of those around us.

So, what are you going to do to affect your life, to view the positive in a difficult situation, to influence heavenly rulings?

Lastly, I want to thank my cousin Lara for diagnosing Mom’s contact dermatitis via video phone. I notified the nurse about the red, open soars and blisters on her hands, and I will call during the week to talk to the doctor about how to proceed. The first task will be to figure out what she’s reacting to. The second task will be to give her something to fidget with so that she stops rubbing her hands.

We shall overcome.

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I have discovered that my grandkids love gnocchi. Well, I guess I do, too. Fluffy potato balls that puff when you cook them. What’s not to love?

Gnocchi Lasagne

The best thing about this recipe is that you don’t have to cook the gnocchi before you put it in the oven.

1-2 onions chopped

2 squash cubed

2 500 gr / 1 16 oz packages gnocchi

2 cups tomato sauce

250 gr / 1 cup ricotta cheese

250-350 gr / 1-1.5 cups grated yellow cheese

Directions

Sauté onions and squash until soft. Add in gnocchi and cook another few minutes. Remove from heat and stir in tomato sauce. Place in baking dish. Cover with a layer of ricotta then sprinkle with yellow cheese. Bake for 20 minutes until cheese begins to brown.