Your assignment, class ...

Okay, read this poem and tell me what you think it means. I have my own ideas, but I want to see if somebody else agrees with me. I'm actually learning this in song-form as part of my music lessons. Did I mention I did finally manage to find a vocal music teacher? And he's quite affordable, too. Yay!

Oh, here's another assignment. Tell me what the Jewish holiday "S'lichot" (or "Selichot" or "Slichot"...I've seen it spelled a bunch of different ways) is all about. Or if you've even heard of it. I sure hadn't until I found out that I need to sing in the service for it in a couple of weeks.

Speaking of being Jewish, I got an email today telling me that I need to come to a mandatory NASD certification dealie on Oct. 13. Which, if you're keeping score, is the same day as Yom Kippur. So I told 'em I couldn't make it. You know, you'd think an organization that deals with money would be more sensitive to the needs of Jews. Other fun "token Jew" fact -- I got an email from one of my old bosses in RI asking me if it was "appropriate" to have a little party-at-work on Rosh Hashannah. I told her that, besides Jews not actually being at work to participate, it's fine, as long as there are plenty of virgins and goats around to sacrifice to Cthulu.

Another "token Jew" conversation I had at work between me and a coworker named Sonya, who is Black:

Me: "You know, it's kind of tough being the token minority around here."

Sonya: "Kid, you're preaching to the choir."

For the record, though -- there are at least 4 other Black people in my department. Haven't found any other Jews yet. Maybe we just blend in too well.