https://community.aarp.org/t5/Leisure-Lifestyle/Whoa/m-p/2517852#M12441 <P><SPAN><STRONG>Whoa!</STRONG></SPAN></P><P><SPAN>During the past few months, I have seen a middle-aged woman who mumbles and weeps as she slowly walks around my Waikiki neighborhood. At one point, I saw her in a nearby driveway a block away from my condo.&nbsp; She was either being constrained or comforted by a Jewish man to whom I had occasionally said a hearty shalom. Then it dawned on me: perhaps the lady is also Jewish, and her trance-like behavior is actually a type of davening, fitfully praying in Hebrew as she ambles about in her religious devotion.</SPAN></P><P><SPAN>Yesterday just as I began my walk, I saw her inching towards me. Without thinking, I blurted out “shalom” to her: Clearly and emphatically, she responded with shalom as well. Ah hah, a breakthrough! Perhaps she recognized me as a fellow Jew. Or perhaps she was just mimicking me.&nbsp; </SPAN></P><P><SPAN>A few minutes later, she was once more heading in my direction, looking downtrodden, slightly sobbing, and murmuring as usual.&nbsp; But much to my amazement as she passed by, she breathlessly asked me “Are you a spirit?” Without thinking, I said “No, I am flesh.” My comment didn’t seem to affect her in any way. She just continued her patented routine. </SPAN></P><P><SPAN>If I see this woman again, I am not sure if I should have any more contact with her. It might be a mitzvah to try to communicate with her. Or it might be unwise to distract her from whatever mysterious and possibly mystical mission she is pursuing.</SPAN></P><P><SPAN>Ah, humanity!</SPAN></P> Thu, 14 Sep 2023 19:56:15 GMT schlomo 2023-09-14T19:56:15Z https://community.aarp.org/t5/Leisure-Lifestyle/Whoa/m-p/2517852#M12441 <P><SPAN><STRONG>Whoa!</STRONG></SPAN></P><P><SPAN>During the past few months, I have seen a middle-aged woman who mumbles and weeps as she slowly walks around my Waikiki neighborhood. At one point, I saw her in a nearby driveway a block away from my condo.&nbsp; She was either being constrained or comforted by a Jewish man to whom I had occasionally said a hearty shalom. Then it dawned on me: perhaps the lady is also Jewish, and her trance-like behavior is actually a type of davening, fitfully praying in Hebrew as she ambles about in her religious devotion.</SPAN></P><P><SPAN>Yesterday just as I began my walk, I saw her inching towards me. Without thinking, I blurted out “shalom” to her: Clearly and emphatically, she responded with shalom as well. Ah hah, a breakthrough! Perhaps she recognized me as a fellow Jew. Or perhaps she was just mimicking me.&nbsp; </SPAN></P><P><SPAN>A few minutes later, she was once more heading in my direction, looking downtrodden, slightly sobbing, and murmuring as usual.&nbsp; But much to my amazement as she passed by, she breathlessly asked me “Are you a spirit?” Without thinking, I said “No, I am flesh.” My comment didn’t seem to affect her in any way. She just continued her patented routine. </SPAN></P><P><SPAN>If I see this woman again, I am not sure if I should have any more contact with her. It might be a mitzvah to try to communicate with her. Or it might be unwise to distract her from whatever mysterious and possibly mystical mission she is pursuing.</SPAN></P><P><SPAN>Ah, humanity!</SPAN></P> Thu, 14 Sep 2023 19:56:15 GMT https://community.aarp.org/t5/Leisure-Lifestyle/Whoa/m-p/2517852#M12441 schlomo 2023-09-14T19:56:15Z