this past weekend i danced the hora with family and friends. we danced on south street, a main drag in philly for cruising when the weather’s good—which it was.
the occasion was my eldest’s bat mitzvah. she wanted to dance the hora, and i wanted to make it happen for her. so you know what i did? i asked. i went into the local police station and asked. they told me to call someone else, and i asked. he told me to call back again, and i asked. altogether, i asked six times.
three months later, the police closed down south street for over an hour while we danced. when people asked me who i was and how i got the philly police to shut down south street, i could honestly reply that i’m nobody. i just asked.
too often we think we know the answer and never ask. we must ask for what we need. and sometimes, when we don’t get the answer we want, we must ask again.
f
[image: art + life photography]
{ 4 comments… read them below or add one }
You. Are. Awesome.
I saw those pics the other day and wondered how you did it. South Street. Dancing the hora. So much joy. And so awesome that you persisted. That’s a life lesson…and on you daughter’s bat mitzvah, what could be a better present? Your first mitzvah…showing her the way is to create happiness.
frank, thank you! you should see the photo of me with my arms raised in triumph and relief. as soon as we hit the streets and it was still closed, i knew i’d pulled it off.
f
This is truly remarkable. You have created a memory – an indelible experience – for everyone who was there. And especially for daughter number one – who probably won’t REALLY appreciate this for about 30 years. 😉
greg, about four or five people from the community came into our circle and danced with us. that’s the philly flash mob experience i’m spreading!
as for the eldest, don’t i know it. it wasn’t until i had kids of my own that i humbly apologized to my mother for not understanding so much.
f