PlanetGordon.com

Phlegmy in Philadelphia

My cold came on full force yesterday in, of all places, Philadelphia. L and I took the train down there yesterday to catch up with P and S, both of whom L has known since rabbinical school. P will be one of the two rabbis under the chuppah this summer (well, three if you count L) and at least a few more will be invited guests. If anyone is thinking of having a spiritual crisis, the weekend of August 27th in Oconomowoc, WI would be a good weekend to do it.

It's probably unusal for the bride and groom to get marriage counseling from a rabbi who is such a good friend. It's also probably unusual to talk to the rabbi while the groom wolfs down a greasy cheesesteak from Geno's. L and P saved their appetites for vegetarian cheesesteaks - or cheesefakes, as I dubbed them - but I couldn't let a trip to the city of brotherly love pass without stopping at the legendary sandwich joint. Not surprisingly, some of our discussion with Rabbi P centered on keeping kosher.

After lunch, I sniffled my way around South Street, Center City and some of Philly's other sights, slowly getting sicker and sicker. Had we stopped at the art museum to reenact the famous scene from Rocky, I doubt I would have made it up three stairs.

I rarely get sick - maybe one cold a year - so I make up for the infrequency by acting like as big a baby as possible when I do. Rabbi P observed during our meeting yesterday that L and I take good care of each other, and L definitely lived up to her part of our reputation yesterday. She was a real trooper, not complaining once and doing her best to comfort me on the long train ride back last night. Maybe it was the cheesesteak, maybe it was the cold medication, but hit the bed hard last night and didn't wake up until nearly noon today.