One tiny bottle of Courage

One Tiny bottle of Courage. December 30, 2024

      Today is the 5th day of Hanukkah and I muse on how 21 years ago I was able to go to the Mikvah

(Ritual Bath) to affirm my connection to the Jewish people and to my ancestors.

       It was a courageous moment that culminated years of introspective study and struggle. But I like to think of that moment in the story of Hanukkah. How that one tiny bottle of oil lit up a whole life for me.

       That one tiny bottle of courage leads me to muse on other times in my life when one question or courageous moment led to wonderful moments and events.

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In late July 1975 I found myself on the small island of Inisheer, Aran Islands off the west coast of Ireland. While wandering the back roads I came upon an islander who I asked one small timid quesiton.

"Is there a cottage to rent on the island?'

The next day the boat did not sail and I went up to the pub. 

An islander asked if I was the American girl looking for a place to rent.

I said Yes and later was escorted to see the old cottage where Joe Mairtain the storyteller had lived with his wife Biddy. I immediately said yes and made a bad rent deal! Therein I returned in September of 1979 and lived there in the old storytellers cottage for 3 and a half years.

August 1988.

My friend Marcia called to ask if I was interested in an art job offered at a Jewish Day School in Saint Paul. I later intuitively felt that it was my Jewish ancestors tapping me on the shoulder to somehow remind and connect me with my Jewish ancestry. I soon interviewed for the job and came to work at the Jewish Day School where I began to understand the Jewish cycle of the year  through the work of our hands. It took a lot of searching but through circumstances I connected with Rabbi Allen 10 years later and through study with him was able to go to the mikvah for my Jewish affirmation in 2003. 

5th day of Hanukkah. 

One tiny bottle of courage revealed.

Those times.

There were so many many crisis and ER visits that after a while it became a blur.

But we held on and I kept drawing. Holding onto tiny bottles of courage and faith

that we poured out over impossible situations with seemingly no answers.

After one particulary brutal ER encounter Josh was admitted to the hospital.

That afternoon I sat outside feeling despair, but still drawing. 

A hospital accountant stopped to talk and remark on my drawing.

That led to me connecting to hospital administration and eventually to a 

show later that year. 

"Drawing through Crisis with Courage and Humor!"

later I was paid to do a project of Documenting the Hospital

"A Day in the Life of Hennepin Healthcare"

Tiny bottles of courage that led to so many illuninated moments.