<html><head><meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html charset=utf-8"></head><body style="word-wrap: break-word; -webkit-nbsp-mode: space; -webkit-line-break: after-white-space;" class=""><div style="margin: 0px; line-height: normal;" class=""><span style="color: rgb(35, 35, 35);" class="">The Seder Dinner</span></div><div style="margin: 0px; font-size: 14px; line-height: normal; color: rgb(35, 35, 35);" class=""><i class="">For Sherrye on her 80</i><span style="font-size: 12px; line-height: normal;" class=""><i class=""><sup class="">th</sup></i></span><i class=""> birthday</i></div><p style="margin: 0px; line-height: normal; color: rgb(35, 35, 35);" class=""> </p><div style="margin: 0px; line-height: normal; color: rgb(35, 35, 35);" class="">The emerald in the jeweler’s case is magnificent,</div><div style="margin: 0px; line-height: normal; color: rgb(35, 35, 35);" class="">for it is rare;</div><div style="margin: 0px; line-height: normal; color: rgb(35, 35, 35);" class="">the shimmering green dragonfly in the sun is more so,</div><div style="margin: 0px; line-height: normal; color: rgb(35, 35, 35);" class="">for it is not.</div><div style="margin: 0px; line-height: normal; color: rgb(35, 35, 35);" class="">Life constantly presents itself in a vast, breathtaking array </div><div style="margin: 0px; line-height: normal; color: rgb(35, 35, 35);" class="">of ingredients; to make of it what we will.</div><div style="margin: 0px; line-height: normal; color: rgb(35, 35, 35);" class="">A child wishes for an unending menu of desserts,</div><div style="margin: 0px; line-height: normal; color: rgb(35, 35, 35);" class="">but the wise cook knows the balance of sweet and bitter,</div><div style="margin: 0px; line-height: normal; color: rgb(35, 35, 35);" class="">rich and lean.</div><div style="margin: 0px; line-height: normal; color: rgb(35, 35, 35);" class="">She works with what is given, eating each meal </div><div style="margin: 0px; line-height: normal; color: rgb(35, 35, 35);" class=""> as the feast that it is.</div><div style="margin: 0px; line-height: normal; color: rgb(35, 35, 35);" class="">Unconcerned with whether the kitchen is clean</div><div style="margin: 0px; line-height: normal; color: rgb(35, 35, 35);" class="">or if the pantry is full for tomorrow,</div><div style="margin: 0px; line-height: normal; color: rgb(35, 35, 35);" class="">she savors each bite of the complex and rich stew that has</div><div style="margin: 0px; line-height: normal; color: rgb(35, 35, 35);" class="">cooked over time, knowing that it nourishes her with a</div><div style="margin: 0px; line-height: normal; color: rgb(35, 35, 35);" class="">deepening wisdom; a satisfying repast.</div><div style="margin: 0px; line-height: normal; color: rgb(35, 35, 35);" class="">Live in fullness for all of your days.</div><div style="margin: 0px; line-height: normal; color: rgb(35, 35, 35); min-height: 22px;" class=""><br class=""></div><div style="margin: 0px; line-height: normal; color: rgb(35, 35, 35);" class=""><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>- Alan Cohen</div></body></html>