I have to kvell.

This weekend was my son’s bar mitzvah. It was amazing. He was amazing. I am very, very proud. And as I often say, very, very lucky.

I want to revel in his accomplishment, and also in the weekend as a whole.

We had a small ceremony and small celebration, but still there were sixty people at our house partying Saturday night. Sixty people whom I love and adore.

As I wandered through my home (ever grateful for Jamie, the woman from the catering company whose job it was to take care of me and make sure I had anything and everything I wanted or needed), I was overwhelmed…in a good way.

Overwhelmed by the love and joy pulsing around me. Everywhere I looked there was someone I cared for, someone I wanted to talk with (whom I might not get to), someone who was important to me.

My cousins who came all the way from Albany. And Maryland. And Long Island. And everywhere. My uncle who helped me with my dad. My husband’s family, that I was lucky enough to marry into and is now my family as well. My dad who showed up for the ceremony and party, even though it’s difficult for him to be in large, loud groups. My mother who, once again, made many many yarmulkes. My in-laws who would do anything for me. My neighborhood friends who came and reveled with us. And the fifteen thirteen-year-old boys who were, I was told, the best-mannered kids our caterer had ever seen at a bar or bat mitzvah.

There was so much love overflowing. In the crazy Hora on our front lawn, my son lifted on a chair. My daughter being one of the people who lifted me on a chair. People spinning and circling and laughing and clapping.

As the evening drew to an end and everyone made their goodbyes, my cousin pulled me close and reminded me of the four-and-a-half years I tried to have my son, who was now a bar mitzvah. She hugged me and looked straight at me. “Life is so amazing,” she said, “life is so amazing when you’re really, really present.”

It is. It was. The day was so amazing, so wonderful, so spectacular. And I was present for it (as much as one can be with sixty people in their home). I was present for the joy. I was present for the celebration. I was present for the love.

I do believe that all we really need, all the world truly needs, is love, sweet love. And, as I’ve said before and will most likely say many times again, there’s so much love there for the noticing and taking, if I’m looking for it and present to it.

I’d love to hear your thoughts, and please share this post with others if it resonates with you!

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