alexist

(OK, might've used this line before, but if I have, it's been trumped.)

Imagine a hat that looks like the top/back of Big Bird's head. But fluffier. And bright, blood red. (A color, BTW, which some rabbis say women shouldn't wear at all, because it's immodest and attracts attention.)

I heard snickers from behind me. I was tempted, but refrained in honor of the holiday.

Well, I made it to quite a bit. I went at 11, stayed till 12:40 or so when they said Yizkor. Since I don't have anyone to say it for (dead parent or spouse), that was my cue to go. I could've gone back for Musaf, but didn't. Bad girl.

However, here they do the break between Musaf and Mincha, instead of between Mincha and Ne'ilah. So I went back at 16:10 for Mincha, and stayed through. I'm glad I did. It really is special when the Ne'ilah service reaches its peak and everyone sings the end of Avinu Malkenu together, then the Shema, then it slows down for Kaddish, and finally, the shofar is blown.

(though there was a rather noisy toddler who'd worked out that if he made a loud enough noise, the entire congregation would stop and turn around....)

Then I came home and ate. :) OK, I didn't keep the fast properly this year, but I barely ate today, so I was hungry!