The skies are clearing over Europe, thank God.  I went to temple last night to offer prayers of thanks for this blessing and many others.   The passage of Torah the rabbi read was intriguing, commenting on the days after Passover.  The passage commanded us (the Jewish people) to nurture trees for three years before picking fruit (otherwise the fruit is as if "uncircumcised" the rabbi said.)  Uncircumcised fruit! 

And that Jews must not practice spells or charms, or do seances or invoke mediums.   I think I may have blown it on that one.

Prayers and charms seem to me to be so close to each other.  For example, I carry the rabbi's travel prayer with me always.  Isn't that a kind of charm?

But the Torah says God is all almighty, and not to fool around with that other stuff.   I get it.  And I am humbly grateful for all of this--for words and prayers and humor and circumcised fruits of all sorts, and the others that may get there if we let them grow, and for my daughter and husband and the great food and wine that awaits me in France, and friendships, and the Wright brothers, and radar.  Please feel free to add to this list!

In beauty, it is finished.