One Year Later

Today is the one-year anniversary of one of the two saddest days of my life (though not by the Jewish calendar): Irving J. Alter's death (the other saddest day is June 18, 1984: Janet K. Alter's death). It is customary for family of the deceased to visit a synagogue and say the mourner's Kaddish (Jewish prayer for the dead). But since I am not observant, I will not follow that custom. Instead, I will simply write what I am thinking at this moment.

A year ago I would have guessed that today would be dominated by sadness. Happily, the reverse is true. This is because on February 27, 2007-just over four weeks ago-we were given the greatest gift: two beautiful, healthy twins, a boy (Irving Jeremiah) and a girl (Dora Jane). The boy bears my father's name (and complete initials: IJA) and the girl's resemblance to him is striking. I can only imagine his joy if he had lived to witness this wondrous event.

My father once said that there is no such thing as immortality, except maybe through one's children. I like to think that here "children" includes grandchildren. In any event, I was blessed with having the most wonderful parents, and my main goal in life is now to live up to their model in raising my own children-or rather, in helping to do so, with my lovely wife, valued friends, uncle Kevin, and the rest of my dear family.