Tonight is our last night in Houston after living here for the last 6 years. I sit here in an empty apartment after a long day of movers taking everything I own and loading it onto a truck that we will hopefully see again in Silver Spring, MD in a couple of weeks. And yet, everything that really matters is right here with me, with my amazing wife and kids by my side. Tomorrow we begin a road trip that will take us through Arkansas, Mississippi, Tennessee, North Carolina, Virginia, and Maryland. We are looking forward to seeing some great things along the way. And we are even more looking forward to living near family after 15 years of living in the South. But before we turn the ignition and start on the next part of our life journey I'd like to take a moment to reflect back on these past 6 years and what they have meant for me.
It has not always been easy being a Principal of an entire school. But what an honor and joy it has been! The kids here in Houston are amazing. And I have so enjoyed getting to watch them grow and develop. On a typical day at work I would be visiting with 4 year olds one moment and talking with seniors the next. I would teach a lower school Mishna class and then daven with the Middle School. I would be doing conflict resolution between two students and then a few minutes later be working on a Chesed program. And over 6 years I got to know so many kids and watch them grow up before my eyes.
There were hard days, of course. Days when it seemed that no matter how hard I worked there was never time to appreciate the progress because it was immediately on to the next task. Days when I would be unable to sleep at night thinking about all the people who needed my help. Days when it felt like my office was a revolving door of unsatisfied people expecting me to solve all their problems. But there were many more good days. Days when I knew that even though there was always more work to be done (Lo Alecha HaMelacha Ligmor) it was ok because the joy was in the process, in the work, in the trial and error. I grew a lot here as well and any time you are in an environment where you are both growing and helping others grow at the same time you know you are in the right place.
Living through 4 floods in 3 years was really hard. We all helped each other through it and it is something we will never forget. But I would be lying if I said I don't get nervous still anytime heavy rain is in the forecast. Life has challenges wherever you go, and we have definitely had our fair share over the years, but every time I realize that we are about to move close to family it gives me such chizuk and excitement.
I started this blog 6 years ago on the eve of our move to Texas. I called it the Rodeo Rabbi and, though I have not written as often as I would have liked, I think I have been able to capture at least some of the highlights of our time as Texans. I am not changing the name of the blog, even though we are moving to Silver Spring. If anything, it reminds me of my dad's love of The Lone Ranger who used to say "Hi Yo Silver!" before riding off into the sunset. Well, every sunset is just a sunrise somewhere else. So while the time has come for the sun to set on our time in Houston we will take a moment to look back at the beautiful view behind us and then head off to our next adventure full of excitement and joy for we have a lot to look forward to.
