About Me

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Joy Serves G*d in Joy as a passionate performing percussionist, poet, publisher, photographer, publicist, sound healer, spiritual guide, artist, gardener and Gemini. "Ivdu Et Hashem B'Simcha" -Psalm 100:2 ....... Joy Krauthammer, active in the Jewish Renewal, Feminist, and neo-Chasidic worlds for over three decades, kabbalistically leads Jewish women's life-cycle rituals. ... Workshops, and Bands are available for all Shuls, Sisterhoods, Rosh Chodeshes, Retreats, Concerts, Conferences & Festivals. ... My kavanah/intention is that my creative expressive gifts are inspirational, uplifting and joyous. In gratitude, I love doing mitzvot/good deeds, and connecting people in joy. In the zechut/merit of Reb Shlomo Carlebach, zt'l, I mamash love to help make our universe a smaller world, one REVEALING more spiritual consciousness, connection, compassion, and chesed/lovingkindness; to make visible the Face of the Divine... VIEW MY COMPLETE PROFILE and enjoy all offerings.... For BOOKINGS write: joyofwisdom1 at gmail.com, leave a COMMENT below, or call me. ... "Don't Postpone Joy" bear photo montage by Joy. Click to enlarge. BlesSings, Joy
JOY's POEMS

JOY'S POEMS ... "You G*d are the Compassion, the Strength, the Beauty, the Victory, the Splendor, and the Foundation of everything in Heaven and on Earth." (1 Chronicles 1:29) ... I see Your Face in All Nature that I photograph. ... ... http://joys-poems.blogspot.com/ . . . Click "Older Posts" on lower right of each post page for MORE earlier posted stories and art.

ICE CREAM My Way



© Joy Krauthammer



ICE CREAM  My Way

- Joy Krauthammer


All winter
I had not bought
a container of soy ice cream.
Now it’s middle of spring.
I put on weight
with ice cream I ate
last summer and fall.

Today I treated myself
to a new ice cream.
It was my joy.
I never buy dairy ‘ice cream’.
I buy soy ice cream,
always the same flavor at Trader Joes.
Soy Chocolate Chip Cherry,
quart sized
similar to Ben and Jerry’s,
--the real stuff.
I buy Trader Joe’s
Soy Creamy Mini Chocolate Sandwiches
Non-dairy Frozen Dessert 2.3 oz. each
in measured amounts
the same way I buy individual small
1.5 oz. packages of nuts.
They set for me, Gevurah / limitation.

At Trader Joes
I shop for groceries.
I trust them.
I recycle my brown bags.
I like the employees,
the small store size
and less options
and what they sell,
ethnic foods.
Kosher chicken skinless breasts!
So much food which needs
no preparation.
Easy for one person household
and for ‘pot-lucks’.
Yes, I nuke my ‘food’.

Couple days ago
Seeing an ad
I allowed myself
a visit to the freezer section of
the big grocery.
I shop there for bottled water.

Wow, at the big grocery
reduced price on Ben & Jerry’s Vermont’s finest
pint of  Chocolate Fudge Brownie
FroYo Chocolate Low Fat Frozen Yogurt
with Fudge Brownies.
I allowed myself to buy it
after comparing calories
with something more extravagant.
I splurged.

I didn’t wait until I got home.  Shh.
In the car, as I drove
reached over for the grocery bag.
Grabbed the FroYo,
removed the circular cardboard lid,
raised the pint, palm sized
cool container to my lips
and bit into the top of
yummy flavorful frozen firm ice cream.
It softened as I held it
making it easier to devour.

Dark ice cream must have been all over my face.
What were other car drivers thinking
as they saw the container in my face?
Would they think I was disgusting?

I was proud of my resourcefulness
not having a spoon in the car as I drove.
I have never seen anyone do this.

As the ice cream softened
I squeezed the container
and melting,
the delight oozed up from the sides
toward the top
cooperating with my desire
to slurp.

Two sittings
I consumed the container contents.
Now empty, the round carton
is outside in the trash.
No more evidence of my atrocious act.

I must have needed a treat.
I had a tough week.
Trying. Upsetting. Shocking.
And I was in physical pain.
For healing I took myself
for a Chinese reflexology and
acupressure massage,
and ice cream.

How would you feel
if your iMac computer had eaten
without a spoon
ten thousand of your photos, and
thoroughly messed up the remaining nine thousand
deleting all data
which had taken seven years of your life
with passion and care
to create, name, title, and organize well?

Did I tell you
I bought two containers
of ice cream?
I never go to Starbucks
but
the grocery sold on sale also
a pint of Starbucks
Peppermint MOCHA ice cream,
Swirled with Dark Chocolaty Chunks
Seasonal favorite, Limited Edition.
That means it is now and not later.
There’s a NOW lesson in this.
I love mocha and peppermint.
It’s even Kosher, dairy.

Today at home
I did the same.
It’s only me at home
and I gave myself permission
to eat the ice cream
with my mouth in the container.
Like a giant ice cream cone.
But I didn’t lick it.
It’s not so easy.
The ice cream was awesome.
Great flavor combination.
I can have chocolate with cherry
any ol’ day.
I savored and indulged in
mocha and peppermint.

Reminded me of delicious
Starbucks’ samples
of the same flavor coffee drink combination
with whipped cream
I had at a park festival last year
on my birthday.
I never drink coffee.

In two weeks it’s my birthday.
Seasonally, I celebrated today.
I ate less than 20%
saving more for later.
Will it last me to summer?

Another time, I’ll go back
to same ol’ Soy Mini Sandwiches.

2011
.
.