Pretending to be Jewish

I mentioned last week was Rosh Hashanah, but I wasn't done telling stories about it.

One New Year tradition is one of eating apples and honey. Together, they signify a blessing for a sweet new year. It is also traditional to eat challah, a Jewish egg bread, made in a special circular loaf (instead of its more familiar braid).

The area I work in is fairly Jewish. And by that I mean it has a Jewish population that is significant in LA, which is to say its pretty damn Jewish. There are a number of Jewish bakeries around my work, so I figured there would be no problem picking up a fresh loaf of challah on my lunch hour last Friday. I mapquested the closest one, only about a mile away from work, and was all set to make the quick trip over for my bread.

I was wrong.

As I was getting ready to head over to the bakery, a patient informed me she had just been there - and said it had taken her almost 2 hours to get her challah and her babka. Cue oh shit moment. I drove over and sure enough, the place was packed. I took my number - I was 96 and they were only helping number 32. But I was already there, so I waited. And waited. And waited.

There was no way they were getting to 96 before 12:30.  I had almost given up hope when a nice lady tapped me on the shoulder and said "Don't you work for Doctor *@#&?" We wear pretty distinctive uniforms so I guess I was an easy spot. We started talking and when her number, 68, came up at 12:15 she offered to let me order with her. I ordered two loaves - plain and raisin - pulled out my money and told her I would like to please pay for her challah. She practically laughed at me and shooed me out the door and back to work.

This was awesome. And it would have been more awesome if I knew who the hell my challah fairy was. She had these big sunglasses on the whole time so I didn't recognize her... all I knew was that she was short, middle aged, Jewish, and the wife of a physician. Um... shit?

Back at work I was asking everyone who she could be - the doctor, the office manager, everyone. I left work Friday not being any closer to knowing who she was, but went home and blessed that challah and broke bread and ate it and said a little thank you for her generosity. Then promptly forgot about it.

Until she walked into our office on Tuesday afternoon to see the nutritionist. She walked by, I smiled like a dork not having a clue who she was until she asked me how the challah was. I jumped up and hugged her and did a little dance as she walked away. I think it was god's way of saying thank you for sitting through services by myself on Saturday :)