Be the Teacup

Charlotte Jewish News November 2021

By Laurabree Monday

“Be the teacup when it matters!” my 10-year-old son, Ethan, blurted out one night while we were in the middle of a family game night. “What?” we asked. “Did he make it up or hear it somewhere else?” However, he emphatically used words that somehow seemed appropriate in that moment. We took it to mean basically, get it together, rise to the occasion, win this thing — be the teacup when it matters. OK, buddy, OK.

Sometimes he’s going for a laugh, and sometimes he genuinely asks pretty deep questions, like a recent one at bedtime, “What’s the meaning of life?” Again he was maybe asking tongue-in-cheek, but it was still a real question, a loaded question for sure. As a parent, you want to answer questions as best you can; I’m not sure I’ve come up with a good answer for that one yet!

My name is Laurabree Monday, the daughter of Wendy and Roy Weinberger. My parents use humor and storytelling to get through not just the good times but also any bad times that may arise. My mother was an incredible storyteller and gave many High Holiday speeches at Temple Solel, memorable stories people still talk about, such as the Bar Mitzvah conversation she had with President Jimmy Carter during one of his Bible studies or her tales about family dinners while she was growing up in Montreal — dinners where you never knew who was going to be at the table, to name just a couple.

COVID has brought heartache and loss for many. It caused and is still causing fear and depression, and more than a year later, we are still holding virtual services because it’s still the safest way to go. Some of you may have found a sense of closeness to the people around you and perhaps were fortunate enough to live with or near them. Back in 2015, we built a home seven doors down from my parents’ house in Fort Mill. We had many good times and cute visuals of my kids pulling their wagon down the street for a sleepover at Nanny and Papa’s house. Then COVID hit, and everything stopped. We had to be creative as a family just to eat meals together.

My mother passed away in December of last year; she bravely fought Parkinson’s for many years, but it was a brain aneurysm that took her. Even the day she died though, she was making funny jokes while some home health workers visited, giving them the grand tour of the house — making an impression even during that brief visit. That’s the thing — she could make a difference in others’ lives and perspective in just minutes, always with the best advice, given in the most caring way, and usually with some good humor to boot.

Earlier this month a dear friend lost her sister-in-law. She had to be strong for her family, put a beautiful video together, and give the eulogy. When I showed up, quiche in hand, after the funeral, she was understandably spent. It’s a gift to be able to give hugs these days and a gift to be able to make someone laugh at a low point. And you know what made her laugh? I told her the teacup story and said, “You were one heck of a teacup this week.” Let’s be the teacup when it matters — hold it together, be someone who can be counted on, and be here for each other.

So I think interestingly enough, my 10-year-old son actually has things pretty well figured out. For our family at least, the meaning of life is relationships, surrounding yourself with people who make you a better version of yourself and bring out the best in you. Put energy into the people who show up, who have your back, and who provide a net when you need it. And have laughter, always laughter. My people are going to understand that sometimes, being a teacup when it matters may be about the only thing that actually matters or makes any sense in a world that feels very broken, especially now.

We are pleased to announce, with the help of the Jewish Federation of Greater Charlotte, Temple Solel is sponsoring the annual Hanukkah music celebration with “The Ruach.” All are welcome to attend online Friday, December 3 at 7 p.m. Check our website for details.

Temple Solel holds regular Shabbat services at 7 p.m. on the second and fourth Fridays of each month via Zoom during the pandemic, and hopes to resume services when appropriate at Belair UMC Family Life Center, 8095 Shelley Mullis Rd., Fort Mill, SC 29707. For more information see templesolelSC.org, write us at info@templesolelSC. org or call (803) 610-1707.