January 8, 2010
The best pizza in the entire world. According to Zagat, only G-d makes better pizza.
Your average generally agreeable guy, registered nurse, new Canadian citizen and queer geek just returned to Manhattan for a stay after an amazing 3 years in Canada. Nursing is a second career, having spent 12 years way back when, as a software QA engineer.
Free time, what there is of it, consists of tipping back a pint or two with friends, going back to Toronto, traveling in general or trying to remain hidden with a good book.
A long-time patient from one of my places of employment passed away two days ago. I felt a bit of a bond with him, perhaps because he's one of the few Jews I've cared for since I've been a nurse in Canada. Downtown Toronto isn't exactly filled with members of the Tribe. I relished the times I cared for him, carefully removing his kippah before bathing him, making sure it was back in place when his care was done for the evening. On Friday nights if I was around, I'd turn on the bulbs on his electric menorah and whisper the Shabbat candle-lighting prayers as I stood next to his bed. It had been a long time since he was aware of much going on around him but I still felt it important to maintain his traditions.
Below is a recipe his wife hand wrote on parchment and gave to me after I complemented her on her banana muffins. When he still had a bit of an appetite and could safely swallow, she would bring him the muffins, always making sure to prepare extra for the nurses. I'm reprinting the recipe here in his memory. He was a good soul and I'm sure he'll be missed:
