“It Matza Been a Wild Ride!”

Earlier today, I caught up with a Platform Partner, and as soon as we logged into our Zoom call, I found myself lamenting about the past week. I’d been battling a nasty head cold, and it had taken the wind out of my sails.

She kindly commiserated but then shared something far more profound—her family was grieving the loss of her beloved father-in-law. At 79, he had made peace with his return to heaven. His soul departed as if sparing his wife—the love of his life—the pain of witnessing the candle of his life extinguish. After a long battle with a terminal illness that ravaged his body, this adored father, grandfather, husband, and son—a true “blue-collar guy’s guy”—left behind a legacy of love and laughter.

Curious, I asked where his wife had been at the time of his passing. My partner chuckled softly and said, “She had gone out to fetch some of his favorite matzo ball and chicken soup.” Her voice grew wistful as she added, “If I know my father-in-law like I think I do, he probably sent her on one last love errand during his final moments.”

We spent the rest of our session reflecting—on life, family, and memories of loved ones past. By the end of our conversation, we both felt a renewed sense of appreciation for the people in our lives. We even made commitments to carry forward something positive into the new year.

I told her my commitment: to start writing again. And in honor of her father-in-law, I promised to write this blog post—the first one in a long while—and it would be about Matza Ball Soup.

And so, here I am tonight, sitting outside in the garden, writing these words and scrolling through YouTube for a good chicken soup recipe.

Life has its way of reminding us of what truly matters. And sometimes, it starts with a bowl of soup, a shared memory, and the simple decision to embrace what lies ahead.

In loving memory of Paul Thomas Hogan