Friday Night

Friday night, I went to a special service/dinner at my shul.  It's the first time in years that I didn't have to prepare a Shabbos meal.  It's the first time in years that I've been at a Shabbos table other than my own.  (Builder doesn't like to go anywhere--he likes my cooking too much.)
So, Builder and the Things bundled into the car while I walked.  (We left twenty minutes before lecht bentchen--but since I'd already lit, it was Shabbos for me.)  When we got there, Builder wanted me to go in and daven--something I don't usually do at night.  Not only don't most women in my shul go on Friday nights, but I had to deal with the Things.  Listening to the davening brought back memories.  I used to go to shul a lot more before I moved to Brooklyn.  At one time, I used to go every day after work.  (I used to be religious--then I became Orthodox.)  Friday nights, I used to help lead services at the little shul that could.  It was my first synagogue when I started becoming religious--a little Conservative place that counted women, but still could barely scrape up a minyan.  That was over a decade ago, but they're still here!.  I became Bat Mitzvah there.  Then my dad died and I couldn't go there anymore.  When I started working, I would go there on Friday nights to help lead.  If they could see me now!  Sitting on my side of the mechitza, wearing a tichel on my head instead of a yarmulke, walking to shul--but since I stopped attending that synagogue regularly after my Bas Mitzvah, does that make me a Conservative statistic,or not?
Meanwhile, the Things were acting--like young children.  They were quiet, but they kept migrating between me and Builder.  Afterwards, people came up to compliment me.  "Your children are so well behaved."  Yeah--my weird, unsocialized homeschooled children!
After Shabbos, I walked back to shul to get the car.  I love having my license!