A Passover Message from Roni Robbins

Ah, the duality of liberation. On one hand, I’m blessed my children can spend time in Israel after all those wishes for next year in Jerusalem. On the other hand, I miss them and won’t be with them for the holiday.

My daughter is finishing a nine-month work-study program in Israel that allows her to celebrate Passover in Jerusalem with our rabbi and his family. My son will take advantage of the free Birthright Israel trip in May and see his sister before she returns home. Both are in college.

As empty nesters, my husband and I are finally renovating our master bathroom and I like to joke that I’m going places. I recently returned from visiting the Catholic family with whom I grew up on Long Island, N.Y. They lived across the street then, but now most live in St. Louis, where I helped celebrate my surrogate mom’s 80th birthday. My real family has an Alaska cruise planned and two trips to spend time with my family in Asheville, N.C., this holiday. As with all good things, trips end and we must bid farewell.

I could say I’m enslaved through my healthy lifestyle, my disciplined workouts or my job. But I choose these. It’s liberating to work in this industry in a different capacity, as associate editor, after being a reporter for 30 years. And I’m privileged to share my talents and do what I enjoy most – play with words.

Life is short. My husband recently had several near-death experiences and lost his closest friend, who was our age. Changes your perspective. I’m hoping when I’m gone people will talk about my written words, my relationships, my motivation and inspiration. The ability to set that course and make those impressions, I can’t think of anything more liberating than that.

Roni Robbins is the associate editor.