Saved by Peter Pan

In Keeping with my annual Purim tradition, I spend the entire 25 hours of the holiday in my pajamas and bathrobe.  That includes all trips to synagogue, parties, delivering Mishloach Manot with the kids, and any errands on which Zahava might send me.

This last one almost led to me feeling a little foolish.

We had some high school girls with us for Shabbat who had to be back in Jerusalem by 9:30 Sunday morning, so since I was driving them anyway, Zahava gave me a shopping list and asked me to stop off at the big supermarket after dropping off the girls.

As a last minute decision I decided to take Yonah along for the ride (in his Peter Pan costume).  It wasn't until I was walking into the supermarket that I realized what a good thing it was that Yonah came along.

You see, Jerusalem is one of a small handful of cities that celebrate Purim a day later than everyone else (called Shushan Purim), and that means nobody is walking around in costume today there.  I realized this as I was walking into the Supermarket in my pajamas and bathrobe... with crazy bed hair and a couple of days worth of beard stubble on my face.

As I walked around the grocery store I could see people giving me the once-over with their eyes and doing an alarmed double-take.  It was only when they spotted Yonah that they understood I was in costume and not mentally ill.

Sometimes I send Yonah to pick things up and bring them back to wherever I am with the cart.  He knows his way around the supermarket and it makes him feel like he's contributing.  But today I kept him close, like a best friend who might walk behind you to shield your dignity after you've split your pants.

Note to self:  Plan out Purim trips to Jerusalem so that there is someone else with an obvious costume within arms reach at all times.