So Many Stories!

 Let's see...where were we? Oh yeah - The Jewish Museum.

This museum is a masterclass of Jewish history: religion, persecution, exile, survival, continuity, and perseverance. More than a Holocaust museum, it's a study of the entire scope of Jewry. Prepare yourself to be fascinated, isolated, devastated, celebrated, and motivated.

Not only does the museum have an amazing collection of artifacts and historical reference, the space itself plays a part in your experience. The walls are slanted and irregular, causing you to feel off-balance. The hallways are slashed at odd angles with thin rectangular windows - letting the light in as if between the wooden pickets of an old fence. Some hallways have nothing but gray three-story walls, trapping you in a void. 

One area, called the Holocaust Tower, is a large triangular room - dimly lit by one of the aforementioned windows. But the window is small and at the top of the three-story space. You can't see where the corners are, and it's not a climate controlled room. I stood in the center, trying to get my bearings. It was cold. I could hear the rain outside. I couldn't see much beyond 10 feet or so. The gloom prevailed. I was alone until the banging door signaled someone else was nearby. It made me feel so alone. So quiet. So devoid of humanity. I can't even imagine feeling like that for more than a few minutes, much less a few years. Though survival would be astonishing, I don't think it would be welcome - not in the sense of warm, open arms. So grim.

Beyond those horrifying years, the museum takes you on a ride of Jewish successes - albeit still marked with antisemitism and hatred - and into current times. You leave feeling battered, but somehow hopeful. And certainly more aware of fellow humans and their lives.

After the museum, we headed to The Biererei - I needed a drink. We met up with some of our friends and proceeded to have a fun evening. Lots of beer, laughs...and we finally got around to purchasing a couple of t-shirts. About 8pm we decided to go around the corner for some dinner. Joe was in charge of the bag with the shirts. I'll bet you can imagine where I'm going with this. 

So we finish eating, and he calls for an Uber. (I'm usually in charge of calling for one, but my AmEx was compromised, and I hadn't set up a new payment...whole 'nother story.) Anyway, we're standing outside in the cold rain waiting and spot the car across the street. I wave, Joe heads toward the car. I notice he doesn't have the bag with the shirts, so I call to him that I'm going back inside to get it. I come back out only to see the Uber - with Joe inside - driving away. WHAT??? WHAT THE EVER-LOVING FUCK!!!

Soon, I get a text from him explaining that his driver doesn't understand English, but thinks they're heading back to pick me up. (To be fair, Joe later stated that the driver probably didn't understand German, either.) 

I'm still standing in the rain, mind you. About 5 minutes later, I get another text from Joe saying he's SO SORRY. He's at the hotel, but will get a second Uber to come get me. Never mind, I tell him, I'll grab a cab. I'm not an idiot. He's still madly texting me about how sorry he is, and, and...whatever. I find a cab and make it back to the hotel easily. I made him tip the driver. SMDH.

Gotta go for now, but I have more stories to tell.