There’s a special kind of exhaustion that settles into your bones the morning after a successful event. It’s not just tiredness, it’s a full-bodied blend of physical soreness, emotional release, and a gentle whisper in the back of your mind that says, “You did it… but also? You’re not done.”
Let’s rewind. This past weekend, my team and our incredible group of devoted committee volunteers pulled off The Event. Not just any event, the one we’ve been planning since last December. Remember December? When hope was high, our to-do list was basically just the names of the chosen ones – The eight magnificent honorees for this year’s Eight Over 80 Celebration Gala. A blank canvas. No stress-snacking on trail mix yet. Simpler times.
Fast forward to this past weekend: Mass attendance at our 32nd Annual Fun(d)raiser! The remarkable people we gathered to honor felt seen, valued, celebrated. The video centerpiece hit all the right notes…emotional, moving, deeply human.
The attendees kept coming… My team handled it all with graceful magic, finding chairs, reshuffling tables, somehow making the space stretch to accommodate everyone. We were thrilled to see so many supporters in the room. And funding programs and services for JSL residents was our intent and you so graciously obliged!
The red carpet was glowing. It buzzed with hugs, laughter, tears, joyful chaos and the warmth of honorees’ families and friends.
The venue sparkled. The room was literally cool (thank you, functioning A/C), the mics didn’t squeal, and people laughed, cried, and applauded exactly when they were supposed to.
And now… it’s Monday. I woke up with the dull throb of victory in my lower back. My body feels like it personally hosted hundreds of attendees. I vaguely recall lifting and moving tables, schlepping chairs and boxes and heavy plants, and running what felt like a marathon between the stage and the front entrance. My Fitbit is still celebrating.
I smile. Because it mattered. It meant something.
We are fortunate to be able to send thank-you notes. Hundreds of them. Each one allowing me to think of the donors with a fresh surge of gratitude, for those who supported JSL’s annual tribute to our community. We like to take the time to personalize these. Also, next year’s date is already set Sunday, May 17, 2026. How do we top this? How do we level up?
No, seriously… how? Because this event doesn’t plan itself. This labor of love we call “work” is ever so rewarding. The event cycle is basically like laundry: just as we fold the last towel, we spot another full basket. And yet, would we trade it? Absolutely not. We do it for the residents at Jewish Senior Life every single year. It’s a promise that we continue to keep.
So here’s to the glorious, aching, rewarding day after. May our pens be swift, our coffee be strong, and the memory of success sustain us, as we do it all over again. Because our people matter.
So, while we’re still basking in the glow of Eight Over 80, who will you nominate for 2026?
Our team is already planning what we’ll do next year. Because at JSL, the calendar is never empty, just resting its eyes.
Eight Over 80 returns May 17, 2026
https://give.jslmi.org/events-homepage/event-eight-over-eighty/
New honorees. New stories. Same unforgettable magic.
SHABBAT SHALOM.
