How Bambi and Snow Made Pesach Shine.
Religious holiday celebrations have never been Yoni’s forte—putting it mildly.
If there was an art form dedicated to sidestepping traditional family gatherings, especially the notorious Leil HaSeder during Pesach (Passover), Yoni would be a master.
Living in Amsterdam provided the perfect escape hatch: “Oh, so sorry, can’t make it… the flights, the distance, you know how it is!”
Meanwhile, I’d move mountains to align my vacation time with these celebrations, keeping up the beloved family traditions.
But in 2002, Yoni’s family unveiled a plot so clever, even he couldn’t wiggle out of it: celebrating Pesach in Italy.
Yes, Italy! A proper Tuscan vacation, complete with family bonding, hearty meals, and scenic views.
Faced with the dream combo of homemade matzah ball soup and rolling Italian countryside, even Yoni couldn’t say no.
We rented a huge farmhouse near Florence.
Yoni’s parents, sisters, and their partners would fly into Rome and caravan their way to Tuscany.
Our little trio—Yoni, Thom, and me—would transform the journey from Amsterdam into a full-blown road trip through Europe.
We plotted a picturesque route across Belgium, Germany, Switzerland, and finally Italy.
Remember, this was back in the days before Google Maps and GPS.
We relied on ancient artifacts known as paper maps. It was retro navigation at its finest.
Yoni was the designated driver, and I was the navigator, determined to keep my cool, unlike my mom on our old family road trips when tempers flared and maps flew.
My vow to remain patient lasted—drumroll, please—about four hours.
One epic disagreement later, we finally found our rhythm and got back to enjoying the adventure.
Entertaining a five-year-old on the road was no small feat, but Thom was a superstar.
There were no screens to save us back then, so we relied on classic methods: singing goofy songs, reading stories, and making frequent pit stops to stretch our legs and discover roadside wonders.
We were on a shoelace budget, so fancy meals weren’t an option. Our splurges were reserved for petrol, cozy B&Bs, and picnic-style meals.
One day, driving through Germany, a colossal Lidl store caught our eye.
Yoni, who remembered these superstores from his software-selling days in the ’80s, insisted we stop.
We needed groceries, and it promised to be a “cultural experience.” I was skeptical but game.
Walking in, I was floored. This wasn’t just a supermarket—it was a treasure trove.
Clothes, shoes, toys, stuffed animals the size of small cars… they had it all.
Thom’s eyes lit up when she spotted a humongous stuffed elk.
It was love at first sight.
She pleaded, but practicality prevailed. “Where would we put that thing?” I thought.
“It would take up half the backseat!” And surely, it would be outrageously expensive.
We said no.
But the universe had other plans. When we reached the cashier, the store announced we’d won a free gift.
And lo and behold, the giant elk was among the options.
We left Lidl, groceries in hand, and Thom’s new best friend, Bambi the elk, proudly sitting in the backseat.
Crossing into Switzerland, we were met with an unexpected April snow wonderland.
For Thom, who rarely saw snow, it was pure magic.
We pulled over to throw snowballs, build a frosty little snowman (with very cold hands, since gloves hadn’t made the packing list), and make snow angels.
Yoni and Thom embraced their inner snow ninjas, racing and tumbling down hills like kids on a playground.
Even Bambi got in on the action, perched on Yoni’s shoulders, joining the fun.
Those snowy escapades turned out to be some of the best days of the trip, an unplanned adventure that sparked joy and laughter, setting the perfect tone for our holiday celebration.
We hadn’t even reached Tuscany yet, but we were already brimming with unforgettable memories.
One Response
Why am I always naked?! 😂
But I do remember Bambi the Elk I did love her whilst I had her. Can’t believe we got her from Lidl
Lidl nowadays doesn’t look like this nowadays