The Jewish holiday of Passover is approaching, and it reminds me of so many warm family times. It also reminds me of the loss of my beloved paternal grandfather Lou, who died during Passover in 2001.

While I am not a religious person, I’ve been thinking of Jewish custom a lot lately because of the number of donations I’ve received in the amount of $18. If you’re not Jewish, you may not be familiar with this custom, but 18 is the numerical value of the Hebrew word “chai,” which means “life.” So, it’s a way for Jewish friends and supporters to offer a blessing along with their gift.

I love this idea because these gifts serve to keep Bob’s memory alive and to remind me of how blessed I was to have him as my father.