Ma’s calmly steaming Libby’s dress like it’s a totally regular day. How does she do that? How is she not panicked?

Why am I nervous? Why does Libby getting engaged make me so nervous that my hands are shaking?

Yocheved tugs on my hair. “Stop moving or I’m going to accidentally burn off a chunk.”

I shriek. “Don’t you dare!”

“So stop moving!”

I will my hands to stop trembling and turn to peek at Ma.

She’s calmly steaming Libby’s dress like it’s a totally regular day. How does she do that? How is she not panicked?

“Are you nervous?” I call out spontaneously to Ma.

She looks around, startled. “Who, me?”

I nod, already regretting the question.

An odd look flashes across her face. A moment later, it’s gone.

“Nervous?” she repeats. “Not really, no. I’m excited for Libby. I’m grateful to the Ribbono shel Olam for His tremendous chesed, and I’m just mentally running through my teaching rotation to make sure I have a substitute for the day of the vort.”

Oh. Yeah, me, too.