Today, I went to my first bar mitzvah in more than five years. It was a three-hour service that included both a torah portion and a haftorah portion -- which concluded with people throwing fistfuls of candy at the bar mitzvah boy. (Or is it man?)

Also of note: Both the rabbi and cantor were quite young, and there was a "barbershop quintet" of men who chimed in to sing along at times. They were all fabulous!

Tonight, I shall set sail on a nautically themed reception, complete with candle lighting and massive amounts of food. You know, this coming-of-age stuff isn't really all that bad.