Jan (in Pleasanton) and I (in San Francisco) were on the phone when I mentioned buying challah rolls for Shabbat (which I'd never done before but suddenly got the idea to do when buying a cinnamon loaf at Acme Bakery today), and she suggested that we light the candles together - me in person and her over the speaker phone. We had done the same thing with Chanukah candles, so I immediately agreed. I had a pair of homemade soapstone candlesticks already loaded with Shabbat candles, and a box of matches nearby, so it was a matter of seconds before we were ready to roll. I lit the candles and sang the blessing, and Jan said "Amein." Then I sang the motzi and bit into my challah roll. Then she sipped wine and I water after we sang 'borei p'ri hagafen' together.
So I'm writing this by the light of the candles, which are sitting on my coffee table. I'd been wondering how to celebrate Shabbat while living alone. There was an article on point in one of the online Jewish rags, but it mostly suggested finding a family you can join. Since sitting around a dinner table singing Shabbat songs doesn't really appeal to me, I hadn't been engaging in any Sabbath observance whatsoever. But, with the help of my Jewish-born but unbelieving girlfriend, I might just get something started.
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