Rituals

Generally, I do not mindlessly find myself entangled in rituals. Being Jewish I do try my best to fast on Yom Kippur and such, however, I have been taught the meaning behind those actions. I can only think of one instance where I almost religiously find myself trapped within a punishment of repetition. I was no older than nine years old and had been forced to take a trip with my mom, brother, and two of his friends. Now, this trip seemed like an eternity as did most car excursions of my childhood, although I am sure it lasted no longer than ten minutes. I can't remember exactly where it was we were headed, but along the way we passed a grave yard. With the sight of that first headstone, "Jack Rabbit" had been screamed from the backseat. I then turned around; puzzled by this new expression. My brother’s friend then began explaining that every time I see a grave yard I must repeat those two words to ensure the safety of myself and family. Since that day I cannot drive past a grave yard without saying “Jack Rabbit” in my head. Throughout my childhood, I was convinced that every time I avoided death, which seemed to happen rather frequently, it was due to that marvelous phrase I had been taught. Now, I am not a superstitious person, I mean I have a black cat so how could I be, but this habit has never left my side.