This is definitely one of the longest Sabbaths ever. It begins in 2021 and ends in 2022. But I seem to remember the Sabbath at the turn of the century was even longer. So, if I have insulted or offended you in any way, or said anything to hurt you… wait a minute! I’ve got the wrong new year! So just celebrate the new year and enjoy yourselves.
And if you’re looking for a reason to celebrate – Ezi will be getting his fourth vaccine on Sunday!
december 31, 2021 – longest Shabbat Read Post »
Even though i’m a bit of a mess right now, healthwise, I got myself together to go to Rony Someck’s 70th birthday party that was arranged for him at the University of Haifa the night before by Rafi Weichert. There was a huge audience, for the middle of an epidemic, and Rony was feted with readings of translations in numerous languages of his poems.
One of the most wonderful characteristics of his poems is that they are up to date. here’s a poem about teaching on-line:
Ronny Sommek
Zoom
I count the bears on R’s pajamas
from twelfth grade listening
to me reading a poem
about ballet shoes.
The teacher T’ in the next square
missed a hair above the left eye
when she tried to be exact
Plucking her eyebrows.
The beard of Teacher Y’
is more manicured
than the Gardens of Luxembourg
and the cat on the lap of H
deserves an embrace.
D’ judging by his shirt is a member
of the Nature Conservation Group,
And the flowers in the vase behind him
I identify as those permitted to pick.
K’s turtle-neck sweater is black and,
she looks like the raven in the old Scottish ballad,
And I hope that T doesn’t fix that eagle nose
that really complements her,
and while we’re on the subject of the nose:
The fact that P’ is the ideal
of painters of Aphrodite
that N’ is freckled
and H’ is too close to the camera.
She’s the last to turn off the video
and my eyes suddenly center on my own
the screen that fills
with squares of chocolate.
To me, the best part of the evening was the enjoyment Rafi had in arranging the surprise for Rony. Even though he was familiar with the Russian, Polish, Arabic, French, Rumanian, etc, he didn’t know about the Japanese translation at all. And when I finished reading an English translation and moved to a translation by Rivka Bassman in Yiddish, his jaw dropped.
Rony has had a huge influence on poetry of the next generation here, and he sees it as part of his role as poet, to teach. He’s taught in high schools, prisons, old age homes, and you can see that it’s out of love of the people as well as poetry.
december 30, 2021 – Rony Someck Read Post »
Just a few words about the Cardiology outpatient. I asked Ezi if he knows how to get there and he answered, “Sure! It’s in Lushik’s building.” Who could understand what that means? Only someone who has been married over 40 years to a guy who tells more stories about his childhood and his parents’ friends than he tells about me. “Lushik” was the nickname for Arieh Sharon, who designed many important projects in this country. In the ‘5o’s he built this wing of the hospital. It’s called the “founders’ wing.”
And it looks like it.
Ezi left me off at the entrance, which is really the entrance to another spanking new building you have to go through to get to the founders’ wing. And I walked through to find myself in the laundry basement, before a sign that indicated that the cardiology clinic is 2 floors up. But as I stood before the doors of the elevator that open and close over and over, I realized that I would have to walk up. And I’m lucky that my heart is probably fine because it is no problem for me to do those stairs.
Maybe that was one of the cardiology tests!
december 29, 2021 – Cardiology Read Post »
Nah. no update. But I will spend a few hours at Ichilov today and hope to have the murderous beta-blockers changed and a more specific and merciful diagnosis given. will let you know
December 28, 2021 – Cardiology update Read Post »
Notice that I’ve finally given up and asked someone for advice about editing this site? But now that it’s looking professional I’m feeling I can never live up to these fonts.
Nevertheless, I will do my best to ignore the ‘look’ and stay as simple and true as possible.
Today we learned over the radio that the new booster will be good for Omicron too, and they’re testing it at Sheba. It reminded me of how vulnerable we are and how dependent on the medical system. If Ezi can get vaccinated and it works, our lives will change.
For me, the Omicron would probably not be fatal, even with the kvetches I live with. Still, it would be nice to have the vacccine.
There remains a lot of information I do not have that makes me suspicious. For example – I don’t know what immunity unvaccinated people who recovered from Corona have. Do you? Strange, isn’t it?
december 27, 2021 – omicron vaccination please Read Post »
boy did I get lost. Coming home from the discovery that my dental pain can be handled, but not right away and will involve removing a few crowns that will make my appearance unattractive for zoom, I was receiving the news that I might have been exposed to covid the day before at a shiva call. This, together with my confusion over the papers needed for the hospital tomorrow morning as well as the threat by the health clinic that the proper procedures had not been followed for the admission, and the fact that I was having trouble breathing, led me off the highway to the fields.
That turned out to be okay because although it was dark and there was no place to stop to put my ways on I remembered my sense of direction, and drove toward the west. How far west can one go in a country that’s essentially about 10 miles wide in the area I’m in.
Anyway after 10 minutes I was out of the woods and on a street I recognized. And then I knew I’d make it through the other woods I’ll be navigating soon, whether I get help or not.
december 27, 2021 – pile-up Read Post »
May this day be one that reminds us of the imperative of peace on earth and good will to all humankind
So many pilgrims who wanted to go to Bethlehem were disappointed again this year, and we couldn’t make it to Nazareth either because of the number of people. Some friends are going on pilgrimage to Mecca for Umrah, and I’m sure everyone who makes any kind of pilgrimage feels their faith is strengthened and they are in a better position to deal with the problems of the coming year. Me, I would be happier if everyone stayed home and practiced good will and understanding for all humankind. But if I could go anywhere in the world, and it would be safe for everyone, I think I’d grab the kids and go to Egypt. The desire hasn’t left me to sit in a cafe in Fustat…
Nah, I guess I’d rather go to the Strand Book Store.
Nah, I’d want to go EVERYWHERE.
december 25, 2021 – pilgrimages Read Post »
