Because I chair the Israel Association of Writers in English, and we are registered with the government as a not-for-profit organization, I am responsible for filling out the online forms for the year’s activity. This should not be a complicated affair, especially since almost all our activities are run by volunteers and free. But wow is it confusing for an old lady, and the deadline is in three days. They have to be done one at a time, downloaded, signed, uploaded, and approved before it is possible to go on to the next page (usually 14 pages). Luckily I have Ezi and with the help of the young people on the other end of the phone at the government offices am almost done. ALMOST.

Only when the forms are in and approved I will throw out all the drafts lying around my office, finish my students’ evaluations, edit the article about writing in English, and start writing poems again.

wish me luck.

Yes, we’re back in our masks. And back in our renewed occasional hysteria. Three days ago we spoke with a friend of a friend who was at a conference with a guy who tested positive, and we have to wait until he gets his test back to see if we’re in danger. This situation is going to repeat itself for a while. That mellow mood that was beginning to settle over the country is suddenly jarred. Thank goodness most people have stores and stores of masks.

There are certain moments in life that you never forget.  Every moment with Ali Salem were those.  I’d just published an abbreviated version of part of the story a few months ago, but there was at least one more chapter I needed to add, and Nitza talked about part of it in her article about Sasson Somekh.

the entire article is here

sorry, it’s in Hebrew.

But my story is in English

and then Nitza Ben Dov called me to ask about another part for an article she was doing for Ha’aretz, his visit to Israel.  Actually, Ali wrote about it himself and you can read part of it if you click here on Amazon.

it must be amazing to have a birthday in the middle of Tel Aviv on Gay Pride day when everyone is celebrating, dancing in the streets. If I wasn’t so worried about seeing so many people in a rising corona situation, I’d be out there dancing.

Am I gay? who knows? but the point is that fay rights are human rights – equality is for all.

A few years ago I was walking with my 8 year-old grandson in Tel Aviv- On the way I pointed out the flags that were left over from Gay Pride, and I asked, “What are they?” “Oh,” he said, “They’re left over from Independence Day celebrations. On the way back, I pointed them out and asked, “Aren’t those Gay Pride flags?” “Oh,” he said and looked at me profoundly, “You know about those things?”

As soon as we opened the airport the virus started coming back in. Binyamina is RED. Such a great town – and now because one person came back to Israel and didn’t follow quarantine procedure, the whole country’s in danger. Well, two people – some guy in Modiin did the same thing. And that means we’re back in our masks, and hoping the whole breakout can be contained.

But that’s not what’s worrying me – what’s got to me is some germ I must have picked up in my wanderings this week that’s driving me mad. My head, my stomach, my neck, throat , etc – and I Myself don’t feel so good…

For Orit’s birthday we did a massage at Culo, the spa at comme-il-faut on the port. Then we bought clothes. We were served by the beautiful and talented Nurit, who has been working there at least since 1994 when I had a book launch there. And she remembered me, and almost sold me a dress, but then Orit came out from the reflexology and both of us went out for coffee at Maison Kaiser. Last time I went near Maison Kaiser it was impossible to get in – the lines were so long – but this time there were plenty of tables, and the food was okay. My apple turnover was not amazing but it probably should have been heated, but Orit went wild over her camembert sandwich.

Then we went back to comme-il-faut and Orit picked out a dress. Unfortunately Nurit was otherwise occupied, and someone else served us, but we really enjoyed overpaying for a perfect dress. Her birthday isn’t for 2 days but I really felt she’s ready now to celebrate it.