israeli politics

Ezi spent a day making a Dobos torte for Oren’s birthday.  I was so hoping we’d get our whole family together to celebrate it, but we couldn’t seem to get our times together.  Maybe my madness is coming out – that i’m afraid of my own grandchildren, my own children, and wasn’t assertive enough about the times.    I’ve noticed my increasing paranoia, my fear of going out to Jaffa, my hunger for communication ameliorated by the occasional zoom.  All along, I thought I was as sane as could be expected.  Thank goodness we’re going on the Israel Trail tomorrow.  Even though it is really hard to hike with a mask, it’s still more sane to commune with nature…

never mind – we’ll still have a birthday party – and many more – this is a month of family birthdays, and we have to celebrate a few before the next shutdown.

november 30, 2020 – oren’s birthday Read Post »

israeli politics

When the sun came out this afternoon, around noon, I really wanted to go for a walk.  But not where there were people.  I was really paranoid about this part.  People have become our enemy.  

Anyway, Ezi drove to Jaffa.  He wanted to see what was left of his grandfather’s hangars – but there was really nothing to see.  I don’t know what the plans for the future are instead of those hangars – but they look really big.  And people were celebrating everywhere.  Look how gorgeous:

november 28, 2020 – when the sun came out today – Jaffa Read Post »

israeli politics

in these times of trouble I sometimes feel an incredible urge to connect with people who may be ill, or lonely, or in need.  Usually I take an aspirin and lie down until the feeling goes away.  Because I know it isn’t going to lead to an improvement of the person’s situation, and I can’t do much to change that situation, but it will definitely make me feel bad.  Tonight a former student called and reminisced about the times she used to visit me when all the kids were living here and we had a dog and everything was happening.  I was beginning to feel nostalgic about the good old days but then I realized her situation was so bad now that her happy days were long ago and in her situation it will never get better than it was then.  i wish i could help her, somehow connect her with a partner, get her an eye doctor that could improve her situation, or at least help her find a job that she could do with other people.  but i know i can’t, so all i can do is wish her well, embrace her virtually, and then go off feeling sad.  

and yet we must connect.  we are so busy with our survival and the difficulties of overcoming the obstacles to communication that sometimes we forget the old people, the weak, or even just the old friends that need a little boost.  let’s try, just a little harder.  i will. i promise.

november 26, 2020 – connecting Read Post »

israeli politics, ,

one side of my throat is all swollen,and, when i think about it, it’s been a long time since i haven’t had a chill or a head ache.  but it is such a hassle to go to the doctor and then be told to drink tea with ginger or something basic like that.  worse, to be given an antibiotic and then go crazy with all those anti-anti-biotics.  oy.  i just want to stop my teeth from hurting.

but if i stay home and rest I’ll watch television.  And then the news about elections in March will make me ache all over.  I have the terrible feeling that we’re getting vaccines just so that we’ll go to the polls and re-elect Bibi…

november 23, 2020 – i don wanna go to the doctor Read Post »

israeli politics

had the great honor and pleasure to be on zoom with the Arab Culturalist on Business Etiquette in the UAE .  A cool, funny man who told us all the do’s and don’ts for doing business in Bahrain.  It was clear and quirky and made it clear to me that our cultures are completely antithetical.  It will be quite an experience to work with people in Dubai.

november 22, 2020 – Bahrain and the culture of commerce Read Post »

israeli politics

 

since i don’t have a bunch of poet friends who dare be honest nowadays and give constructive advice in fear of hurting my delicate feelings, i am putting this draft here.  i fear i haven’t worked out the comments thing yet, but i’m getting there.  so write me if you have something to say about this:  

 

Paralysis

A draft for Alicia

 

There’s so much  I don’t want to remember,

so much I don’t want to see,

but imprisoned at home it comes to me

how paralyzed we all have been made

and how much we need to free ourselves

not just from the lockdown of our home,

but also the passivity imposed on us

not only by terror of the plague

not only by the empty shops,

the faceless people on the street,

the lies piled so high they have spilled

into every part of our lives.

 

When my father had his first stroke,

he had to teach half his body

how to move.  I saw how much work

went into a single finger, then a hand,

until one day he was walking again.

The second time it didn’t work.

Getting a single word out

was too hard a task.

But I am his child

and my mother’s too.

And she moved for him,

refusing to let him relent.

 

 

 

I want to invoke her now

her stubborn blind will

that ignored the chill of reality

and forced movement forward.

november 21, 2020 – Paralysis, a draft Read Post »