Any sign of a major war, and I’m stocking up.  Grocery shopping (all but the stuff I Should have bought), Cosmetics, and most of all, medications. 

I was losing control of the money that was accumulating on my credit card, and had piled up medications for the next three months.  It was getting inhuman.  So I looked at my pharmacist and thought I recognized him . “Mahmoud?”  “Yes.  That’s my name.” “I remember you from the last time I was hoarding medicines.  That was in February of 2021.  You said you were out of Caloril and I said, “What am I going to do? I”m leaving for Egypt in the morning!”  “You can get it much cheaper over the counter in Cairo,” he responded.  

“If course, I remember!”  he explained.  “That was right before the Covid! So was I right? Did you get it?”  “Oh, yes!” I lied.  I was so happy to talk with him, I had to keep it going.  

I left our conversation with my bag of drugs and a big smile, feeling very lucky that I now had everything I need for a long sojourn at home, and perfume for grandchildren as well.  But then I realized I had rushed so much to get to the pharmacy I didn’t bother to note exactly where I put my car.  A rare occurance but one that shook my confidence. 

And then out of nowhere a young man appeared, asking me for a handout.  So I startd asking him questions – where was he was from, why he was standing in a parking garage, why he was asking for money.  He story worked.  He was from a moshav up north and no longer could sustain his wife and child without work.  I left him to look for my car, and said I left my wallet there.  I refused his offer for help and retraced my steps to the corder behid a wall where I had hidden it.  Then I drove back to the young man, gave him the last of my money – a 100 shekel note, and asked for change so i could be sure to be able to pay for parking.    

How weird, I thought as I drove out. the entire range of experiences – the connection between Jews and Arabs in Israel, the refugees, the war hoarding, the confusion of situation and place – all in half an hour at the pharmacy.