i had spent the day talking with friends about plans for vacations, air b&bs, dinners we’ve had and will have, and all that kind of stuff. But towards evening I had a zoom with Toi Derricote and Alicia Ostriker talking about their lives and expressing real emotion. I’m too overwhelmed to process this right now.
march 8, 2021 – Toi and alicia Read Post »
restaurants – finally eating food not from my kitchen! cafes – crazy, a place to meet! schools – kids no longer wasting their minds! flights – beginning again! all very wonderful! But because Ezi’s getting treatment so his lymphoma doesn’t come back, he’s failed his serology test and has to stay protected. he’s staying away from others, and I’m careful not to transfer anything to him. And yet, we zoom to be doing fine. I’m even seeing some friends for lunch tomorrow, very carefully, and introducing my wonderful friends, Toi Derricote and Alicia Ostriker, at a zoom meeting in the afternoon. Want to come? Here’s the zoom: “We Feel Now a Largeness Coming”:
Black Women Poets in America. I’m pretty excited about this and hope you are too.
march 7, 2021 – we’re opening up – but not for me Read Post »
i was sure it would be out for Passover, and I’d be able to send the mobi file to friends for the fun of comparing the stories of Passover with the reality of Egypt and the slaves and the Jews. I spent at least 2 days editing it so the pictures align with the text. but this afternoon I was informed that it all came out a mess and I have to start over and a kindle book would be impossible. it’s such a fun book and to me so enlightening I’m really broken-hearted. And I have a ton of paperwork from the IAWE to take care of before I leave. But never mind – I’ll give you a poem in advance:
See how each slave is unique –
But Sudanese, Philistinian, or Jew
they’re all tied in one unyielding queue
and you know they’ve been brought
from all over the world,
together on one footstool
under the heel of the Pharaoh
who will never let
these people go
a poem in advance:
march 7, 2021 – Egypt: an israelite returns, editing Read Post »
What a wonderful morning we had as we wandered through the Land of Israel Museum. Not only was there a superb exhibit
-(not crowded because so many people had already it before the lockdown and the numbers were regulated). This glass-blown Harley blew me away.
We also had a walk through the grounds 
It has been years since we’ve visited the olive presses, and it was just very pretty walking through the many paths.
We even had a chance to buy a little gift for a friend in the museum store, and to get some tasty food at the restaurant to sit outside and devour. But there was something in the salad that I must have been allergic to because I’ve been really ill all afternoon and evening. And that is why you haven’t heard from me all day.
march 6, 2021 – take-away? Read Post »
In time for Passover, I’m going to publish a little poetry book about Egypt. Here’s a little poem and picture you may like.
Look at how each slave is unique
Sure, they’re all tied in one queue
but you know they’ve been captured
from all over the world,
all on one footstool
under the heel of the Pharoah
who will never let
these people go
march 5, 2021 – planning a book on Egypt Read Post »
As I sat with a friend who is mourning the death of her lover, I began to lose concentration on the conversation of all her friends who were trying to divert her attention from her loss. I knew she was mourning not only her lover, but all the past that had slipped away from her, and all that kept my mind occupied while people were chattering about vaccines. But suddenly I found myself saying – I just wish we would vaccinate all the Palestinians. And everyone became animated, even our distracted friend. It was not because anyone disagreed – it was all about how we could help it to happen. How I wish our government could have a conversation like that.
march 4, 2021 – vaccines for our neighbors Read Post »
https://www.facebook.com/events/233871105119479
march 4, 2021 – international women’s day Read Post »
last year at this time we were returning from Egypt. It was a great voyage – in many ways and I am planning to publish a kindle in the next weeks about this trip. I’ll send you a copy if you ask. But the big thing i now remember is the miracle of our salvation. We didn’t catch covid. At one point, in the temple of Abu Simbel, I suddenly stopped listening to our guide and noticed that all around me I’d been hearing Chinese and Italian for days, that some people were even wearing masks, and we are among a close crowd of people. That moment of clarity disappeared as we continued touring throughout the country, standing very close to numerous strangers. A few days after we returned we realized how dangerous it was as we came down with some kind of violent flu, asked immediately to get tested, and understood that a woman who returned to Israel only a day after us, had died of Covid. We didn’t catch it then, but it was just a matter of enormous luck. Let’s hope that luck holds…
march 3, 2021 – Egypt Read Post »
