I didn’t want to watch the news – so soon to get into the funerals of three young people who died senselessly because of a lone fanatic terrorist.  I didn’t think I was ready, but as soon as the news began I was weeping.  Fascinated by the humiliation of Simcha Rotman in New York and the other right wingers around the world. And at the end of the hour I was rejoicing with the soccer team’s win over Brazil.  Somehow throughout it all, I am a patriot.  

In honor of Ezi’s birthday tomorrow, I recommended we take a walk to the pretentious bakery of Otmazgin.  Otmazgin/Optalgin we kept saying as we walked over – and enjoyed both the pretension of the cake and our mockery of the our pretension.  It’s part of being Israeli.  Tomorrow the kids will admire the unusual beauty of the cake, marvel at the price, and wrinkle their noses at the taste.