The holidays begin in 2 days.  For the first time since I can remember, many people are not celebrating it.  There will be 4 days – from Wednesday evening until Saturday night – when the stores are closed and there is nothing to do but pray, entertain family, and see friends.  I have always enjoyed these days, but now  I will be mourning the disappearing hostages, the possible war ahead, and fearing and hoping for the new direction we were taking.    The tension is palpable.

I don’t even know if I will be seeing my kids in the next days…

Tonight we said good-bye to the season of our evenings on the beach.  It’s just beginning to get cool when the sun goes down and the restaurant we frequent closes for lack of clients in the evening.  Maybe there really is a possibility for new starts.