Here Goes

 Here goes an attempt at a new entry.  Tomorrow I am hopefully meeting a group of 23 people whom I have never before met. We will be going on a one week spiritual/mystical tour of the Greek mainland. Temples, monasteries, the homes of the Gods. I say hopefully because as I have attempted to describe in previous entries, life here is moment to moment. The airport is open, the airport is closed, planes leave Israelis stranded in foreign countries ,then Israeli airlines charge extortion rates to bring them home. For those that still have a home - despite the 'defeat of the Hezbollah attack" missiles and rockets continue to bombard the north.  The Gaza 'envelope' continues to have rockets sent, many schools are not opening in September.  Schools that can open, in the center of the country, may not open because of teacher strikes. An Israeli Bedouin hostage was returned yesterday - some momentary joy as we wait and hope, and pray for the remaining hostages to be returned.  Talks have stalled - WHAT a surprise. Nasrallah lies to his people, Sinwa lies to his people, Bibi lies to everyone - America tries. 

So sorry, yet again, a miserable entry.  I will be gone a week. 

Waiting Game - Day 308

Iran, Nasrallah,  The Hezbollah, Hamas - terrorists, yes, certainly.  They are also geniuses of psychological terrorism. 

The nation waits - what will come next? when will it come? How will it come? Will it come?

Where? when? Are we ready? Who is lying to whom? Which airlines are flying? Which airlines aren't flying? Will civilians be hurt? Where are all the army bases? Are our shelters strong enough? Will there be electricity? Won't there? What about the hostages? We are close to a deal, we are far from a deal, yet again. 

WHY is Bibi opposed to a deal? What the hell is wrong with Smotrich and Ben Gvir? How did we get here? What is going to happen?  

And in the meantime life continues - do we go to a demonstration or don't we? Is it safe or wise to visit Druze families in Majdal-Shams? Is it safe or wise to go to a museum in Tel Aviv? Jerusalem? Herzlia? Should we meet friends on the beach? Arabic homework is so difficult this week. What am I doing at my age sitting down with an exercise book struggling with homework?  What art will I work on now? Oils, watercolours? Maybe nothing. To go to yoga or not go to yoga? Which shelter to go to?

And on top of it so many people here have come down with corona - because they did go on an outing together, and attended lectures and classes together. And the heat - the hottest June and July since records began. 

But thank goodness - the Olympics continues - please don't let it finish. Then comes the question, what to watch? What will save us?

What Next?

To say I feel really sad, disheartened, concerned, fearful, anxious, would all be an understatement. 

I guess it is no surprise that I have some kind of virus - sore throat, cough, fatigue, voice gone (to the delight of some, I am sure) - not corona, tested negative. There are of course many other viruses lurking in the bowl of soup in which we are living. The hottest June and July on record and now we lurch into August - the heartbreaking killing of the Druze children playing soccer on a Saturday - the targeted assassinations of the Hamas political leader, and the Hamas military commander, and Hezbollah's commander - blood, blood, blood.  Chopping of monsters' heads will only spawn many more monsters. This is like an insane game of chess, subterfuge, counterfuge, and thousands of innocent people dead.  And now we wait in dread for what will come next. An eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth, and soon there will be noone left - 

Once again airlines have stopped flights. Last night I bid a teary farewell to a dear family who have to go to a wedding in the States - they had to change all their flights and plans and have a very long, expensive trip ahead of them, and don't know how they will get back - if they get there.   I am not given to crying much, but these days it seems that is all I do. 

This week I haven't even had the wherewithal to do much other than sleep and watch the Olympics. Thank GOD for the Olympics. What will happen when they are over?

This is all far too much.