103


Saturday

This morning / visiting Hagar / I couldn't help thinking / it seemed only yesterday / I was the one / waiting for my parents' visit. / It's true that life was simpler then / but / a family + boyfriend visit / homemade sandwiches / actual letters / always fortified me for the week to come. /

104

Friday

For his fiftieth birthday / Roni received a spa voucher for two / to which / to eliminate doubt / my name was added. / 45 minutes of Watsu / at precisely the right temperature / relaxing music / a shower / and tea served in a private tipi. /

 

Since I started this daily blog in October 2011 / I see many entries from all over the world / but relatively few comments. / So you can imagine my surprise and joy / when I discovered a reference to my blog / in Uppercase / one of my favorite blogs. /

105

Thursday

Dr. Katznelson's waiting room / is adorned with signs: / "Sometimes There is a Thirty Minute Wait" / and / "Latecomers Have to Wait Two Turns". / Roni claims that / in the first / "Sometimes" should be erased / and that the second sign's an oxymoron / because no matter how late you are / you're always early. / Regardless / it is always worth the wait. /

106

Wednesday

My daughter phoned from the military: / Mom / you have to see "Last Chance High". / It moved me deeply / even more so / because I know that it is with boys such as the ones in this documentary / who'd been expelled from every possible educational institution / my daughter is being trained to work with / and give one more chance to. /

A clip from "The Last Chance High"

107

Tuesday

As part of his school's enrichment program / my son took a baking class / at "Orna and Ella" / one of our favorite restaurants. / For graduation, he baked chocolate chip cookies / which were sold to raise money / so as to give back something to the community. /

My son was so proud to invite us to the workshop / to see the soccer table he built. / It attracted students and parents alike / and returned with us home. /

♥  

108

Monday

My students' spectacular pattern designs / at the end of semester's presentation / left me again with the feeling / that just when it's getting interesting / things end. /

109

Sunday

Meir Medical Center Kfar Saba / this morning / for Mamouchka's examination. / Results in a few weeks / by which time / we'll all be a bit calmer. / ♥ ♥ ♥ /

110

Saturday

Neta and I went to "Comme un chef". / A notice at the ticket booth announced / "As the snack-bar is closed / food items from outside are permitted." / We immediately went to the nearest kiosk / and stocked up. /

111

Friday

Nana has worms / my son / returning from walking our puppy / announced. / So we went to visit Tali / our vet / who also weighed Nana / and cleaned her ears. /

112

Thursday

Summer holidays have begun. / Yesterday my son graduated from 9th grade. / Today he read me his report card. / Once again / I am so impressed with his school / a place where his achievements are not limited to grades alone. / In each subject / the teachers reflect a well rounded appreciation of my son. / I have such "naches" (Yiddish for proud enjoyment) / from him. /

113

Wednesday

I phoned friends / known for their spontaneity / to see if any of them wanted to go to a movie with me. / They all had previous commitments. / So I said / what the hell / and went by myself. / My sister Diane recommended "The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel" / it was a delight. / As far as I'm concerned / in 20 / maybe 30 / years / when I'm finally ready to move to India / it could well be to this hotel. /

114

Tuesday

I had my first “blind date”. / We corresponded daily for almost a month / and spoke on the phone today / for the first time / and set a time and a place to meet. / Although we had backup plans (jokes & jacks) / just in case / thankfully / there was no need. / As blind dates go / this was probably one of the best. /

You too can meet Iris here

115

Monday

Happy birthday Paul McCartney

What can I say about Paul McCartney / that hasn't already been said? / Almost four years ago / the four of us went to McCartney's concert in Tel Aviv / probably the most exciting concert I've ever seen. / It was the closest thing to Beatlemania / Israel's known. / It seems only yesterday / my son was small enough to ride on his father's shoulders. / 

In my "Feet Folder" / I found this photo taken a year ago. / My feet are next to Paul's / in Linda McCartney's book. /

If I was a composer / I'd wish I'd written this song. /

116

Sunday

I'm not a TV fan / but once in a while / I'll watch. / I first heard about "Ananda" / written by Dana Modan / who also stars in it / from Iris. / A few days later / Eli / discussing India / also recommended it. / So on Friday night / I watched six episodes back to back / only to realize / much to my dismay / that the last two episodes / the first of which I watched today / hadn't aired yet / leaving the finale for next week. /

117

Saturday

I had hoped that Tali would go with me / this afternoon to the Azrieli Center pharmacy. / Instead / I got an invitation to visit her / which I did / after returning from running errands. /

On my way to Azrieli Center

118

Friday

Last night / my daughter suggested / that when she came home from the army in the morning / we'd go out for breakfast together. / She arrived / changed into civvies / and my son / who was home joined us. /

Regardless / this cat took a break on the kitchen windowsill./

119

Thursday

In a moment of temporary insanity / I decided / it was time to wash the living room couch covers. / It was a three day project / finally the house is back to normal. /

120

Wednesday

Sometimes / business and pleasure do go well together. / I spent this afternoon / with Gila / a former student of mine / first at her workplace / where she presented her final class project / and then at her home / where we had sushi / other treats / and fascinating conversation. /

121

Tuesday

Summer vacation starts next week / and we were invited to a meeting / with my son's homeroom teacher. / He received a very good review on his academic achievements. / But what really melts my heart / to see how he blossomed this year as a person. / ҉ ҉ ҉ /

122

Monday

That's it / it's official / summer is here! / No matter how I've tried to ignore this intolerably long season / the fact that my closet is full of boots / won't make it cooler. / So today / I began the wardrobe switch over. / Boots out / sandals in.

/☼ ☼ ☼ /

123

Sunday

I just got back from Aviv Geffen's concert at Zappa club. / The initiative was my son's. / I'm not sure if it was the artist's huge talent / or the mood I am in / but I was moved to tears. /



124

Saturday

I needed to go out / to walk / to breathe. / A good opportunity to take batteries to the recycling bin. / Two birds with one stone. /

125

Friday

On way home / I walked down "Sderot HaHaskala" / an avenue / on the west edge of my neighborhood. / It's a charming place / where we play Pétanque. / Just few years ago / it was an abandoned plot / where we had Lag BaOmer bonfires / every year. /

Talking about Pétanque...here and here /

126

Thursday

The rumors / as to our soldier / getting leave / started yesterday. / Once confirmed / I sprang into action / making Leek quiche and lettuce salad for a family lunch. /

127

Wednesday

I love my neighborhood. / One of the best things about it / is the friends I've made here. / When I'm blue / there's always someone here for me. / This evening I visited Orit / a glass of wine / a foster cat / lots of color / and the world smiles on me again. /

128

Tuesday

This morning I went to Herzliya / to spend the day with / Papouchka and Mamouchka / time flew by before I noticed. / ♥ ♥ ♥ / 

129

Monday

I watched Itamar Chen's documentary / "Ha'Morah Irena" / "Teacher Irena" / a film about education / a subject close to my heart. / Though Irena's students were younger / and from a vastly different background / than mine are / I identified with her motivation / and was surprised to hear her / using some of the same phrases / I use in my classroom. /

130

Sunday

Rony / turned 11 in April / but somehow / I didn't get round / to giving her her present / until today. / Rony loves pop–up books as much as I do / and today / she added a new one to her collection. /

I received this book from Rony and her family for my birthday. /

131

Saturday

"Do you have plans for today?" / Roni called down from the top floor. / "Not really / should we go to a movie?" / I answered. / "That's exactly what I had in mind" / he said. / Before long we were at the cinematheque / watching "Intouchables" / a movie we'd meaning to see for a while. / Afterwards we had a meal at King George. / ♥ ♥ ♥ /

132

Friday

Until the last minute / I wasn't sure I'd join Rona / at the women's get together. / The program: refreshments / music / a clothes swap / and a mini photography exhibit / which included a photo of Rona's house / from the blog / "Habayta". / All that was lacking / to make it perfect / were a few men! / ☺ / But I'm not complaining / few hours with Rona / is a great way to start the weekend. /