SO IN CASE YOU DIDN'T KNOW, I'M A PEOPLE PERSON

As a sun sign Cancer, I have a lot of patience. All water signs do. That's one of the ways we survive. That and our phenomenal memory. Two of the things that make me crazy...my Dad AH used to say, 'G-d made you crazy' smile smile...where was I? Oh yes, two things that make me crazy are stupid people (dumb people I can understand, they can't help themselves) and machines that break down.

See, I figure machines are here to make my life easier and when they don't work, I take it as a personal affront. The washing machine always breaks down in the middle of a cycle when it's full of soapy water. The car forgets how to start when you have five minutes to get to an important appointment. And the computer...that's the worst...wait, wait, my heart is klapping just thinking about that one.

So why am I telling you all this? Yesterday I walked all over Jerusalem looking for a pocket sized radio that runs on batteries. You know, like a walkman but without the tape cassette. After checking out five stores, I was all ready to buy the walkman, but they don't have that either. And I needed two of them. No wait. Three. One for me, one for Bubbie Channah, and one for my friend Rena. And mine had to have earphones so I could listen on the bus to and from work without making all the neighbours my partners. Israelis, G-d bless them, sit down next to you on a bus and begin talking to you as if you were old friends.

'So what do you think about Olmert's speech?'
'Did you hear any news today?'

And if they aren't sitting right beside you or across from you, or next to you in the aisle, and still hear what you are saying, they'll shout their opinion out for anyone and everyone to hear.

Riding the bus in Israel is kinda like taking a day trip from Camp Yomee to visit the Peerless Dairy. All that is missing is a roaring rendition of Michael Row Your Boat Ashore, or the ever popular, Nobody Loves Me, Everybody Hates Me, I'm Going to the Garden to Eat Worms. You know the song.

The reason for the search in the first place is that I realized that since the War broke out I am glued to the media. I have Galei Zahal, the army station, playing on my computer. The televisions are on in every room.

Ah! But what about at work? I did download Galei Zahal, but sometimes it bothers the people. And what about the bus trips to and from work? The driver doesn't always turn up the volume so we can hear the news. And the biggest what if of all...what if we have to go into a protected room and there is a power failure, G-d forbid.

Off I went in search of my little radios. I found M3 somethings. I found iPods. I found gorgeous radios that plug in and have disc and tape thingees. But no little pocket sized radios.

I remember I got my first portable radio for my sixteenth birthday from three of my best girlfriends and their dates. It was powder blue. I loved that radio.

Finally, I remembered a tiny shop just off Ben Yehudah Street, that I used to frequent years ago.

I walked in and instantly recognized the elderly lady and her son who owned the shop. She looks like Bubbie Channah with a sheytle, a wig, and he is about my age and sports a kippa srugah, a knitted kippa. I knew them! Lately we have been sitting across from one another on the bus!

How do I know them? We talk on the bus!

It all started because I say Psalms every day. When things calm down, I'll tell you that story.

The word came through about a week ago that everyone all over the world was going to say the 83rd Psalm at six o'clock local time. So I nodded at my obviously religious travel companions and pulled out my Tehilim.

Neither of them said anything, but I recognized the look. Funny, she doesn't look religious (smile). I told them about the 83rd Psalm, and she reached into her old pocket book and pulled out a well-worn book. We looked at each other and began davening.

Since then we're mishpocheh and family always has a special bond.

Imagine my surprise when I saw my bus partners sitting in the store! Hello! Hello! How are you?

And sure enough they had my little radios. I bought two. Today I'll buy the third for Rena.

So now, if I have to go into a protected room, I am safe in the knowledge that not only do I have a radio, but I have a good radio. My mishpocheh sold it to me.

Have a great day...stay safe...and thanks for dropping in.