THANKS OLD OLD LADY OF THE HILLS

OldOldLady Of The Hills http://sitteninthehills64.blogspot.com sent me a list of questions...bravo old lady...i loved them...

Ok all of you...here are old lady's questions in bold face...and my answers.

Any of you interested in sending me your answers - I'd love to hear them.

Here goes!


1. You have just been elected President of the United States. What are the first four things you would do in your new position?
1. I would call out the national guard to sweep our cities and get rid of the terrorists hiding in the basement. 2. I would put pressure on the automobile industry to stop producing conventional cars and push towards electric or solar vehicles...enough that they have us over a barrel. 3. I would make our schools safe...it can be done. 4. I would socialize medicine so everyone is covered.

2. If you could live your life over, what one thing would you do differently? That one is tricky. I would have started writing sooner...I would have gone to New York to be an actor. I would have been kinder to myself.

3. A Square Peg or A Round Hole, and why? Round hole. I roll with the punches. I don't expect people to conform to my way of thinking...well not all the time lol. And round is a shape no? My favourite. And finally round is a lot softer than square. Like marshmallows and clouds. Nice.

4. Your very weathly Aunt has left you $100 million., with the caveat that you must build the house of your dreams anywhere in the world that your heart desires...Where would it be and what would it look like? I would build it in Jerusalem. I could never live anywhere else. One floor. Lots of windows. Overlooking the Old City. With a little garden and lots of balconies. With two rooms more than I need...for company.

5. Your wealthy Aunt also said: You may give a fabulous dinner party for 5 Famous people. But all of these famous people are no longer living....Who would your five Dream Dinner Guests be, and why? 1. Mel Brooks...the 2,000 year old man...becuase I find funny and clever very attractive. 2. Shakespeare...the finest writer of all times. 3. Golda...strong, bright, clever woman...can you beat that? 4. Merlin...anyone who knows me, knows why. 5. Moses...what a life he had.

6. Dancer or Singer? singer...have you ever seen me dance???

7. Do you have a hidden talent that you wish you could persue, and why? I wish I could say that I could fly...now how great would that be? But, in the last two years I have really started writing and that is such a joy in my life. And I'm so grateful. Oh, and I wish I could find the cure for cancer, bring peace, and invent a kind of chocolate that is not fattening. Sigh.

8. If you were told you had only six monthe to live, How would you spend them? I would hope that I could spend them not crying and feeling sorry for myself. I have so much to live for and so much that I am grateful for. And I hope I could walk into the light smiling and singing and saying 'Thank you, God. It was a great ride.'

Those were the questions that oldoldladyofthehills sent me and my answers. Took longer than I thought to find them. If you would like to share your answers with me, I'd love to hear them.

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

IN THE LAND OF SANDRA DEE

Long ago and far away,
In a land that time forgot,
Before the days of Dylan,
Or the dawn of Camelot.
There lived a race of innocents,
And they were you and me,
Long ago and far away,
In the Land of Sandra Dee.

Oh, there was truth and goodness
In that land where we were born,
Where navels were for oranges,
And Peyton Place was porn.
For Ike was in the White House,
And Hoss (& Little Joe?!) was on TV,
And God was in his heaven,
In the Land of Sandra Dee.

We learned to gut a muffler,
We washed our hair at dawn,
We spread our crinolines to dry,
In circles on the lawn.
And they could hear us coming,
All the way to Tennessee,
All starched and sprayed and rumbling,
In the Land of Sandra Dee.

We longed for love and romance,
And waited for the prince,
And Eddie Fisher married Liz,
And no one's seen him since.
We danced to "Little Darlin,'"
And Sang to "Stagger Lee,"
And cried for Buddy Holly,
In the Land of Sandra Dee.

Only girls wore earrings then,
And three was one too many,
And only boys wore flat-top cuts,
Except for Jean McKinney.
And only in our wildest dreams,
Did we expect to see,
A boy named George with Lipstick,
In the Land of Sandra Dee.

We fell for Frankie Avalon,
Annette was oh so nice,
And when they made a movie,
They never made it twice.
We didn't have a Star Trek Five,
Or Psycho Two and Three,
Or Rocky-Rambo Twenty,
In the Land of Sandra Dee.

Miss Kitty had a heart of gold,
And Chester had a limp,
And Reagan was a Democrat,
Whose co-star was a chimp.
We had a Mr Wizard,
But not a Mr T,
And Oprah couldn't talk yet,
In the Land of Sandra Dee.

We had our share of heroes,
We never thought they'd go,
At least not Bobby Darin,
Or Marilyn Monroe.
For youth was still eternal,
And life was yet to be,
And Elvis was forever,
In the Land of Sandra Dee.

We'd never seen the rock band
That was Grateful to be Dead,
And Airplanes weren't named Jefferson,
And Zeppelins weren't Led.
And Beatles lived in gardens then,
And Monkees in a tree,
Madonna was a virgin,
In the Land of Sandra Dee.

We'd never heard of Microwaves,
Or telephones in cars,
And babies might be bottle-fed,
But they weren't grown in jars.
And pumping iron got wrinkles out,
And "gay" meant fancy-free,
And dorms were never coed,
In the Land of Sandra Dee.

We hadn't seen enough of jets,
To talk about the lag,
And microchips were what was left,
At the bottom of the bag.
And Hardware was a box of nails,
And bytes came from a flea,
And rocket ships were fiction,
In the Land of Sandra Dee.

Buicks came with portholes,
And side show came with freaks,
And bathing suits came big enough,
To cover both your cheeks.
And Coke came just in bottles,
And skirts came to the knee,
And Castro came to power,
In the Land of Sandra Dee.

We had no Crest with Fluoride,
We had no Hill Street Blues,
We all wore superstructure bras,
Designed by Howard Hughes.
We had no patterned pantyhose,
Or Lipton herbal tea,
Or prime-time ads for condoms,
In the Land of Sandra Dee.

There were no golden arches,
No Perriers to chill,
And fish were not called Wanda,
And cats were not called Bill.
And middle-aged was thirty-five,
And old was forty-three,
And ancient were our parents,
In the Land of Sandra Dee.

But all things have a season,
Or so we've heard them say,
And now instead of Maybelline,
We swear by Retin-A.
And they send us invitations,
To join AARP,
We've come a long way, baby,
From the Land of Sandra Dee.

So now we face a brave new world,
In slightly larger jeans,
And wonder why they're using,
Smaller print in magazines.
And we tell our children's children,
Of the way it used to be,
Long ago and far away,
IN THE LAND OF SANDRA DEE.

Don't cry because it's over,

Just smile because it's been....

Here's A TOAST TO ALL THE GIRLS WE'VE LOVED BEFORE...

How's This For Depressing?
------------ --------- ---
Brigette Bardot 71
Stella Stevens 68
Sophia Loren 71
Gina Lollobrigida 78
Deborah Kerr 94 (WOW!)
Lena Horne 88
Kay Starr 83
Patti Page 78
Annette Funicello 63
Barbara Eden 71
Angie Dickenson 74
Doris Day 81
Joan Collins 72
Julie Christie 64
Leslie Caron 74
Carroll Baker 74
Ann-Margret 64
Debra Padget 72
Julie Andrews 70
Ursula Andress 69
Rita Moreno 74
Jean Simmons 76
Julie Newmar 72
Kim Novak 72
Jane Powell 76
Debbie Reynolds 73
Shirley Temple 77 (NO!)
Jane Russell 84
Kathryn Grayson 83
Esther Williams 82
Elke Sommer 65
Gale Storm 83
Jill St John 65
Liz Taylor 73 (wow!)
Mamie Van Doren 74

UNBELIVEABLE.

Shavuah tov...a good week.

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

BORN TO KVETCH

I hate to admit it, but this is the way I speak. A little English...a little Hebrew...a little Yiddish and all in the same sentence. For example: I could say to my kids: 'Take a mitriyah, it looks a bissel like rain.' (Take an umbrella, it looks a little like rain.)

Hope you enjoy this and if not it isn't my fault, I got it from Rena. :)))

"Born to Kvetch" by Michael Wex



The New York City Public Schools have officially declared Jewish
English, now dubbed Hebonics, as a second language. Backers of the move
say the city schools are the first in the nation to recognize Hebonics
as a valid language and a significant attribute of American culture.
According to Howard Ashland, linguistics professor at Brooklyn College
and renowned Hebonics scholar, the sentence structure of Hebonics
derives from middle and eastern European language patterns, as well as
Yiddish.

Question: "What time is it?"
English answer: "Sorry, I don't know."
Hebonic response: "What am I, a clock?"
.......
Remark: "I hope things turn out okay."
English answer: "Thanks."
Hebonic response: "I should be so lucky!"
........
Remark: "Hurry up. Dinner's ready."
English answer: "Be right there."
Hebonic response: "Alright already, I'm coming. What's with the
'hurry' business? Is there a fire?"
........
Remark: "I like the tie you gave me; I wear it all the time."
English answer: "Glad you like it."
Hebonic response: "So what's the matter; you don't like the other ties
I gave you?"
..........
Remark: "Sarah and I are engaged."
English answer: "Congratulations!"
Hebonic response: "She could stand to lose a few pounds."
........
Question: "Would you like to go riding with us?"
English answer: "Just say when."
Hebonic response: "Riding, shmiding! Do I look like a cowboy?"
........
To the guest of honor at a birthday party:
English answer: "Happy birthday."
Hebonic response: "A year smarter you should become."
..........
Remark: "A beautiful day."
English answer: "Sure is."
Hebonic response: "So the sun is out; what else is new?"
.......
Answering a phone call from a son:
English answer: "It's been a while since you called."
Hebonic response: "You didn't wonder if I'm dead already?"
........
***HAVE A GREAT DAY**** if that's possible!...stay safe...and thanks for dropping in.

I GET BY WITH A LITTLE HELP FROM MY FRIENDS

Well, we ate and ate and ate and ate...rested a bit...then ate some more. And a grand, good, great time was had by all. Today...the diet...sigh.

When I opened my email this morning I received four emails that I wanted to share with you. THANK YOU YORAM, ROSALINE, AND ITSY. Good to smile first thing in the morning, dontcha think?

The first was a photo of a motorcycle guy...you know the type, Hell's Angels. He had his helmet under one arm and was wearing a black, short sleeved T-shirt. The caption on the back, in Hebrew said:
'IF YOU CAN READ THIS, THEN THE DUMB BROAD FELL OFF!'

Can't help it, I laughed like hell. In Hebrew it said: Im attah yechol likroh et zeh, siman sh h'pustemmah naflah. Even funnier in Hebrew, if you understand the language. Don't bother looking up pustemmah in your bible or Hebrew dictionary...it's slang and loosely translated is 'dumb broad'.

Here's one that made me nod my head:
‘Oof, I wish this lesson would be over,’ whispered one student to another.
‘I wish this day was finished,’ one secretary said to another.
‘When is this week going to end already?’ the worker asked himself.
‘I can’t wait for the month to end,’ the manager thought.
‘Let these three years pass quickly,’ the soldier wrote home.

Only an elderly couple, who were sitting on a bench looking
at the setting sun, turned to each other and said, ‘I wish
this moment would last forever.’

THEN WOWOWOWOWEEEE:
PUT THIS IN YOUR DATE BOOK! This is the only time this will ever happen
At three minutes and four seconds after 2 AM on the 6th of May this year, the time and date will be 02:03:04 05/06/07. This will not happen again before the year 2107.

FINALLY, WHAT IS IT THAT MEL BROOKS ALWAYS SAID AS THE 2,000 YEAR OLD MAN? OH YES,
'WE MOCK THE THINGS WE ARE TO BE.'

Baby Boomer Blues
It was fun being a baby boomer... until now. Some of the artists
of the 60's are revising their hits with new lyrics, to accommodate
aging baby boomers.

They include:

Herman's Hermits--- Mrs.. Brown, You've Got a Lovely Walker.

Ringo Starr--- I Get By With a Little Help From Depends.

The Bee Gees--- How Can You Mend a Broken Hip.

Bobby Darin--- Splish, Splash, I Was Havin' a Flash.

Roberta Flack--- The First Time Ever I Forgot Your Face.

J ohnny Nash--- I Can't See Clearly Now.

Paul Simon--- Fifty Ways to Lose Your Liver

The Commodores--- Once, Twice, Three Times to the Bathroom.

Marvin Gaye--- Heard It Through the Grape Nuts.

Procol Harem--- A Whiter Shade of Hair.

Leo Sayer--- You Make Me Feel Like Napping.

The Temptations--- Papa's Got a Kidney Stone.

Abba--- Denture Queen.

Tony Orlando--- Knock 3 Times On The Ceiling If You Hear Me Fall.

Helen Reddy--- I Am Woman, Hear Me Snore.
Leslie Gore--- It's My Procedure, and I'll Cry If I Want To.

And my favorite:
Willie Nelson--- On the Commode Again

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

LOOK WHAT I FOUND

Absolutely the best chart I have seen in years. This morning when I opened my e-mail, I found this chart from my friend 'the bunni'. And I agree, it looks like the best chart ever.

So, as I finish preparing all the stuff for our bbq today...and as I prepare my stomach for all the goodies it is about to receive...I will glance at the chart and see how, tomorrow when I wake up and say 'I don't believe I ate all that stuff', I will know what to take to start getting me back in shape.

Round is a shape, isn't it???

Happy Yom Ha'atmaut!!!

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

SHARE THIS CHART
apples -Protects your heart - prevents constipation- Blocks diarrhea -Improves lung capacity- Cushions joints

apricots -Combats cancer- Controls blood pressure -Saves your eyesight -Shields against Alzheimer's -Slows aging process

artichokes -Aids digestion -Lowers cholesterol -Protects your heart -Stabilizes blood sugar- Guards against liver disease

avocados -Battles diabetes -Lowers cholesterol- Helps stops strokes- Controls blood pressure Smoothes skin

bananas Protects your heart Quiets a cough Strengthens bones Controls blood pressure -Blocks diarrhea

beans- Prevents constipation- Helps hemorrhoids- Lowers cholesterol- Combats cancer- Stabilizes blood sugar

beets- Controls blood pressure- Combats cancer -Strengthens bones- Protects your heart-Aids weight loss

blueberries -Combats cancer -Protects your heart -Stabilizes blood sugar- Boosts memory- Prevents constipation

broccoli- Strengthens bones- Saves eyesight- Combats cancer- Protects your heart -Controls blood pressure

cabbage- Combats cancer -Prevents constipation- Promotes weight loss- Protects your heart- Helps hemorrhoids

cantaloupe- Saves eyesight -Controls blood pressure -Lowers cholesterol- Combats cancer- Supports immune system

carrots- Saves eyesight -Protects your heart- Prevents constipation -Combats cancer- Promotes weight loss

cauliflower -Protects against Prostate Cancer- Combats Breast Cancer -Strengthens bones- Banishes bruises -Guards against heart disease

cherries- Protects your heart- Combats Cancer- Ends insomnia -Slows aging process -Shields against Alzheimer's

chestnuts- Promotes weight loss- Protects your heart -Lowers cholesterol -Combats Cancer- Controls blood pressure

chili peppers -Aids digestion -Soothes sore throat -Clears sinuses -Combats Cancer- Boosts immune system

figs -Promotes weight loss -Helps stops strokes -Lowers cholesterol- Combats Cancer- Controls blood pressure

fish -Protects your heart -Boosts memory -Protects your heart- Combats Cancer- Supports immune system

flax -Aids digestion -Battles diabetes -Protects your heart -Improves mental health-Boosts immune system

garlic- Lowers cholesterol- Controls blood pressure -Combats cance-r kills bacteria -Fights fungus

grapefruit- Protects against heart attacks -Promotes Weight loss-Helps stops strokes- Combats Prostate Cancer- Lowers cholesterol

grapes- saves eyesight- Conquers kidney stones -Combats cancer -Enhances blood flow- Protects your heart

green tea- Combats cancer -Protects your heart- Helps stops strokes -Promotes Weight loss- Kills bacteria

honey- Heals wounds -Aids digestion- Guards against ulcers -Increases energy -Fights allergies

lemons -Combats cancer- Protects your heart -Controls blood pressure -Smoothes skin -Stops scurvy

limes -Combats cancer -Protects your heart- Controls blood pressure -Smoothes skin- Stops scurvy

mangoes -Combats cancer -Boosts memory -Regulates thyroid- aids digestion -Shields against Alzheimer's

mushrooms- Controls blood pressure -Lowers cholesterol -Kills bacteria- Combats cancer- Strengthens bones

oats- Lowers cholesterol- Combats cancer- Battles diabetes- prevents constipation- Smoothes skin

olive oil-Protects your heart- Promotes Weight loss -Combats cancer- Battles diabetes- Smoothes skin

onions- Reduce risk of heart attack- Combats cancer- Kills bacteria -Lowers cholesterol- Fights fungus

oranges- Supports immune systems- Combats cancer- Protects your heart -Straightens respiration

peaches- prevents constipation- Combats cancer- Helps stops strokes -aids digestion- Helps hemorrhoids

peanuts- Protects against heart disease- Promotes Weight loss -Combats Prostate Cancer- Lowers cholesterol- Aggravates diverticulitis

pineapple- Strengthens bones- Relieves colds- Aids digestion -Dissolves warts -Blocks diarrhea

prunes-Slows aging process- prevents constipation- boosts memory- Lowers cholesterol- Protects against heart disease

rice- Protects your heart- Battles diabetes -Conquers kidney stones- Combats cancer- Helps stops strokes

strawberries -Combats cancer- Protects your heart- boosts memory -Calms stress

sweet potatoes -Saves your eyesigh-t Lifts mood -Combats cancer- Strengthens bones

tomatoes- Protects prostate- Combats cancer- Lowers cholesterol- Protects your heart

walnuts- Lowers cholesterol -Combats cancer -boosts memory -Lifts mood -Protects against heart disease

WELL THERE GOES THE DIET

Well the second siren just went off marking Rememberance Day. Still sad. If you ever want to really know what Israel is all about come here around Pessach time. That got us out of Egypt. Then two weeks later we have Yom HaShoah remembering the six million who were killed in the Holocaust. Then a week after that we have Yom HaZikaron, Rememberance Day for our fallen.

A lot to put into three weeks, don't you think? But that is who we are...who we were...and who we will be.

But our Founding Fathers (and Golda) were very clever. They knew that no one could ever bounce back from the memories of mourning our dead, so they attatched Yom Ha'Azmaut, Independence Day to the tail end of Rememberance Day.

Tonight at eight o'clock everyone will be glued to the television watching the ceremony at Har Herzl. Within sixty minutes the country slowly goes from mourning to celebration as we understand how all our dead helped us get and save our country and celebrate their sacrifice.

And then there goes the diet. Tomorrow everyone will be at a picnic. The entire country will smell of steak and hamburgers and chicken being cooked on charcoal grills or mangals.

Every park, every garden, every backyard will have a mangal going and the spices added to the meat will depend on where your family came from.

Cumin, hawayaj, paprika, baharad, turmeric, as well as other traditional spices will be added to onions and garlic and boy oh boy if you weren't hungry before you stepped out of the house you sure will be the moment you open your door or window.

In my husband's family we keep it simple. Meat, more meat and a little more meat. And just to make it go down easier I make a huge bowl of arabic salad. That and a few pitot and forget about watching your weight or cholesterol.

Every year the family congregates at my brother-in-law's house. He has a great place in Ein Kerem with a full backyard and jacuzzi off to one corner. The babies love to play in the water and slowly but surely the men go in to join them.

Here is our menu for tomorrow. Arab salad consists of tomatoes, cucumbers, and onions cut up into teeny tiny little pieces and then sprinkled with salt, lemon juice and, if you like, olive oil.

We have steaks, lamb chops, hot dogs for the kids, hamburgers, and I'm making turkey kabobs and meat kabobs. Added to that marinated chicken wings...Rena gave me the marinade...olive oil, crushed rosemary, and a little lemon juice. She's bringing her huha chocolate chip merangue cookies...don't ask. Oh, and finally we also have chicken livers.

That's what we are bringing. My other brothers-in-law will probably bring lamb fat and chicken hearts. My sister-in-law will bring stuff and probably more salads.

Some people make stuffed grape leaves, and potato salad and cole slaw and hummus.

Not us. We pig out...I mean, we stick to stuffing ourselves with meat. After all, why waste stomach space with potato salad when you can eat another lamb chop instead?

This year we all sat down at the shiva house and decided not to postpone the chance of meeting again but this time for a happy occasion.

Personally, I am thrilled as the family needs to heal and being all together will do a lot to close some wounds.

I am not going to take 'before and after' shots, even if I did know how to put them on my blog, which I don't...sigh. So you will have to take my word for it when I tell you that on Tuesday, I will not count calories. And on Wednesday, I will not get on the scale.

Lamb chops and steaks my friend. Grilled on a mangal...with family and friends all around. Now what could be better than that?

I want to take a second to thank my friend Muse (Me-Ander) for writing such a special blog about our recent loss. Please go visit her blog. I can't seem to add the link so please find her on my list at the right.

Happy Yom Ha'Azmaut my dear friends.

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

YOM HA ZIKARON, REMEMBERANCE DAY

I don't know about you, but all of a sudden Spring crept up on me. There I was just getting ready to hibernate a bit and Pessach is over, Yom HaShoah is over and tonight is Rememberance Day for our fallen soldiers and terror victims.

In case you don't know, Israel is a magnificent country. And even though we do have our moments of shame, we have our hours of glory.

Since I moved here in 1970...wow 1970...unfortunately, I too have lost friends through war and terrorist attacks. They are never forgotten.

Tonight at 8:00 there will be a siren and the entire country will stand at attention remembering our lost friends and neighbours. Tomorrow morning there will be another siren and the cemeteries will be filled with families going to visit the graves of their loved ones.

I live up the street from Har Herzl...Mount Herzl. The streets will be blocked by cars and busses making their way to the Military Cemetery. It is beyond sad.

For twenty-four hours the television will broadcast stories of soldiers who lost their lives defending us.

The members of the Knesset will be speaking at various ceremonies...talking about their own lost comrads.

Twenty-four hours of special music on the radio. Twenty-four hours of the names of each and every person lost being read out loud on one of the television channels. We never forget.

It is good to remember. It is good to honour our fallen. It is beyond difficult emotionally to survive the next twenty-four hours.

May not one more name be added to the long, long list.

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

POOPED

Thank you so much for all your posts, emails and phone calls. It means so much to have so many people care and share their feelings at a time like this.

My husband's mother, Savta Simcha AH passed away a week ago today at around 8 in the morning. By around noon the funeral arrangements had all been made and at three in the afternoon we all gathered at the cemetery to pay our last respects.

For those of you who aren't familiar with our customs, I'll give you the 'while standing on one foot' rendition. We bury our dead immediately and then the family goes into deep mourning, shiva, for a week. During that time they do nothing but mourn. They do not shave, shower, change their clothes, prepare any food or drink or leave the house. Anyone who sleeps over the first night must stay the entire time. The only break comes if the shiva falls on a shabbat and then the mourners have 24 hours where no one comes to pay their respect and they are free to serve themselves.

Savta Simcha had eight children...five boys and three girls. One daughter died very young after they moved to Israel. My sister-in-law Rachel, AH, passed away tragically twelve years ago. That left six remaining siblings all in mourning.

Shortly after we came to terms with the shock of her passing the family began making phone calls to relatives and close friends. Then, like smoke signals, the word got out and by the time we got to the cemetery the place was filled.

One of the brothers spoke...my oldest son spoke...my neice spoke.

For the past week the house of shiva was filled morning till night with visitors. Twice a day prayers were held. Stories were told. Pictures were passed around.

Shiva is a marvellous thing. When my own Dad AH passed away my brother and I were so numb that we couldn't have functioned if we had to. By the end of that week of shiva we were able to think clearly enough to handle what had to be done for my mom. Besides, it was so important having loved ones around to cry with and laugh with and tell stories to.

After a week, you are all talked out. And somehow are better prepared to go back into the world where your loved one will no longer walk.

I couldn't sit shiva, she wasn't my mother. Only spouses, parents, G-d forbid, and siblings sit shiva.

Every morning before seven, I arrived and waited while they prayed. Then I ran across the street to the shuk and bought fresh rolls, some yellow and some salty cheese, salad stuff and began preparing breakfast.

Then all day long people showed up. Each had to be offered a hot or cold drink. Each had to be offered something to nosh on...peanuts, raisins, crackers, cookies. We did it simply...disposable everything and a thirty cup urn was constantly being filled with water. The boys decided not to have us cook but to have food brought in. That was lunch. Supper was a combination of leftovers from breakfast and lunch. One day a cousin sent in three pizzas. Another day a different relative sent in boxes of borekkahs...puff pastery filled with different cheeses or pizza flavours, or spinach. And one day a cousin sent in two huge pots of kubbeh. I'll tell you about kubbeh in another post. One pot of kubbeh hamustah...lemony flavoured, and one kubbeh adom...tomoato flavoured.

Each day started at seven and ended fifteen hours later. Whoever could, pitched in.

We did what we had to do. And now it's over. My husband came home yesterday. Tomorrow we are back at the cemetery and the boys will not shave for thirty days until the headstone is put up.

Yesterday I fell into bed at five in the afternoon and got up at seven thirty this morning. Standing on my feet all those hours serving people had taken a toll on my old bones. But we do what we have to do.

Sleep well Savta. We miss you already.

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

WHEN SAYING GOODBYE MEANS FOREVER

My mother-in-law is dying and it's only a matter of hours...days...until Savta Simcha (Grandmother Simcha) will not be part of the tapestry of Macheneh Yehudah.

Now, I know that she is an elderly woman. And I know that she is a mother and grandmother and great-grandmother. But, she is still Savta Simcha and although she has been suffering from the results of many strokes, she is still Savta Simcha to the grandchildren and Imma to her children and to me.

When I married my husband,a lifetime ago, I didn't know what to call my new mother-in-law and since everyone called her Imma (Mom), I did too. I never called anyone Imma before and it was easy to just add my name to the list of her children.

You should have seen the looks on everyone's faces in the beginning. I didn't care. I just called her Imma and kissed her when I walked into her house.

We didn't have an easy road, Savta Simcha and me. And for the past two days of running to the hospital my heart ached for her and for all of us.

Last night I was at my writing class when my daughter called on my cell phone. For some reason I didn't turn it off. She said that her father had called and told her that if she wanted to say goodbye to her Savta she better come to the hospital.

I dropped everything and met her and together we walked from Macheneh Yehudah where she lives and where my class is...passed Savta's darkened windows, and made our way to Bikur Cholim Hospital.

On the way I phoned my two sons and they met us there. My husband and three of his brothers and one remaining sister were there. Another sister-in-law was there. More grandchildren came as the phones reached out through the family.

At midnight my youngest and I left. But first we had to say goodbye. At this stage every goodbye could be forever and I watched my children stand beside their Savta with tears in their eyes. Touching her hand and saying what they had to say from their hearts to hers.

I know she heard them. And me. And all of us.

Sad. But, then I thought. Here is a woman who came from Kurdistan in the 1950's. As soon as they heard that Iraq was letting the Jews out, they ran and made their way to Israel. It is a fascinating story and one I may share with you at a later date.

She was brave. She was gorgeous. And she was tough as nails. She got married at thirteen. She couldn't read nor write. She raised seven children. All of her children are educated and are at the top of their fields. One is an international entepreneur. And the grandchildren are all either in school, the army or university.

Not bad. Not bad at all.

I wish her a peaceful journey. When the time comes to finally take our leave we will do our best to carry on what she started. Hard to say goodbye.

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

TOO MUCH OF A GOOD THING

I just wrote an entire blog about our Pessach holiday and it got lost someplace in cyberspace. So, being the mystic that I am, I figured that it was the wrong blog to post. Don't laugh. It's either that, or get really upset and try to rewrite the darn thing all over again.

Nope, not me. Ok. So here is the shortened version. Pesach came and went. Still pooped. Ate too much. Back on the diet. Sigh!!!

The longer version was much funnier. Believe me.

Off to meet Bubbie Channah for lunch. We're going to a place called 'Two Steps'. The real name is Mervad HaKsamim (the flying carpet) and is a great Yeminite restaurant right downtown and downstairs from her apartment.

The original restaurant used to have two little steps to climb in order to enter and my Dad AH could never remember the name...voila Two Steps.

I think today will be chicken shishlik (cubes of chicken on skewers) and cooked vegetables and salad.

I miss pessach already.

Hope you had a great holiday. I missed us.

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

FROM ME TO YOU

To all my friends, both new and old HAPPY EASTER! I hope you all have a wonderful holiday.

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

HAPPY PESSACH

Well, the cleaning is done...the cooking is done...the table is set.
So, now it is time for me to take a moment and wish you all a sweet
happy Pessach. May your table be full, may you be surrounded by loved
ones, and may you all know that I wish you were here. From me and mine
to you and yours, a sweet Pessach sameach.

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