SCARED TO DEATH

Sometimes even the best ideas can turn into a nightmare. Friday night, my daughter phoned and asked to speak to her father.

'Sure,'I said and handed the phone over to my husband.

After speaking with her for a few moments he gave me back the phone.

'Hi, honey, how was the beach?'I asked as she and my youngest took off for the afternoon to the beach in Herzliya.

See, my youngest, Joe College is leaving on Thursday for four months study at Erasmus College in Rotterdam, Holland. The Hebrew U. Law School opened this program to third year students and he was accepted. Actually, he wanted Belgium and was next on the list but Holland is great too. Three kids are off to Holland, my kid and two girls he knows and together they have rented a place for the semester. Very expensive in Europe these days.

So, my kids, who are very close, decided to spend a few hours out of Jerusalem having fun and talking and just spending time together. They were always doing that as children, and how marvellous they still want to do that as young adults.

Anyway, after telling me what a marvellous time they had my daughter asked, 'Imma, did you put a birthday gift for me in my house this afternoon?'

'No.Besides, you gave my key to your neighbour, remember?'
'Oh,yes.'
'Why?'
'When I got home I found a stuffed animal and an incense burner next to my TV. Abba says it wasn't him. Who could it be from? And who got into my flat?'

That was the end of sleep for the weekend! She called everyone. No one had any idea. I already was ready to call out the police/vigilantes/bring her home to live...anything to keep her safe.

Every time I phoned her I made her a nervous wreck. Isn't that what mom's are supposed to do?

This morning she phoned.
'Imma, we found out who it was. It was Yossi, the guy who works for Abba. He couldn't
come paint my flat on Friday, and knew it was my birthday last week, so he bought me a gift and stuck it through the window.'

'I'll kill him!'Actually, that is what I thought but not what I said. What I said was something like 'Thank God!!!! How did you find out? What is the matter with him?'stuff like that.

Poor Yossi meant well. He wanted to give her something for her birthday and when he found she wasn't home, instead of waiting till Sunday...a regular working day here in Israel...he shoved it through the window. Now, Yossi cannot be the brightest light in the box, since he didn't think maybe it would be nice if he added a little note. Something simple like 'I am not a serial killer and I don't have a key to your flat.'

Would that have been too difficult?

At this point I would like to thank from the bottom of my heart the following people who helped me get through this weekend: my brother Dovidle and his wife, Maeshey, Rena, Bubbie Channah, and Marianne. If I didn't have a heart attack or stand guard in front of her door for two days with a broom or something in my hand, it is due to your love, support and calmness. Well, all except for Rena...she is as nuts as I am. Sigh.

All's well that ends well. Hey that is a good title for a...

Shavuah tov...a sweet week.

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

MY DOCTOR'S WIFE SAID

My doctor and I have a great realationship. I trust him with my life and he thinks I'm the funniest thing since Roseanne Barr. I look forward to seeing him and getting the answers to 'what is wrong, please let it be nothing!' and he looks forward to hear what is new in my ahem boring life.

See, we like each other. And he is one of the good guys.

Once, a few years ago he told me that his wife finally revealed what the most wonderful feeling in the world was to her and he wanted to share it with me. He said, "She said, 'The feeling my tush feels when it is in the seat of a plane!'"

I never forgot it. And Mrs.Dr.R. is absolutely correct. There are some things that can't be replaced for decadent wonderfulness. Like serious chocolate...or fresh crisp sheets...or a great cup of tea when your throat is sore...or taking off your shoes (used to be girdle but no one wears THEM any more) and putting on your old fluffy slippers. And maybe a hot bath or shower when you just need to feel refreshed.

Ever time I fly I think of my doctor's wife. And I smile.

When you're right...you're right!

I have not had a pleasure vacation in a very long time. The last two trips I made were for business and although they were wonderful there was a stress and tension added to the sweetness. This trip is mine...all mine. And every one who has decided to camp out at my brother's place to see me.

It was supposed to be my brother and his wife and I just roaming around and chilling out and doing our things. I was/am bringing my laptop and intended to use the time to heal from the five hysetrical months of caring for Bubbie Channah and write. Sigh...ahhhhh....the things that dreams are made of.

Then my brotherinlove said he could join us and was bringing his daughter who I absolutely adore. The pleasure was now notched up at least a thousand rungs. I am counting the minutes till we are all together again. The last time that Maeshey and my brother and I were in the same room together was in the 60's before I left for Israel. Maeshey moved to California, Dovidle moved to Coloradao and although we have met individually, we haven't...you get it. So we are on big-time excitement here!!!

And, my sister-in-law's mother and sister said they could come from Springfield, Illinois! Yahoooo. I love her family!!! Shove up that pleasure thermometer, froggy!

And, when my cousin Allan found out I was coming to Colorado, he wanted to come visit from Las Vegas!!! Yahoooooo again!!!

So, I figure I will have maybe five minutes to write on my laptop and three weeks of joy and love. How good is that?!?

Btw...if you want to join us in Boulder, I think we have a day or two where there will be an extra bed! But, shhhhh, don't tell my sister-in-law...she is being a brick about the whole thing!!! Me? I would be having a serious neverous breakdown. The Queen of the Summer is definitely Annie, who has opened her heart and home to me and the Russian Army!!!

Yahooooooooo. Glad to be back. Have missed you and this!!!

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

HIIIIIIIIIII HONEY I'M HOME

Well...the truth is I thought I'd be back here a long time ago, but then life took over. You know that old expression, "Life is what happens when you are busy making plans."

My Mom, Bubbie Channah is now 85 bless her...like one of the million doctors we have gone to in the past five months said, "You should live and be well until 137." A hundred and thirty-seven? Not a hundred and twenty? "Yes," he said, "including V.A.T" :)))

Ma has had a bunch of little things go wrong and then on July 1st was the biggie! Bubbie Channah got shingles. For those of you who are lucky enough not to know about shingles let me give you the shortened version. Shingles is the virus that causes Chicken Pox...remember the one where you were warned NOT TO SCRATCH? So, this vicious virus attcks people when they aren't looking and causes the worst pain and the most horrible rash I have ever seen in my life. Honest, I thought my mother had leprosy...scurvy...stuff you only read about. Huge mushroom like things in a row!!!

Then we started the business whith what pills to take and how to get her out of pain. The short version is it took two months of which I spent at least three or four days a week with her.

The good news is that a few weeks ago Prince Valiant aka my husband came to my rescue with a ticket to go visit my brother and his wife in Boulder, Colorado for three weeks in September.

Not only am I going, but knowing that I had a ticket helped me get over the really rough patches with my mom.

So, here I am again and I think I can finally get back to blogging and visiting with you all.

Emma!!! Emma has been rewritten and my mentor/friend/brotherinlove/dearest darling in California is not only waiting to get his hands on her again BUT will be joining me at my brother's (he is officially our other brother since we adopted him when we were about twelve/eight and he was ten) and he is bringing his daughter who will be leaving the week later for a year at Oxford!!! Yahoooo.

It was not easy rewriting Emma and finding the original excitement and enthusiasm, but it's done. Probably will need a new rewrite but at least now all the pieces are in place. I will let you know.

OK. Bubbie Channah just called and is having lunch in Mervad HaKsamim which we lovingly call Two Steps...probably lentil soup. Go Bubbie!

I have done all the ironing/made a salad/chicken burgers and am waiting for my student. Then off to meet Rena for dinner. A belated birthday dinner for me and an early one for her. Any excues to party!!!

Hope all is well with you and yours.

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