SINGING

I'm ashamed to tell you, but as a kid I hated it when Bubbie Channah sang her opera songs so loud they could be heard in the street. I used to run in the house and remind her that the windows were open. No one had a mom who sang opera.

And then her father died and she stopped singing. And I would have given anything to hear her voice again.

When she moved to Israel, we spent time together every day and suddenly as she was sitting on the couch knitting she began to sing! At first it was softly and then she 'found her voice' and the room was filled with Un Bel Di from Madame Butterfly or the Bell Song from Lakme. Or Autumn Leaves or Otchi Chornyia. MA WAS BACK!!!

Over the years I discovered that when I was walking in the street with a kid or two, I too began to sing. Not fancy stuff like Bubbie Channah...just songs. And the more I was in Israel, the more the songs became Hebrew. I also sing in the car! I admit it...I do. And, no matter who is driving, they always turn up the radio! How crass! I have a great voice! I sing with pathos or enthusiasm as the ditty deserves.

I have become Bubbie Channah....Ma please! We're in the street! Sigh.

And you know what...I don't care! I just keep singing with gusto! Sometimes we bubbies have to stick together!

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

NUMBERS

Do you have a favourite number? Sure you do! When I start speaking English with my students we play 'what's your favourite'. Like what's your favourite day of the week, fruit, vegetable, movie etc and every one of them has a favourite number...from my kids in first grade to my oldest student who is 77!

Mine used to be 3.
I liked 3. I have liked three forever!
Until one day 7 appeared. Everything added up to seven. My house number is seven...my apartment is 34=seven. Seven.
Hmmmmm...seven.

In astrology every planet and therefore every sign has a number. My Ascendant is Scorpio=9 (3x3); my Sun  is in Cancer 2 and my Moon is in Pisces 7! (7+2=9)

I like seven. It suits me. Now 3 is Jupiter which stand for luck so I'm not getting rid of that three so fast. So maybe I can be mystical seven plus lucky three! Works for me!!!

Here are the numbers if you want to see who you are:
Aries-9
Taurus-6
Gemini-5
Cancer-2
Leo-1
Virgo-5
Libra-6
Scorpio-9
Sagittarius-3
Capricorn-8
Aquarius-4
Pisces-7

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

T'SHA B'AV

Today, religious Jews all over the world are fasting. It is the ninth day of the month of Av and the day that our holy 'Temple was destroyed...TWICE... first by the Babylonians, 586 B.C.E.,and second by the Romans, 70 C.E. And we remember other tragedies that have befallen my people.

For those of you who are fasting...an easy fast...tsom kal.
And for everyone a sweet shavuah tov!

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

FRIDAY

I love Fridays in Jerusalem.  During the day everyone is rushing around getting things done. Some women are putting the final touches to their Shabbat dinners, others are sitting in coffee shops enjoying the delicious chance to sit quietly at a table with their partners and/or friends while someone else does the preparing, serving and cleaning up.

On Fridays, women should treat themselves like a Queen...like the Shabbat Queen who, I think lives in Jerusalem but travels all over the world ushering in Shabbat from house to house.

Over thirty years ago, I decided to really kosher my house. I never had treif in the old house but I didn't have two sets of dishes, etc. (except for Pessach where I always had two separate everything). I had one set of glass dishes that I used for both dairy and meat. But when we moved into the new house I decided that I was going to have a kitchen where everyone and anyone could sit down at my table and enjoy a meal.


Four sets of dishes (Pessach), four sets of silverware, different sponges to wash each set...I did it, I loved it, and to this day I think God comes into my kitchen when He needs a chuckle. You know when all of a sudden you realize you have the wrong knife in your hand. OY!

I also don't cook on Shabbat but that is for purely selfish reasons. I want a day out of the kitchen. I want a day that is different from the rest of the week. Shabbat in Jerusalem is such a great day.

Now, don't get me wrong. I am not religious. I watch TV on Shabbat...I read my Kindle...I use my computer...I talk on my iPhone...but I also read Tehilim (Psalms) every day...I light candles every Friday night...and I try to make a special meal for the weekend. I think of myself as a Traditionalist...I love the traditions of my religion.

All right, the stuffed roast chicken is done...the shwarma stew is done...my husband will make rice this afternoon...he makes great rice!...I didn't bake challahs because it is still too hot, so my husband will bring them home with him from the shuk. I'm not going to the babies this weekend. The fridge is stuffed. I'm ready!!!

So, this morning I'm off to have breakfast in the mall with my friend Ros.

Hope you all have a wonderful Shabbat! Shabbat Shalom from Jerusalem!!!

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

I BELIEVE

I believe in a higher power.

I believe in miracles.

I believe there is a reason for everything.

And I believe that although I do have a running conversation with God, that doesn't mean He has to let me in on all His plans. Frustrating sometimes.

The older I get, the more amazed I am at how we all somehow get to where we are supposed to be. That is one...just one...of the reasons I became an astrologer. Astrology gives us free choice. It shows us where we are supposed to get but lets us choose our path. Some may run, quickly along the straight path; others may take the winding road, and there are those who need to stand still and wait a bit. 

I have done all three and funny enough got to just where I needed to be. I always say about myself that I really like who I am but don't always like how I had to get here.

Well no one said it was going to be easy! 

It is not a mistake that I moved to Jerusalem forty-two years ago! Vey!!! It is not a mistake that those of us who are here at this time have gathered together. What does it mean? I'll let you know as soon as the Boss tells me. 

I have avoided being political lately in my blogs and Facebook entries. But sometimes a person has to speak up. 

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

LITTLE TINY FEET

I love this! From the first time I saw this picture I really loved it.
At first it reminded me of those socks with the colourful toes...every toe a different colour...remember them?

Then I thought of my babies and their babies...little feet...tiny toes. Makes me smile again just thinking of those times. And how about the feeling when they sleep next to you and either stab you in the back (then those toes are weapons!!!) or throw a foot over your hip or waist. Did I mention smiling?

By now you know I collect owls. Have collected them for a very long time. I love my owls...a lot.

But after looking at the top photo, I think I should start dividing my time between gazing at the stars and checking out the ground for some little stones. I can make those feet...I betcha I can!

I wonder if they have hamsah feet? Hey, it could be a whole new industry! Fissalach reminds me of chicken feet in chicken soup...nope, no good. How about Tootsies! Should Google it and see if it's already taken...hold on...nope...not for socks. That's it! Tootsie Tootsie Tootsie...sounds like an old Al Jolson song...toot toot tootsie good bye...sigh. that takes care of that!

If I ever do make some of these stone footsies I'll take a picture and share! 

ps. I love what Eleanor Roosevelt wrote...it's true. I guess the ones who hurt us leave a punch and the ones who make life delicious are the Tootsies kind. You know who you are! Nice.

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

WISHES

I always wondered what it would be like to be so tall that no matter what chair you sat in, your feet would touch the floor.

I always wondered what it would be like to be thin enough so that no matter what store you went in, you could buy anything and it would look fabulous on you.

Blond is no problem :). And yes blonds do have more fun!

So God, if you're listening, inside this body is a tall thin blond just waiting to emerge. And, God, if you don't mind...in my next life can I please have thick hair and thin thighs? Thank you...amen!

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

EXERCISE

Some people exercise on a treadmill...I exercise in the supermarket! It is my museum. I walk up the aisles and down the aisles looking, checking, choosing and passing by.

There are three stores I love:
1. The Bookstore...now replaced by my kindle. But I must admit I still browse and touch the books (while secretly writing down titles).

2. The wool shop. I have wool in bags in closets, cupboards, hanging on door knobs. Of  course I do...I'm Bubbie Channah's A'H daughter.

3. And finally, I love going to the grocery store. I'm a sun sign Cancer and if my cupboards are not full and my fridge not bursting with enough prepared food to feed the Russian Army, then I get nervous. Of course I do.

When my kids got old enough to stay at home alone for a bit, I learned the joy of running up the street to the makolet (little grocery store) that is just two buildings away. Quiet. Just me.A little walk, a little perusing, a little buying...ah mechayeh! Did I mention quiet?

When we moved into this apartment, My Son The Lawyer was three years old. One day he decided he was big enough to go to the makolet by himself to buy the milk we needed. The trees in the neighbourhood were babies and I could see the makolet from my bedroom window and he didn't have to cross any streets, so I gave him the correct change, and said that he could go.

I watched him skip happily on his way and when he came out of the store I watched him jump up in the air and could almost hear him shout, 'YAHOO!'

When he returned with the milk he handed me a little bag. Curious, I asked what he got. He told me it was a present for me.

Inside was a little white porcelain figurine and a tube of glue!

I thanked him profusely and asked how he paid for it. To which he replied. "Oh, Imma, I used the three magic words."

"Magic words?"

"Yes, I told the makolet man, to charge it, please!"

The next time I went into the makolet, David, the makolet man asked for my telephone number so that next time he could get permission to 'charge it please.' And we both laughed.

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

HAMSA

On my desk, next to my computer is a plaster of Paris cast of my oldest child's hand print taken when he was about three in nursery school. It's my favourite hamsa. For those of you who don't know what a hamsa is, here is a picture of the one I wear every day:

Hamsas are very Middle Eastern and are shaped as a hand and meant to ward off the evil eye! Don't laugh. This favourite Muslim talisman became part of the Jewish culture among Sepharadic and Mizrahi Jews who sometimes call it the Hand of Miriam...Moses' sister.

I love my hamsa. A few years ago I decided I needed a new one and was walking on Ben Yehudah Street looking for one that 'talked to me'. I felt tension in the air and walked into one more store before giving up for the day. That is when I found the one in the picture. The right size...with a heart...and a purple stone! Perfect!

As I was paying for the hamsa a loud explosion was heard! Then a second one! Bombs! On Ben Yehudah!
Now you may not believe this, but some of you who know me well will understand. I know my hamsa saved me that day. It was waiting for me in a store out of the bomber's range.

When someone says, "Oh, look how good you look!", Israelis answer "Hamsa, hamsa, hamsa!"

Wishing you a sweet good week! Hanmsa, hamsa, hamsa!  שבוע טוב! חמסה חמסה חמסה

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

BOKER TOV FROM JERUSALEM

Shabbat morning in Jerusalem...there is nothing like it in the world. Quiet, peaceful, lazy...how lovely. The only sound is the chirping of the birds as they talk to one another.

Still very hot but not nearly as bad as it was a couple of days ago. I don't know about you but I don't do great in 39 degree weather. I cancelled my weekly walk with my friend Rina in the zoo. I cancelled my trip to Tel Aviv to meet my friend Frances at LaLaLand...my happy place by the sea. It was just 'too damn hot'!

Today it seems as if it is cooling off a bit. That's good.

I made the mistake of listening to the news yesterday. We brought baCK our dead and wounded from Bulgaria. They think there is one more suicide bomber out there wandering the city.

Murder in Denver, Colorado in a movie theater. I immediately phoned my brother David to make sure they were all right.

And now we are watching very carefully what is happening in Syria.

That was last night. Today I am drinking my coffee, reading my kindle ( reading The President's Club by Nancy Gibbs and Michael Duffy...get a copy wow), and working on what I hope is going to be my final edit on my novel Unveiled.

I hope you are having a great shabbat too.

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