Learning to Let Go

Frustration!

Before our vacation, I emptied out the entire contents of my pocketbook on our dining room table.  Then, I made a pile, to leave behind, of any items that were irrelevant to our trip, such as my teudat zehut (Israeli identity card), my credit card (Moshe took his; we figured one was enough), and various other cards and documents.

It is the New Yorker in me -- "don't carry anything you don't need, in case someone steals your bag!"

Just as we were about to leave, I realized I shouldn't leave the cards there.  Perhaps one of our various houseguests would need to use the table and would move the cards somewhere I would not be able to find them.

So, at the last minute, I placed the cards "somewhere safe."

Well, those cards were stored so safely that now I cannot find them!

I am sure they are someplace obvious, but I have completely forgotten where I put them!

I completely stressed out trying to find the cards.

I knew I could replace the cards, but worried about the time it would take, and the cost.


After a week, I decided that, whatever the cost, replacing the cards, and removing the stress, was worth it!

So, a few days ago, when I went to my health fund to pick up my medication, I asked what I needed to do to replace my health card.  The secretary asked me a few question and, before I knew it, she printed out a new card, on the spot, free of charge.

Wow.  That was easy!

Then, on Tuesday, I decided to "bite the bullet" and replace my teudat zehut.  I thought it would cost several hundred shekels and take a while, as there is often a long line.

On the way to the local branch of Misrad HaP'nim (the Ministry of the Interior), my friend, AH, reminded me that I would need new pictures, so we stopped at a local kiosk, next to Misrad HaP'nim, and got pictures.

Then, we went up to Misrad HaP'nim, took a number, and looked for a place to sit down and wait.  Just then, I noticed a sign informing the public that one's driver's license is not sufficient identity for renewing documents.  My driver's license was the only identification I had on me!  I was not even sure I knew where my Passport was!

In twenty minutes, the office would be closed.  I barely had enough time to drive home and pick up my passport, but there was a chance.... I knew that if I did not find my Passport in a matter of seconds, I would not get back in time.  I really wanted to get this task off of my head.

So, I did it!  I ran home, found the passport right away, and got back, just in the nick of time!  As the guard was about to close the door, he saw me coming (huffing and puffing) and waited the extra 30 seconds!

Our number, which we had taken before we left, was the next number to come up!  We did not even have to wait.

Best of all, getting a new teudat zehut cost only 100 NIS, which was a third of what I was expecting!

What a relief to have that out of the way!

With my new teudat zehut in hand, I went back to Mishteret HaT'nua (the Traffic Police), in Binyan Clal (in the center of town), to pick up another copy of the form we needed for the ambulance that took my son to the hospital, after he was hit by a car.

I felt like I accomplished so much!

Now, I just need to replace my credit card; then I can relax....




Please daven (or send happy, healing thoughts) for RivkA bat Teirtzel.

With love and optimism,
RivkA