Chol HaMoed - Day 3 and 4

Just a quick update (fun stuff, not medical)

Tuesday, we went to a 'fun day' sponsored by Jeremy's Circle, at Ya'ar B'reishit, in Tel Aviv's Park HaYarkon. They have all sorts of cool outdoor activities there, including rope bridges, an Omega, and a climbing wall. My son and youngest daughter are monkeys! They both climbed all the way to the top!! (Apparently, they did not inherent my fear of heights!) I would have loved to participate in the activities, but they were only for kids. Although my eldest could have participated, she spent most of the time taking pictures. So unfair!

Wednesday, we went on a bus tour of the Shomron. At Yitzhar, I recognized one of the two young men who run the organic winery -- he's a cousin of Moshe's!! We tasted three wines: Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, and Puah (a blend of the two wines). Both my son and I enjoyed the wines, but we are the only ones in our family to appreciate dry wine. Then we visited Chavat Alumot (050-4407311), one of the "hill-top settlements" of Itamar and received a tour from ?? Meshulami (I forget her first name), who runs the farm, and manages their cheese and yoghurt production. The Meshulami family also opened their home and succah to us, which we greatly appreciated.

On the way out of Itamar, my youngest, who started running a fever, needed to 'use the facilities.' The bus driver showed us where to walk to the shul (synagogue), but I just stopped at the first house with kids playing outside and asked to speak to their parents. We were invited in and treated with warmth and hospitality. When we declined their offer of food or drink, they invited us to come another time. On the way out, Moshe turned to me and asked "Do you know who that man is?" He was so kind and friendly, I never would have imagined he was someone so important. It turns out, we had walked into the home of the Chief Rabbi of the Israeli Army!



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

With love and optimism,
RivkA

Succot Opportunities

Want to hang out with us?

Here are two opportunities coming up this succot!

1. Bloggers Picnic (Monday) -- Though I have a personal preference for the "other" park (which I am not mentioning, lest someone get confused and show up at the "wrong" park!!), we are gathering in Gan Sacher, 'cause there will be a succah, between 2:30 to 6:30 pm (maybe longer). For more details, read this post. To register, go here - you do not have to register, but it is fun! I'll post a list of bloggers who have registered on Sunday.


2. Bus Tour to the Shomron (Wednesday)

Anyone remember the Pesach bus tour that I organized to the Golan a few years ago? (pre-blogging days). We filled two buses with our chevra, and it was a lot of fun. Well, I am organizing another bus tour! OK, I am organizing the buses, other people are organizing the event: "Wine & Cheese in the heart of the Shomron." (So if you have fun, thank me! But if you have any complaints, 'I did not do it!')

The tiyul will be from 8:00 to 8:00 -- it will be easy and fun! Appropriate for all ages and abilities. For more details, read this post. Registration is MANDATORY. Emailing me or commenting that you are interested is NOT enough. To register, go here.


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

With love and optimism,
RivkA

Pesach Preparations -- the traditional kind

First, let me be clear, I only clean for Pesach. I do not do “spring cleaning.”

Second, I only clean the bare minimum. I don't worry about the dust or the clutter. I just worry about getting rid of chametz.

In the past, I spent a lot of time and energy getting rid of chametz. We used to completely rid our home of all things chametzdik (of, or having to do with, chametz).

Moshe does not believe in selling chametz and I do not believe in wasting food.

So, starting around Tu B'Shvat, I stopped stocking up and started working our way through our stores of food and condiments.

I also started contacting food companies to verify the sources of various ingredients. I needed to know, was the vinegar made from wheat or barley, or was it synthetic or make from something else? What about dextrose and dextrin? Were they made from corn, wheat or barley? I could keep the corn derivatives, since I can own kitniyot (even if I can't eat them), but wheat or barley derivatives had to be finished, given away, or thrown out.

Many companies assumed I was asking about gluten, so I had to explain that this was not a health question, but a religious question. It was an educational experience!! And it took time!

I used to check EVERYTHING!

Not anymore.

Ever since I started dealing with the cancer thing, I just can't do it. For a while, I still made the effort to contact companies. Not this year. I spent too much time feeling sick and tired.

Much to Moshe's chagrin, I have taken to selling our chametz.

I sort through what I can. We finish what can be finished. And then I just sell the rest.

So, in theory, I should really have a fairly easy time preparing for Pesach. I just basically need to clean and kasher my kitchen. Oh, yeah, and our extra refrigerator and freezer.

This year, we might not be home at all during Pesach. So, I am not even going to kasher my oven.

We are going to Moshe’s parents for Seder, to his sister’s for Shabbat Chol HaMo’ed, and to our good friends’ for Sh’vi’i L’Fesach (the seventh day of Pesach, with is also a Yom Tov).

But cleaning always takes more time than I expect!

Despite the fact that both girls helped out a lot, we did not finish in two days. (my son is off on three day tiyul (hike), so he got a "free pass" this year)

Sunday, we (read: my girls) cleaned the extra fridge and freezer.

Monday, all I wanted was to clean our main fridge and have everything put away. We did not finish.

Tuesday, I have chemo. I started to panic.

As I sat with my girls and discussed what they would need to do, my eldest jumped in and said "we can finish the refrigerator; we already know what to do."

There is still plenty of work that I have to do. I have to put everything away (the girls will help with that), and I would like to clean our stove, and kasher our grill (so we can take it with us and have a bar-b-que if we camp out).

We are still debating where to be, and what to do, during the 2-3 days of chol hamo'ed.

The kids really want to camp out. They also want to do some hiking and go to the beach.

If we go camping, I'll camp with the kids and Moshe will find somewhere more comfortable to sleep. I wish he liked camping, but he just does not.

I LOVE camping, but my body is not what it used to be. With cancer throughout my bones, I am a bit more sensitive about where I sleep.

I hope I am up for the challenge!!



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

With love and optimism,
RivkA

Slowing Down and Letting Go

Tuesday morning, on our way to the brit (see previous post), Moshe casually mentioned that he was "surprised that [I] did not get up this morning."

When I wondered why, he reminded me that our eldest left that morning for a three day tiyul (hike).

"You always used to get up with them," he continued,"even for a short, one day trip..."

He was right. In the past, whenever one of my kids had a tiyul (hike), I would get up early (no matter what the hour) and make sure they had everything they need (this is after helping them pack their bags and giving them treats the night before). Then I would remind them to be safe and stay close to the madrich (guide), give them a kiss and hug, and send them on their merry way.

I do not think I ever missed saying goodbye on the morning of a tiyul... until this Tuesday.

Tuesday morning's activities penetrated the fog of my sleep, but only ever so slightly.

I was too tired to wake up. By the time I finally opened my eyes and called for my daughter, they were gone. I felt a moment's disappointment before I rolled over and fell back asleep.

I did not know how to respond to my husband. I knew he was not trying to make me feel bad. And I knew that I did not need to feel bad. Moreover, I knew that my daughter would be fine (and that I had helped her with everything she needed the night before).

Still, I missed saying goodbye to her.



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

With love and optimism,
RivkA

Moments of Joy

My son just joined Sayarut (like the Boy Scouts, but without badges, and coed).

Today, he came home from a Sayarut tiyul (hike), tired and hungry.

Moshe brought him straight to the pool, for his swimming lesson; which would have been great, except he got there too late, and had to wait around until we were ready to leave.

At first, he sat next to me, as I watched my final class finish swimming laps. It was sweet. He held my hand, and told me all about the tiyul. (shhhhh, don't tell!! He's too "cool" to hold his mommy's hand! But, sometimes, he forgets....)

Anyway, after ten minutes, he got bored and, understandably, a little grumpy. OK, a lot grumpy.

I knew that I had to get him home, fed, and into bed.

So, imagine my surprise, when, even before we got home, he started offering to help, at every possible opportunity! He even helped his little sister, who was a total grumpy-head!!

I thought, Moshiah (the Messiah), must be coming!! (and I don't usually think he (or she) is about to get off the plane anytime soon...)

He was a perfect little gentleman throughout dinner. He was generous, and patient, and helpful, and more. I asked him for a cup of water and he jumped up and got water for everyone! (Usually, his little sister does that, but she was still sulking. Thank God, she got over it (whatever "it" was), by the end of supper)

Anyway, back to my unexpected angel: When I asked him to load the dishwasher, he asked permission to go to the bathroom first! And then, when he came back, he loaded the dishwasher without being reminded!!

I don't know how many of you have 11 year old boys, but I have never seen my 11 year old boy act this way.

Before my son was born, I had all sorts of egalitarian ideas about raising boys.

Let me tell you, those dolls didn't make a bit of difference!

I have a stereotypical BOY! He builds spaceships out of LEGO, climbs trees so high that I can't look, plays soccer every recess, and even does the "Tom Sawyer thing" and gets his little sister (you know, the one with whom he bickers all the time) to clean his room for him!

My son can run around for hours, and not get tired. But, ask him to help around the house and then he is "too tired."

Not tonight!

After he had done everything, and more, he headed off to bed. As he was about to round the corner, he turned and asked: "was I good?"

"You were great!" I answered, enthusiastically.

He raised his arms like he'd won the soccer championship and his face was beaming!

When he was all ready for bed, he came over and started philosophizing about behavior and how what we do makes us feel. Clearly, his change in attitude was the result of a conscious decision.

He's definitely a boy, but he's on his way to being the Philosopher King....

That's fine with me....just as long as he helps with the dishes!


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

With love and optimism,
RivkA