A Second Piece

We travelled today to Nahal Kelach near Haifa University. It is a luscious forest with lots of green around. It was the annual memorial walk for Haim's cousin's husband Moshe Manteka, who died of cancer nine years ago. He was a special man who worked in the police force and treasured photography. His pictures are just gorgeous. This year's theme was in honor of just that - finding the three photos that highlighted the trip.

So every year, families get together while the little ones play with their friends, cousins, and get to know others at the same time. I suddenly feel in a small bubble by people who knew and loved Moshe and through him, we are loved as well. It is a nice feeling.

Israel is so beautiful at this time of year. Aside from the little bugs flying in the air, the air was cool and perfect for walking. With Ivry in his little Snuggli, we were ready to go until Haim decided that the steep declines might result in something hitting Ivry in the face. So we made our own trip walking around and saw the tower of Haifa University, from a distance - the place where I earned my MA in English Literature exactly four years ago.

This year there was an artist's workshop featuring handmade natural materials such as pinecones and dried pears. We strung beads to make mobiles and necklaces and key rings.

And finally, some beautiful pictures.

Somebody was enjoying the chocolate from the handmade pitas. (picture 4)

Two gingies. (picture 3) I love this one.

Ivry on Independence Day jumpies. Let's jump for Freedom! (picture 2)

Ivry and Klil from the gan on Daddy's lap (picture 1).

I count my blessings for each and every picture and to be able to enjoy it with my small brood.

The First Piece of Me

I'm excited about this second blog. I was getting a bit tired just writing about my writing endeavors when I know there is so much more that my first blog doesn't reveal. Not that it bothers me. It's just different.

Before the fireworks began last night, all of Israel stood in solidarity for Yom Hazikaron - Remembrance Day for the Fallen Soldiers. Our small kibbutz community stood in white shirts, listening to the sirens, and praying for the dead and the very recent from the Second Lebanon War.

We hope that tragedy will never repeat itself.

And in a very short twenty four hours, we start eating cake, singing songs from the Palmach period and run around after our two and four years old, trying to smile and enjoy each other's company. We all feel something, we all acknowledge the pain. We all are part of the flame of the living.

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I like to explore trodden and unfamiliar places on the kibbutz. It seems I've been everywhere. It is quite a homey place to live. I do this exploration on Saturday when Haim goes off to guard at the kibbutz gate. It's usually very quiet but last week Ivry came across an artist painting. It was a beautiful moment. (picture to the right)

Then it was time to explore the library from a side that nobody goes past - the windows. For some odd reason, I love kibbutz windows - they are so old and rickety, dirty too. But they reflect the older periodspeople seem to have forgotten, and since there are so many new faces, new houses, new everything, I look for something utterly familiar and close to hold unto - the dust of the screen window, with the old kettle and sixties radio from the outside. Ivry didn't know all this but he will - one day when and if he reads this blog.