June to August 2012

Time is a trickster. This newsletter was written like an epic novel – in fits and starts. So if dates seem inconsistent, it’s because they are.

As time goes by

Today (editor’s note: June 30^th) is the happiest day of the year – the last day of school. No more sending over-charged children to bed; no more waking exhausted darlings in the morning. What joy! The household moves to IST (Isaacs Summer Time). Like princesses the girls rise at noon and bed in the wee hours.

At first, I thought this phenomenon foul and fought it fiercely – to no avail. In the children’s eyes, my Victorian conviction that day-time is for waking and nights for sleeping  places me in the same category of doting delusionists as flat earth scientists and train spotters. I say, “If you can’t beat them then don’t get hung up about it” or in Hebrew תזרום

Now to the usual round of updates.

 Lieutenant A

As you recall, Ari (24) was discharged from the army 16 months early due to a foot injury. As we speak he is in the midst of his first spell of reserve duty (editor’s note: he finished reserve duty two months ago) and has landed a job which is so cool, I’m not allowed to tell you much about it. He spends his time brushing shoulders with, and often handing out instructions to lieutenant generals and generals whose rank may indicate excellence in many disciplines, but not necessarily in computers.

Elon (22) – Can’t hold him back

At the risk of sounding boring and repetitive, I highlight again Elon’s unending series of distinctions as “outstanding” soldier ((חייל מצטיין. Last newsletter I reported his third recognition as outstanding soldier in less than two years. Since then he outdid even himself winning the award of מצטיין מח"ט which means that he is pretty much the best combatant soldier in the entire Givati brigade (which comprises several hundred soldiers). With around six months left to serve and I promise not to brag about any more about his achievements (bli neder). And I certainly won’t dwell on the prizes he won for swimming,  basketball, table-tennis and tug-of-war.

Naphtali rocks (19)

Naphtali has finished yeshiva and on August 1^st begins his service in the Engineering corps. (Editor’s note: Naphtali has now been in the army for ten days). He is exploiting the summer covering the country from tip to toe primarily to rappel down every available (dry) waterfall and cliff-face, while dipping, en route, in hidden springs and water holes.  Naphtali says the fun is in hooking up ropes, tying the right knots, securing the bolts and fiddling around with the equipment. There is no difference, he says, between rapelling down a 4-meter and 40-meter descent. I take issue with Naphtali. As someone who has stood atop of a very very frightening, sheer, bottomless 12 meter cliff (and who Naphtali coached and coerced into rappelling down it) there is an absolute, obvious and incontrovertible difference between a 4 meter and 40 meter drop. And if you don’t believe me, try it.

                                                                                                                                         

Orly (17) the Magnificent

Orly is almost ready to start Life. With her school exams (all but) behind her (editor’s note: she finished all exams ages ago; you get the point already), she is very deservedly enjoying her summer before beginning sherut leumi – national service – at the end of August (editor’s note: in the meantime, the end of August is still in the future J). Orly will be in Efrat, helping new immigrant infants and teenagers get acclimatized to this wonderful, yet sometimes trying, country. I think this is magnificent. How many of us took a year out of our lives, delayed our studies and careers purely to assist people with needs?  I hope Orly you have a great year!

Camp Judy

Judy has tremendous “get-up-and-go” about her (it’s in the genes). With university on vacation, summer is the time to devote to children and fun, so she runs, what I call,  קייטנת ג'ודי -  “Camp Judy”.

Every day she goes with whomever is available – Abigail (10) and Elisheva (7) and sometimes others - on trips to the beach, the pool, the sachne (Gan Hashelosha), to Tel Aviv for bicycle rides and the climbing wall park or wherever. Camp Judy also features sleep-overs – a couple of days in the Golan and three days in Eilat.

Next week, Ari Orly and I are joining Camp Judy for a few more days in the north before the horrible spectre of school haunts us again. (See paragraph 1 above)

The loneliness of the long-distance runner

I bet you think this paragraph is about me. Well. I’m not so vain. This paragraph is not about me. It’s about Elisheva. Yes, the seven-year-old. You see, Elisheva has a tendency to “cuddliness” (it’s in the genes). So a few months back we tightened up the family diet and initiated a gentle exercise regime walking 4 kilometers an evening. To make it fun, Elisheva and I – often with Abigail - explored new “secret” places in Elkana,  made up games, told stories etc. etc. Bonding stuff. The sort of thing that make parents feel good about themselves and which children don’t remember 20 years later.

Anyway, after a few months of this, we stepped up – despite strong resistance - to some gentle jogging. To cut a long story short, last week, Elisheva ran non-stop for 3 kilometers!!!. Now Elisheva’s enthusiasm for running is insatiable. I have to hold her back or she would be adding a kilometer a week (could this be in the genes as well?)

All runners are familiar with the taunting well-wishers shouting ironical encouragement. That doesn’t happen with a 7 year old girl. People just stop, gasp and stare.

Have a wonderful summer (editor’s note: what’s left of it.)