Some calm and clarity in distressing times

The very young man interviewed here has the demeanor of an aged wise one.

A day off work, post lock-down

Today was my first day off since lock-down ended! Last night, Arlan met me on the Dan Beach right after work and we enjoyed drinks at Japanika. John joined us when he got off work. Arlan and I walked around for a while and then I slept hard and late.

The "handy-couple" came over this morning and spent the day repainting the wall where there had been water damage. I left them to it and visited with Arlan. We went out to lunch at Misedet HaMifratz and walked around Ice Mall. It's great to see Eilat getting back to normal. Sort of... everyone, except me, seems very serious about masks (masekim); I can't wear one at work, so I've become inured to the lack of protection.

My voice is slightly hoarse and my feet are still swollen from standing all day yelling at kids, but hopefully they'll be better by morning. I'll have to remember to sit as often as possible when I'm working and to use my voice less.

In the news: riots continue in U.S.

Hebrew words for the day: treesim (weird Israeli blinds) and matata (broom).

A new week!

Today was such a contrast to last week. The kids were very good! There were also a few moments of quiet, so I had opportunities to consider all that I have in my life now and what I might want to plan for the future.

It was a weekday, so I was able to take the city bus home. Today, we all got a notice that the worker buses will start running in the evenings again tomorrow night. So Israeli-- get us to work, but don't even mention you're not gonna get us back home.

My landlord/attorney drove by this evening to give me the FedEx package that Jessica had sent me. Very exciting to get all my documents-- my name has officially been changed in the US as well as here.

This evening, I got off the bus at Arlan's and he walked up to my place with me. We chatted for several hours-- it was so pleasant. We both stayed up to late, but as far as I'm concerned, it was worth it!

In the news:

• more about violent riots and antifa in the US
• another lockdown may be declared in Israel because of a second wave of coronavirus cases 
• an unarmed Palestianian was shot by Israeli border police in Jerusalem today. (IsraelStreet.com, very right leaning site, describes the events thus: 

According to Arab reports, the man was a “special needs” individual who was “merely going to a special needs class” when he was spotted. That may be true, but in the past, all terrorists who have been stopped along the Gaza border and Lebanese border have been labeled “shepherds” by Hamas and Hezbollah, and many terrorists stopped in Judea and Samaria have been labeled as “developmentally challenged” by the PLO.)

In other news:

• Not a word. (We ignore so much!)