A phone conversation this morning in Israel

This is how my phone conversation went this morning (more or less).

Girl: "Hello, this is the Israel Postal Company. How can I help you?"

ME: "Umm, it's about the gas masks."

Girl: "Yes?"

ME: "I need to order my gas masks."

Israel at 62

As we celebrated Israel's 62 years of independence last Tuesday - with parties and bar-b-que fests, here are some off-the-beaten-track facts about Israel for you to know. (Courtesy of the daily newspaper Israel Today).

All-of-a-kind families

We spent the weekend on Lake Kinneret (Sea of Galilee), at a wonderful site called Karei Deshe- a youth hostel right at the steps of the lake with lush gardens and a wide common outdoor area where you can sit around and chat.

MM (MyMan), MG (MyGirl) and I went for the weekend. MB(MyBoy) stayed in Tel Aviv. He had a friend's overnight birthday party and was planning to come home on Saturday and recover some lost hours of sleep.

The reason for our trip was our twice yearly meeting with parents who have adopted children of Ethiopian origin. The group was formed some 20 years ago, with the first adopted children. Today the mailing list of the group numbers around 73 families. Not everyone comes to these meetings of course,  but there are always a significant representative number and the meetings are always fun. We generally have a Friday night meal at the hotel/hostel we are staying in and on Saturday we have a joint picnic. Each family brings something from home. We put it all together and have a feast.

A prayer for our sons

Israel celebrates today Memorial Day for its fallen soldiers and victims of terror attacks. In ceremonies throughout the country Israelis mark the loss of children, parents, brothers or sisters. All feel humbled by the weight of bereavement.

On a day such as this I cannot but talk to you about the prayer that rises in the hearts of all Israeli mothers at the birth of their children.

A small victory in a big war

This is going to be a long post, so you'll have to bear with me.

My ten-year old daughter, MG, has started attending an Israeli folk-dancing class. She goes to it dressed in a black leotard and tights, with her shoulder-length curly hair gelled down tightly into a ponytail, black clips holding down any rebel curls. They do folkdancing steps, often in couples, clapping hands, swirling around and loudly yelling:"HEY HOP" . It looks like real fun indeed.

She used to love the class. She'd come back skipping, and singing and dancing the steps. A big smile on her happy face.

But she also happened to mention that most of the girls in her dancing class had received the "best dancer of the week" title the teacher conferred to the students. But not her. So I told her: "Don't worry. Just do your best. I am sure you will also get the recognition sometime."

The early-morning clink of a teaspoon against a teacup

I sometimes make myself a cup of tea early in the morning, those rare times when the household is still asleep (my daughter tends to be an earlier riser than me), mostly on weekends. And there I am, standing in my kitchen, stirring the milk and the saccharine into the hot, tea-soaked water, when I hear the noise. "Clink, clink... clink." It is the teaspoon. Bumping against the side of the teacup. And suddenly, always, I am overwhelmed by memories.

My favorite colour is Brown

Yes it is.

My favorite colour is brown.

And yes, I am used to the big eyes and surprised looks I get from people, especially children, when they hear that brown is my favorite colour of all. When that happens, I say: "Why are you surprised? Brown is the lovely colour of earth, of tree trunks and of delicious chocolate." And then, when appropriate, I add: "Brown is also the beautiful colour of your hair and eyes." That is when understanding a recognition appear in their eyes. Brown is indeed a beautiful, even if a somewhat undervalued and forgotten, colour.