a balloontwister’s aliya saga

Flying at 1:30 am.. not that bad.

You’re sleeping right away…. but you land at 7pm wide awake… and thursday morning is kind of shot.

It was a different good bye this time at Kennedy. My folks were there and YOssi was there as well as Jerry Glazer who was on out aliya flight last year. Its not all fun and games in israel. Its alot of work for the kids and Penina. Just to bring the point home we haad to have a few bills read to us by neighbors. I think we have to go to speak to the property tax people and the lawyer about something… not really sure. Moshe starts school sunday so its off to school supplies and car pools… and tutors. So the flight home last night was like taking a deep breath. Summer is over.

We got a great reception last night. Several signs on the door. People coming over to say hi. Milk and breakak in the fridge and a cake on the table. I think Penina made some great friends. Interestingly enough the cake was from someone I bought powdered milk for and the milk and bread was from someone we buy hot dogs for. Ironic.

I also had a great with my friend Adiel who was in Lebanon fighting. I got a better idea of the war. He is just so upset as many reservists feel they just wasted their time. He said they were given orders. And then orders were taken away.

He was on and off a bus 15 times. He was eating only sandwiches for a week. Had his first hot meal…On tisha b’av ironically. He said the higher ups had no idea what they were doing. We’ll get into this more another time. He admits that israel lost the war as no objectives were met and that its just round one.

Its 9am and its quiet in the house. I was the first one to go to sleep at 1am and the only one up. As I walked out for davening… it was really quiet in the streets. No school for anyone so no buses. NO cars around. A very weird feeling. Many of out neighbors haven’t come back yet.

I hear that Kenny flew back last night and Avrumi Strauss IS in town. I hope to introduce Avrumi strauss to Avrumi strauss (the israeli one) that should be really fun. Maybe like when Captain Kirk met Captain Kirk when he got split up in an old episode.

Tamar did NOT throw up on the plane. Breaking a personal streak of 2 times. The kids behave well as Israir was fine. The wife had an incident involving a diaper and a flight attendant… but you’ll have to speak to her. I am under orders to keep her OUT of this blog. Sorry Malkie.

The kids like the slippers that were given out to all passengers. Yoni as he was leaving the plane took a few pairs from the floor. Clean ones I hope, to give to a few friends. Talk about a cheap gift.

Well, hopefully I’ll make it up to Jerusalem to daven at the kotel. Been a while since I’ve been there and it would be a great way to bring in the new chodesh.

Have a good day,

u.d.