a balloontwister’s aliya saga

Rodent on the Run….
Well, Penina’s fears HAVE come true.

The little hamster is MIA…

Here’s the story. Around 6 months ago, the Michal and Yoni after doing well in school wwere allowed to get a pet and hamsters is what they chose. Well, fast forward to the summer. The hamsters were at a neighbor the summer where they spent most of the time escaping and hiding due to a cage that was slightly damaged. Fast forward to this morning… one of them…is on the lam. I think this is like Europe post french revolution. Once europe tasted revolution…. they were all in a Frenzy. The hamsters got a taste of freedom this summer and when they haad a chance…. one of them bolted. The fat one got stuck.

Sunday Penina and I went to get the car looked at and we spent a few hours with Aliza. I was a bit upset when she did not pick up the tab for lunch. Israeli family and a seminary girl from NY… please… we all know who should be picking up the bill. We had lunch at Tal’s bagels and then headed to geula for some shopping. Its a different world. The german colony and geula. Both vibrant and happenning…. but very different. EIther way its exciting walking around and seeing the different types of people. Tourists. Sem Girls. Yeshiva boys. People yelling at each other. Cars honking. After we sent aliza back to school Penina and I went to buy a challa board.. I went to find some gum and had a conversation with the woman who was working the counter. She was in her 70’s I think and was talking about aliya..and the kids…etc… a few minutes later I saw my cousin Rivka Feit from Brooklyn was was in J’lem for a wedding. Just comes to show… its almost impossible to spend a day in J’lem and NOT see someone you know. We all posed for a picture and dodged a few rocks as it was a picture of men and women without a mechitza.

Shabbos I spent on my block. Davening 10 feet away. The furthest I walked was to Dovid’s house… 2 minutes away. Its not that big of a problem..as its still summer in Israel. Very hot and humid. Speaking about problem… more English people in our little neighborhood. Met 2 families just this shabb0s. SO now I have to learn hebrew AND english. I also finally met the decorator who is designing our new place. She actually listened to my input and ideas. I wonder if it was just because I am paying her or if she thought my ideas were actually good. I started noticing that. People that I am paying tend to listen to me more than regular people.

Wonder why that is.
J