a balloontwister’s aliya saga

DOvid did NOT serve turkey friday night..

He DID bring out the WIld Turkey though. Im not much of a bourbon fan… but I guess I had to.

DOvid cooked most… or all of the food …. friday night. Chicken, Roast, Peanut butter chocolate cake… yes… you read that right….

We had Jesse Slater from Staten Island over for shabbos. Jesse is in his second year at OJ and it was nice to have him over. He came at a good time. We also had a huge kiddush in out little neighborhood. THe dedication of the park / gan.

In our little area there was a park built that has been completed and has had bushes put in recently. The park was dedicated to Shoshana Heyman / Greenbaum. She was klled a few years ago in a terror attack and her parents decided to make aliya afterwarda and live in our area. She was a teacher and was in a program at Touro in israel when she was killed. Its incredible how parents can make aliya when their only child, who was expecting, was killed here. Mendy Newman spoke at the kiddush and said that many people decided to make aliya as a “tikkun” to the people that were killed in the latest killings. I know that I felt a need to do SOMETHING. Israel needs us. We have to respond by not being afraid and being strong and having faith in H-shem and each other. I think everyone there despite not knowing the nifteres will feel some pride when we pass by the park. At the kiddush there were several former students of the nifteres so it was a pretty emotional kiddush. Her father spoke and a former teacher spoke as well.

Yesterday I took Michal and Moshe to Gan Yehoshua. The park where I took YOni on Friday. I haad NO idea how huge this park was. Its the central park of israel. Boating. Sports. A small zoo. Biking and running paths. A park with a zip line. Mini golf. Basketball / softball / soccer. The kids brought their bikes. I brought my running shoes… whew… an hour and a half later… we went around most of the park. Just a great day. Sunny. Mid 70’s. Alot of fun.

It was sad saying goodbye as I headed back to the airport sunday night. Of course it was worse when the flight from NY to Baltimore was delayed.

Of course it was worse then I landed in Balitimore and found out my luggage was not in Baltimore. SO … It could be a long night if my roomates are not home. Looks like leaving my keys in my suitcase was NOT that great of an idea. I wonder if any windows on the second floor are open… or if I climbed on the roof… I can get in through the bathroom window…hmmm..

So today it was a Planes, Trains (light rail) and automobile day. I think I found out what is worse than sitting next to someone who smells on a plane. Sitting next to a smelly person on the light rail in baltimore who is holding a can of soda… and falling asleep on you…

“um…. you’re kind of …falling over….er..”

Whats the etiquette? Wake the person up? drink their soda?

just awkward….

well… I’m going to have to wrap things up… I am expecting a call from Delta… I hope my luggage arrives….. before my phone and computer batteries die out… hmmm… I think putting the chargers with the keys….may NOT have been that smart either…

J