Seventeen years ago today I was leaving the USA with a one-way ticket to Israel: making aliyah. Reading Yael's recent experiences reminds me that when I landed in Tel Aviv there was no Internet, no e-mail, no cell phones. In fact, in the absorption center where I stayed there were only two phone booths in the lobby, both either in use or out of service. And the phone booths took only tokens that you had to buy at the Post Office which kept opening and closing like a clam because it was the hagim, and your call would get disconnected without warning when your time ran out.
I had no friends, no family, no Hebrew, no independent income, and no job. What was I thinking? (For details, see Why I Moved to Israel.)
Now I remember! I was thinking how easy I had it compared to my grandmother, a widow with five children, moving to New York City from Bucarest at the beginning of the twentieth century.
AND, five years ago today Mermaid Girl was born and I became a Savta!
8 comments:
Happy becoming-a-grandmother day!
Mazel tov on your special day!
You know, when you say to a kid these days, "Ah, nafal lecha ha asimon" they have no clue what you're talking about. :o(
I thoroughly enjoyed parts 1,2,3 & 4. I feel sure there must be parts 5,6 and 7 (at least!) yet to come. How about it???
Udge - Thank you. I am still enjoying being a grandmother...it's the most fun thing ever, and I didn't even have to do anything...just keep breathing!
AmyS - The asimon is now a generation-identifier, like Frank Sinatra. But my grandmother didn't know about them either, so maybe time goes in a circle., not a line...
Julie - There are parts 5, 6, 7, and more, but they are titled "Ezeh Medinah." The "Ezeh Medinah" posts start at the end of March and go through April, but there may be more as inspiration strikes. If I felt geeky enough to have categories, you would have less work. Sorry.
Congrats, Savta.
You were very brave to make the move, and it seems to have worked out very well. You're an inspiration.
I can hardly wait to read the posts you linked.
A savta and a philosopher... Hmm, I never thought about it that way - that the things we knew that don't exist for our kids might not have existed for our parents, or grandparents either. You've really made me think! Thank you. :o)
Savta, 5,6 and 7 were lovely, too. May I respectfully request that you continue the narrative? (*sipping tea & munching cuke*)
Julie - I will, once I return from "the old country" in another week.
Post a Comment