Monday, August 07, 2006

Being my own mother

My mom was a practical, calming type. Her oldest son (my brother, Pablofisherman) went off to WWII at age 17, and I remember her baking and knitting stuff to send him. So after reading that Yael is training her five cats to evacuate their apt chik chak, I thought I'd better imagine Mom's voice inside my head, saying things like it doesn't matter where my building's bomb shelter is because I won't make it out of the stairwell in one minute. My dog just needs to hear the words "Treat" to rouse instantly, so I don't need to do any animal training. But still, suppose the sirens do go off in Tel Aviv and a bomb hits my neighborhood?

My friend's 70-something-year-old neighbor survived WWII in a hole in the ground in Poland, having been handed over at age 4 to a farmer, wearing one dress, carrying nothing. Her first-hand advice is most credible, according to which, while still hearing my Mom's voice inside my head (isn't it amazing how someone dead for 25 years can talk so much?), I started to pack my little emergency back-pack: one bottle of water, one small plastic bowl for the dog to drink from, one change of underwear, one clean shirt, a key to my apartment ("don't lock your door!"), my PalmPilot (fully charged), a flattened 1/4 roll of toilet paper. I put the packed bag on the hook where I keep the dog's leash. It's almost ready: must buy batteries for the flashlight. And I wonder what kind of non-perishable food gives the most nourishment per ounce? Energy bars? I want to be able to run as fast as my dog, so the pack has to be light.

Mom, how'm I doin'?

6 comments:

Chancy said...

You are doing just fine but I hope and pray you won't need to use your emergency pack.

goldenlucyd said...

Savta,
I'm furious and heartsick. I just read the Yahoo headline news proclaiming the UN is considering a censure of Israel for "targeting civilians and children." Is the world mad? Don't answer that.
Truly, truly if I could I would pack my bags and join you and your dog. There's no place I'd rather die. (But why should I worry? Hezbollah never targets civilians...) My prayers are with you---and me.

Udge said...

Yeah, what Tamar said. Fingers crossed for you all that the preparation isn't needed.

SavtaDotty said...

A few other items to add to the packing checklist: a bit of cash and medicines (including Prozac)!

Thank you, folks abroad...I hope Somebody Up There hears all your good thoughts, wishes and prayers, but at least they do encourage me. And goldenlucyd, I just got a new air mattress to accommodate unexpected guests (or refugees from the North)!

Fred said...

Mom,and us, would say you're doing just fine. I'm hoping no sirens go off in Tel Aviv, or anywhere else for that matter.

Anonymous said...

Savtadotty, I can't even comment because I'm crying. I just think you're wonderful and your mum must be pretty proud of her daughter.