Written November 22, 2009

To my dear family, friends, neighbor, hello to you all.

I am fine, having a real good time. Last week was a busy one and very interesting.  My friend Alima was admitted to the Ichilov Medical center in Tel-Aviv. She asked me to accompany her on the day she will be operated.(All is well, she is doing fine).  I did arrive in the hospital at 6:00 am, got lost in the multiple buildings, was IMPRESSED at the cleanliness of the place and found my way to her room. The unit, a state of the art design, looks more like a fancy hotel lobby. Carpeted, wood paneling, nursing station not like the traditional one. Alima was scheduled for 7:00 am and BINGO, they came to pick her with her own bed, on time. I was able to go with her to the O.R. area. Then I was instructed to stay in the waiting room. Here came the surprise for me. 2 screens.  One, is the ongoing Info. about the Pts. Continuously, Pt. initials with last 4 #'s of their ID. (Every Israeli citizen has an ID card.) on the screen giving info such as: In OR, In recovery, ready to leave, etc. The other screen in the room was a large T.V. Well, Well, the best, educational, informative, interesting movie was screened about Type 2 Diabetes.(made & produced in Israel). The hr. went fast. (November was declared diabetes month, after the UN stated that Diabetes became a world Epidemic).

When Alima was transferred to the recovery unit, I was called & escorted to her side x a very quick visit. A tall woman with the darkest black of black hair and a large hairdo, turn to me and greeted me with a "hello". I could not get my eyes off her, for, around her eyes was painted dark black circles with 2 lines extending to her temples. In addition, 2 more lines were painted under the eyes above her chicks. I guess, my puzzled face,said it all, when she addressed me and asked "what are you looking at"..... I did not miss a beat  and answered " I love your makeup". Then she said,"why don't you do it too ??"  Now I did look closely and said "I am not sure I will look as good as you"......  As I was escorted out, the volunteer, (she is an official escort in & out), told me,: "She is the head MD in the Anesthesia department at the Hospital".....   Only In Israel.....

Last Shabbat, I was a guest at the Bar-Lev,  Miriam Bar-Lev is my friend since I was 12 years old. The live in a Moshav (a farming community) name Bet-Gamliel. Both are Agronomist, having on their farm Avocado & Pecan trees. They both eat avocado daily 7 their Cholesterol is on a perfect level.

I miss you all, I love you all, Ima, Savta, The Shvig, Estherika, Ludmilla, that me  Esther.

Written November 11, 2009

Hi, to my dearest family, my friends, neighbor, and all who care to listen.
how are you ?? All is well here. I miss you all, but very happy to be here.
Today, I was invited for lunch at my neighbor, Bertha Eini. Bertha came to Israel with the large immigration of Jews from Iraq in 1952. This immigration was called "Oley Bavel". The Babylonian immigration. At the end of the 50th, they received an attractive invitation from the then, mayor of Ramat-Gan,Krinitzi, to settle in town. The town planted thousand of Palm trees to make the place familiar, as in Iraq. The Iraqi Immigration was a very successful one, because of the educated population, and their desire to achieve. Now , back to Bertha. from the age of 6 she was trained in sawing & embroidering. She became a known seamstress in the area, making wedding dresses, suits for man, coats pants all to order one of a kind. Last year, she sawed a beautiful top for me ,that I wore at my grandson's, Jacob's, Bar-Mitzvah. Today, she prepared lunch. If Bobby Frey, from the Food channel would of come to challenge her, he would loose ! ! !.
Bertha invited me for her "Kitchtrie", but in addition she served, most delicious Eggplants, Fish, Salad, Amba & fresh mango. Now, Kitchrie is a rice & red lentil dish, she prepares in a large pot with out handles. Bertha does not use measurements, adds hot water "as needed" in midst cooking, sprinkles salt & pepper with 2 fingers & her thumb, mixes & toss the rice while cooking and always its taste the same. No matters how many times I saw her cooking, my Kitchrie does not resembles hers...
Bertha served all the dishes on her coffee table , the center of her life, amongst the threads, the needles, the TV remote control, her amplifier, the land line telephone & a bottle of water.
Best of all, while eating we watched a Turkish Soap-Opera, with a Lebanese Arabic voice. Bertha translate for me . What a story, even the men were crying.... So, food was delicious, company a pleasure, ambiance unique.
Shalom to you all. Love, Ima, Savta, The Shvig, Estherika, Ludmilla, That me, Esther.