Greetings from Israel

I arrived in Israel last Friday afternoon after a very pleasant 15 hour flight from Los Angeles. I lucked out on my flight by being one of only two people on the ginormous 777 that scored a row of seats all to myself, which translated into "I get to lie down across the row and sleep!!" for the bulk of that long flight. YAY!!! That, coupled with very nice service and quiet and polite passengers, made my flight much more enjoyable than I had anticipated. I arrived in Tel Aviv feeling rested and thus was able to stay alive and coherent enough through most of the rest of the day and evening.

Nothing warms a mother's heart more than to see her smiling child with arms outstretched as she spots you walking through the customs door at the airport. It's as if the whole world stops for a moment in time - freezes - while the two of you hug, and all seems right and well again. I think that if everyone could and would hug someone they love, every day, we might have a happier and dare I say, safer world. Who doesn't like a nice hug?

It was so nice to see Ari, too. He's going to be my son-in-law soon - May 22, 2011 to be exact. I could not have asked for a nicer, sweeter, smarter, more personable young man than Ari to be the one Sam chose to love and marry. I give a big thumbs up to this match!

On Saturday we drove to Binyamina, where Ari's parents live. It was great to meet them and we enjoyed a delicious lunch and a visit to a beautiful garden/park after. Since Sam is working part time, I hang out in the mornings with Jack, their dog, and I amuse myself until she comes home in the early afternoon. On Sunday, we went to the local market. Yesterday we drove the short distance to the beach for awhile. Last night we picked up Ari after work and went to the gym to work out. I liked that, since it had been several days since I had had a chance to exercise. Since starting a serious workout routine in late September, I have toned up, and thinned Dow, losing 10 pounds in the process. Slacking off too much will only reverse my progress, so the visit to the gym was a welcome thing.

Today, when Sam gets home, we are going to make pasta from scratch. I brought her a pasta roller and cutter set to use with her kitchen aid mixer so we're going to test them out!

Later this week, the three of us, sans Jack, are heading down to Cairo for 3 days. Ari and I have never been, but Sam has. We have made arrangements to have a tour guide, driver and an Egyptologist to show us the highlights of the area, including the pyramids, the Egyptian museum, Memphis, egypt's oldest capital, Sakkara, the city of the dead with the famous step pyramid Djosser, a day trip to Alexandria to see the catacombs, amphitheater and the library. On our last day we will visit the citadel of Salah El Din, the Mohamed Ally Mosque, old Cairo,several churches and finish the day off with a visit to Khan El Khalili which is the oldest bazaar in Cairo. I am very excited to go!

Shalom.

My Girl's Getting Married

Sam's engaged!!!! My little munchkin. College graduate. Self-supporting adult. Dog owner. Cook. Blogger. Engaged.

I'm really happy about it. I absolutely adore Ari, my soon-to-be son-in-law. And of course, Sam loves him and he loves her - they make a really good couple. Ari will make a good husband and a great father. He is respectful, optimistic, practical, smart, hard-working. And he has a killer smile and fun-loving nature.

In just a few short weeks, I'll be in Israel. I fly on Thanksgiving and arrive in Israel the day after. A long-ago planned trip - and now there will be even more to celebrate! I'm looking forward to seeing them both.

And I'm looking forward to some time away from work. It's been a busy year - fairly unrelenting - and I'm tired and ready for a break.