Dear Readers,
Wow! That's how most of my Morning Pages began during our recent month-long trip. Our days were crammed with precious encounters (such as seeing an old friend again after 20 years), meaningful pursuits (learning Hebrew, for example), and many wonderful discoveries of what this planet has
to offer (see below).
My husband and I spent a week in London, three weeks in Jerusalem, took a side trip to Jordan, and stopped in Germany on our way back to visit my family. In fact, the entire trip was about family, which makes me happy: Spending time with family is always one of my top priorities.
In London we celebrated my husband's aunt's 90th birthday, and in Jerusalem we visited our younger son in yeshiva (Talmud school). Our adult kids were along, in varying combinations, for most of the trip. Since traveling is one of my passions--exploring new places and discovering new spots in familiar places just floats my boat--, traveling with family is just the ultimate thing for me.
We also did some serious sightseeing but not nearly as much as we wanted to. Sightseeing became a casualty of having busy social calendars and other obligations. It turns out you have to make an extra effort, make the time, even on a trip, to visit a museum or see a
sight.
A lifetime goal was achieved during this trip: Seeing Petra!
Look out for some serious photo essays of our trip to Jordan
One scheduled trip dedicated entirely to sightseeing was our two-day tour of Jordan. Making that happen for all five of us took some nudging, as well as finagling of dates, so I am proud we pulled it off. Needless to say, my camera and I had a field day in Jordan. I am looking forward to assembling photo essays of that trip, so keep an eye on my blog, or better yet, subscribe to it.
In London, on our very first day, when we were still a bit jet lagged, we managed to go to the Jewish Museum London, and we were very glad we did. The museum is well done. It gives a great overview of Judaism as a religion as well as the history of the Jews in the United Kingdom with extra attention to
World War II and the Holocaust.
Diary of 12-year-old Sheila Cohen during the WWII, 1940
I was particularly struck by the above diary on display. I just find eye witness accounts so compelling. They give us, from our vantage point of hindsight, a glimpse of what life was really like back then, when people didn't know what the future would bring. (See also my blog post on Eyewitness Accounts of Kristallnacht.)
“The way home in a rain storm, again
through the passageway you previously liked.
When it rains, it becomes a stream!
But my boots kept tight. It was cozy in my coat,
and somehow it was a nice walk in the rain.
All that walking here has really been good for me.
After three hours of sitting, 15 minutes of rigorous walking are ideal.”
The above WhatsApp message is one of my favorites because it captures a special but everyday moment in Jerusalem. I would not have snapped that picture, nor would I have noted what it felt like to walk home in the rain, had I not been sending those WhatsApp messages to my friend every night.
Oskar Schindler's grave in the foreground, Mt. Zion Catholic Cemetery, Jerusalem
You simply cannot experience a place on Google Earth the way you can when your boots are on the ground. On Google Earth, you're seeing someone else's snap shot, and you need to be looking for something, rather than wandering by, on your way to somewhere else, and discover something you weren't looking for.
I continue to battle my older son on this, see my post on I Always Wanted to... So far I am winning the "experience" battle. I got him to come along to Jordan, and he had fun haggling with the local vendors for souvenirs. Something you cannot do on Google!
Souvenirs in Petra, Jordan
On that note, I wish you a 2019 filled with wonderful experiences, along with the energy and determination to make them happen! If your goals for this new year include writing, do consider perusing my Writer's Workbook
2019, if you haven't already done so.
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