SueZ

Three hours ago our driver to the turn for the tunnel. Seemed a bit odd but no one in the speaks english

;just crossed under the Suez canal

Who knew?

David Zimet

Good Shabbos From Israel

Just lost a post so sorry if this a duplicate. Got up this morning at 9 which we thought was pretty good as our bodies were still on Tully time (2 am).
After a typical Israeli breakfast (complete with a local's query about our thoughts on Obama) Melanie went off to sit in the sun and I rented some snorkle gear and started snorkeling towards Egypt.
The snorkeling was excellent although very different than that in the Caribbean.
Took a drive through the hotel section of Eilat and walked the "boardwalk" and drove to the Jordan border and turned left down a dirt road to the bird preserve. Apparently a huge percent of Europe's migrating birds come through this area including 80 percent of the storks. Given that its July and over 100 degrees we gave up on the birds.
Then off to lunch where we had two local fish: Drum Fish and Dennis Fish (who knew)
Filled up on petrol before things close for the Sabbath and now its siesta time. The sun and heat really wipe you out.
These photos are off the blackberry, I'll pull some off Melanies camera later.
David Zimet

Thoughts while driving through the desert

We arrived in Israel without incident. Lots has changed - got to use a jet way, last time I was here we walked in off the tarmac. Grabbed our rental car and .took off. It was about a five hour drive to Eilat and it was close to five pm when we hit the road. .More on that later.
I''ve always felt strongly attached to Israel. As an adult that attachment has cycled the gamut of emotions from love to fury to pride to disgust and back again. Often with several conflicting ones at the same time. Growing up as a Jew in one of the first generations after the H:olocost the importance of a Jewish homeland was never a question to me. As a young boy it was comforting to have the image of the strong, self reliant Sabra to contrast with the daily depiction of the Jew as a victim in film and literature..
It was not till we lived here in the late 70.s that I began to get a incling of the incredible complexities of creating an idealistic society where it was safe to be a Jew, to build a community melding the Zionist dream with the realities of human rights, and still keeping religious tyranny at bay. It certainly hasn't gotten any easier. And given the complacency with which we've allowed our own (usa) government to trample our ideals with so little outrage, I am in awe that Israel remains.
At this point you should give thanks that I am doing this with two thumbs on a blackberry. I'll cut to the chase.
I've been looking forward to coming back. To see things that I missed the last time around but also to refresh my own concept of what Israel is today.
Arriving in Israel 32 years ago as a twenty something was an unforgettable experience on so many levels. One that has continued to influence me. I understood that "my picture of Israel" was locked in 1976
Driving through the southern Negev .
Was wonderful. Incredible vistas, small farms, shepherds and goathearders, plenty of camel crossings and lots of wilderness- time to mull over and ponder on how strong a tie I feel to this place and it's history
There Debra: and you said I wasn't writing enough. As I said there will be more later.

David Zimet

Dc airport and white blood cells

Well we're sitting in the plane in DC. We're leaving an hour late but the still. Insist we'll get in in time.
While waiting I had a fascinating conversation with a retirered brigadere general who is a consultant with a new biotec company working with applications for white blood cells.
Today he was going to test the beer for the upcoming October fest.

We are moving!
David Zimet

And we're off

We're on the way feeling pretty smug about doing 3 weeks with less than a total of 50 lbs in carry on and personal items, We will have less when we finish lunch

David Zimet

Really want to go but will have to put it off

So this news just in from Culver, Indiana:
Cousin John Benedict, while trying to expand his pond was attacked by a 13,000 year old, middle aged mastodon. Apparantly John survived and is donating the bones to the Indian State Museum. Rumor has it that the Benedict Mastodon will be known as "Opal."





So far we've not been able to get any first hand information, but I'm sure more second hand stuff will be revealed during the important conference to be held in Woodstock on an upcoming weekend. Be sure we'll keep you up to date.






A team from the museum is supposed to show up in the next few weeks to complete the dig. Guess, the pond will have to wait.
And, for the really nerdy among us: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mastodon

The Wedding

I haven't quite qotten the concept of "time and order" in blogging - but I"ll try to keep these is some sort of order comprehendable to the middle aged mind.

I bet you know what's happening here:


We all know that Scott does do "good wedding" and Konan's family added a new depth to the ceremony. There were few dry eyes in the house.



I'm not quite sure why people find it necessary to hand me extra tissues.....

Everyone looked lovely as were the Ketubah and Chupah. Sharon quilted the chupah using her Dad's ties to add not only color but family and tradition.


And then to the theme of Rocky Balboa:




















They came, I'm not sure how much they saw but they danced:




And danced

And danced.....




These people sure know how to party - one needs to be in shape for a marathon to keep up. I'm at a loss to describe the sense of joy and abandon we were part of.

One photo that did not come out well - and if anyone has a good version I'd love to post it. As the people gathered I saw another woman wearing Melanie's dress at the same time as this woman saw Melanie. While they were laughing together a third woman came round the corner wearing - yup you got it. By the end of the night there were four of them.