My last blog was dated June-July 2017. It is now October of 2018 and it was the longest time in between visits to see our grandchildren and great grandchildren. Marc's family is growing by leaps and bounds and it is difficult  to remember names, let alone ages. In fact I had to ask the kids for the names and ages of the grands and great grands. Oy it aint easy getting older and having to remember all this but...

To begin at the beginning, Moses Herbie and I took the United 14 plus hour flight from SF to TA. First mistake! The new me gets tired at 9 and we left after 10. However since I booked myself on a free business class ticket, I slept most of the way. Second mistake! I couldn't go to sleep when we arrived at our house close to midnight on Wednesday (having left Tuesday)

None of us could get over jet lag by day 4 after losing hours! Should be better on way home except that flight leaves at midnight and gets into SF at 6 am; Oy!!!

Had lunch with Joyce Klein but  I haven't seen any of my other friends as we have been spending time with all the generations of the kids.  They all want to spend time with us and are so sweet. Jennifer and Simone took the bus from Raanana to meet us for brunch. Ashira and Zach and their two little ones met us for dinner. Marc has the three younger/single  kids on Wednesdays after school plus every other Shabbat which includes Friday dinner through Saturday third meal. The eldest of the youngest has started college and I must say Talia is very impressive, Trying to make up her mind between two sciences, one computer and the other math.

Also trying to catch up on sleep and shopping at the shuk (a real farmer's market), always a delightful experience.

 I signed up for two 2 1/4 hour photography courses with the same photographer I was with a few years ago. I enjoyed the classes, first just me and second two plus me. The first was again at the shuk as last time and the second across the road from the shuk at Nachlaot, That was the neighborhood I rented in last year, scene of my unpleasant accident! We walked all over and found a very interesting area that the neighbors decorate with plants, pots, mail boxes and you name it! It is mostly a religious neighborhood with hippies mixed in. One can tell what is what and who is who by the wash drying outside! Actually we didn't see any religious wash just delicate clothing and numerous ancient synagogues.

We stayed for a few days at the Langs. One we paid a Shiva call ( the week after the funeral as we arrived day of funeral), so sad. The 39 year old son in law of our cousin died of cancer one year after being diagnosed. He and his wife and in some cases their two small sons did everything in that year that Shlomo wanted to do. They traveled, went places he dreamed of going, etc. Our American family payed for one of their trips thanks to the wonderful idea of Herbie's sister Mona. They took photos and a professional friend made a book of the things they did, the places they visited for the children to look at when they get older. The four year old understands as much possible for his age but the 2 year old is too young. Such a lovely family.

Since both Benjamin and Daniella are in New York, we spent time with Simone and her parents. She is doing a project that counts for the army for those unable to serve. She is working with African children plus grant writing and loves it. She will apply for college next year. Benjamin is trying to figure out what he wants to do next and Daniella is a freshman at Columbia College.

Herbie, Jennifer, Simone and I visited the family in Hadera. Amazing that all three cousins plus their mother Aunt Bruria were there. A very rare occurrence!

Aunt Bruria with her three sons from left; Ilan, Donnie and Yossi

Simone, Jennifer, Donnie, Donnie's wife Yomima

Shoshana and Yedidia

The "Giant"with Donnie's wife Yomima

Jennifer and Philippe invited friends over for Shabbat. Seeing one couple, Dr. Judy (Balter) and Amos SeriLevy is always a treat. Judy and Jennifer have been friends since religious school in Lafayette and her brother and Marc used to play together before the girls knew each other. Actually Jennifer and I visited Judy's 90 plus year old mother in Oakland at Piedmont Gardens.

Jennifer took us to Beit Hafutsot where she will be giving an 8 month writing/discussion class on various aspects of the museum. She took us around and the only part I remembered from many years ago were the miniature synagogues from all over the world. They are still there but in a totally remodeled room. In fact, the entire museum has been remodeled including the name formerly the Museum of the Jewish People or Beit Hafutsot, on the Tel Aviv University campus. There is a large section devoted to Jewish Humor that is hysterical!

Self Explanatory!

A nose came between us!

Synagogue Models

Aunties Chana Tsipora, &  Talia, with Yael & Batsheva

Marc, Shalom Simcha, Chana Tsipora, Herbie, Yael,Talia, Batsheva, Nechama, Yitzhach Shlomo, Me

Part of same group!

Rivi & Shulamit

Herbie,  Nechama, Yitzhach Shlomo, 1 year

Yitzhach Shlomo

Alexander & Yitzhach Shlomo

Zalman & Batsheva