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The Israeli Army works, among other reasons, because it asks its civilians to step in to fill positions that the soldiers had to leave when they left to go to their assignments. It is a novel idea for us Americans. If a soldier was fulfilling their reserve military obligation and has a non security job, a civilian volunteer steps in to fill that position while the military person goes to combat. I can wash garbage cans, sort correspondence, or scrub a floor. I have a friend, my age, who did just that. Several years ago, she went to Israel for three weeks and for two of them she earned her room and board by working on a base. She also got to wear a uniform . It was peace time when Charlene was there, quite different from now , and for her it was a lark. When I am there, I don't want to hear bombs,I don't want to be traumatized, I need Peace, as do the Israelis. It's never too late to admit that I would rather make Aliyah in a period of Peace.

I wonder what my Grandmother would say if she knew I wanted to make Aliyah. She never spoke to me ! Her language was Russian or Yiddish. And those were languages to be spoken when you didn't want the children to understand. I was the youngest Grandchild, eight years younger than the last last Grandchild, who I think was my sister. My Grandmother was too tired by the time I came along and probably sicker than we realized. That's too bad. I have no stories to tell my children and Grandchildren. I do know that my Mother's sister,who stayed behind in Russia and survived the war,was among the first of refusnicks that left Russia, along with her two daughters, my cousins. She went to Israel. She is now 104 and still lives in Israel.My cousins went on to Belgium. To my Aunt Sonia, Israel is the land that extended her life. Just being alive so many years, after the hardships of Russia, has proved to me that it is never too late to live, in Israel.

I was thinking about colors. How we use their names for desciptions that I think the colors were not intended for. Red states, blue states. We know what that denotes. Then yellow used to describe cowardliness. I don't hear that term anymore. Pink for breast Cancer, green for natural products. When it was a snowy kind of day in the Midwest, our kids would call it a "torange" day. At the time, it seemed to fit .Now most of our days here in Paradise are sunny, with blue skies and a few white puff clouds to watch.A near perfect world for us here, but what is in my heart right now, is the picture of smoke rising over Jerusalem and Tel Aviv and the grey cloud that is hanging over what should be a beautiful blue sky and a peaceful Shabbat. It's never too late to be reminded that Israel is our land, it was a promise.And I believe in keeping promises.

I get inspiration for what I want to say in these blogs while I am walking Cricket. Today, I was remembering what the Nuns used to say to me when I did something helpful or kind .I taught in a Parochial school for several years, and I thought that I would be there until I retired. And then they closed.

The Nuns would say to me,"you'll get your reward in Heaven". But I believe differently. My reward comes now, in real time. I think we all like to be helpful.We like the feeling that we get when we can do something kind for a friend, or even someone not a friend. It's never too late to be helpful, because it just makes you feel good, and it might help someone to have a better day.So thank you Cricket for letting me take you for a walk. It's your way for setting me up for a good day.

The news from Israel is not good.I'm almost fearful of going to the web site of the two Israeli papers that I scan every day. On the Nefesh B Nefesh group email site,which is for Anglo's who have or who are in the process of making Aliyah, people are sending out the message that they will take in people who are leaving the southern areas.The site is offering professional help for those traumatized by the missiles .We in America just are so fortunate. We have never ,and I pray that we never have to, be in this situation. I am afraid. I am not brave, but I will do whatever I have to do . I think that is the only way to make Aliyah. It is never to late to support Israel, it's all we have.

Do I have to be concerned about some of the messages that I am reading on the Nefesh B Nefesh email site? Ex-Pats are starved for Chicago style Kosher Hot Dogs in Israel ! They miss their comfort zone hot dogs from the States. There were some suggestions that told the writer where to buy “pretty close” to Chicago style Hot Dogs in various food markets in Israel. Because I want to be prepared for a smooth transition, I will start weaning myself by having hot dogs for dinner tonight to fill the void that is starting in my gut . Maybe I can make myself sick of Kosher Hot Dogs by the time I make Aliyah. This hot dog dilemma might upstage my concern for health insurance, taxes, housing and personal safety. It’s never too late to rethink my priorities and hot dogs may move to the top of the list.