Dateline Jerusalem – It is that time of year again and people are on vacation or off from
school. It is definitely tourist season in Israel in spite of the financial mess in the rest of the
world. Everything slows down when school is out and many companies close down for
the winter holidays.
This is the time families get together and go off to explore this beautiful country. Except I
must work, no matter what.
A friend called and said she was going to be coming to Israel to visit me for one week. Would I
be able to put her up? I emphasize the word "me." Since I work all day, I explained that she
was welcome to stay here, but I would be unable to take her anywhere. No problem because
she used to live in Israel, and she could spend time with other friends and relatives during
the daytime.
Let’s be Clear
Again, I emphasize that she initially said she was coming to visit me.
She arrived tonight.
She has been on my phone making arrangements to see all the people she
promised she would visit. I asked for her schedule so that I could adjust mine to accommodate
hers. Out of the entire week of allegedly staying with me, she will spend
two nights and zero days. However, her luggage will visit me for the entire week!
Right now it is sitting in the middle of my living room because she was in a rush to visit
friends in another city and spend the night there.
"Don't worry," she tells me. "I will return tomorrow and put everything in your
guest room.”
I cannot even move the luggage into the guest room because she opened her bags
looking for clothes and gifts to take with her elsewhere. I guess I should not complain
because I do not have to cook daily for her. But I was actually looking forward to having
some good conversation and laughs while she was here.
Line up, Guys. Who Needs Money?
When she arrived, she complained that she had to pay extra because her luggage was
overweight for her flight. She asked if I would please loan her some money because
her credit card is overdrawn.
Not only did I loan her money, but I gave her my bus passes so she could travel. I even gave her
my cell phone because her battery went dead. No wonder she is staying with me. I must be the most
inexpensive "hotel" in all of Israel. Where else could someone go to drop off luggage, leave a
mess and get paid for doing so?
At least my friend will have nice weather during her stay in Israel. It was in the 70s today
and is expected to be clear with low humidity for the week that she is here. Israel has perfect
weather all year ‘round, except for the humid summers. My friend came from California
where it is cold and stormy.
The rainy season in Israel is usually in February with slight drizzles during the other winter months.
A few weeks ago, it drizzled while I walked to the market, but the air temperature was warm and
Spring-ike. By the time I walked three blocks I was totally dry. It made me think of being in Hawaii
where it "rains pineapple juice" every day for a couple of minutes.
Last year it snowed in Jerusalem during December, but it was such a huge treat for us all that no
one complained. There is nothing more beautiful than a snow white Jerusalem.
Wishing you all a happy holiday season from Israel.
L'hitraot. Shachar
Shachar is the Hebrew name of a California-based attorney and former Los Angeles County Sheriff’s deputy who moved to Israel last year.