Tikkun Olam

I hate being sick.  Actually, who likes being sick? But I remember, when I was little (now I'm...bigger), still in grade school, I hated and feared school so much that I wanted to be sick, so that I could just stay home and feel the comfort and security of my mother (a"h) puttering around in the kitchen. I remember how I panicked on a Saturday night, and then felt so relieved when I realized that I still had another day of reprieve--Sunday--as I was prone to anxiety attacks the night before school days, and on school mornings, too.  I was afraid of...everything: not getting up on time and being late for school.  Being the 'outcast' in school and ignored, or worse--being laughed at and humiliated.  Failing tests. Being called on in class and not knowing the answer to the question, and thus being laughed at again, by my classmates. Well, as I mentioned above (take that, English teacher; "never begin a sentence with 'well'"), I am sick.  Now, ther...

In addition to my three-dimensional family in my physical "real-life" world, I am grateful to find that I also almost have a "virtual family," my cyberspace blogosphere family. My postings on my illness have brought out the good and kind in many people. I am thankful for all the well-wishes and blessings for refu'ah shelemeh (a complete recovery) and expressions of empathy from wonderful bloggers, who I am sure are also wonderful three-dimensional-people in "real-life." Someday I hope to meet them, if not bloggers in the States (America's a big country), at least some of those bloggers living in Israel--when we make our 'second Aliyah'. . .eventually. . .

You know, with all our troubles, unemployment, illness, etc.--I still feel blessed, because I have family . Connecting with my children today by computer voip call and cellphone, helped me feel as if I have people I love rallying around me. I have to admit, that I'm not a nice person when I'm sick. In fact, I become an honorary member of the criminally insane - contrast that with my D.H., who when sick is mamash a stoic (-may Hashem keep him healthy, amen ken yehi ratzon). He doesn't complain, he just tries to ride it out, quietly, and rest as much as possible. Me? I fly into a rage (if not a mini-depression); actually, I think illness brings out the histrionic in me. I become a melodramatic stage actress, in a really bad off-off Broadway play. Just ask my D. H., and he'll (secretly...or maybe not...) agree. At any rate, talking to my Rambo, who is on vacation while her sister (who just came back last summer from four years in Israel, so they were pretty close) ...