Day 1716 - its reflection time for me. I have to make several big decisions and non of them is an easy one. First and for most I have to decide about the future of the store. It's not picking up enough for me to make a living and it seriously drained my bank account. With every passing day I realize more that it wasn't a very smart decision but since its mine already I'll have to live with it somehow and hopefully in the future I'll have an opportunity to correct the mistake. Even renting is not easy and until I'll find a tenant I'll keep operating it. Second issue is what to do next and this one is a bigy. I don't want to go back to my old work and I'm not even sure it's an option. So the question is what am I going to do next. Things I ponder now every day. And then on the personal level spiritual development, meditation and contributions. A lot to think about, for sure. I am thankfull for being human and having to deal with all that.

Day 1715 - when we were sitting "Shiva" after my dad passed away we decided that its not good to meet only on such sad occasssion and we have to have a pleasant family gathering. After much discussion we picked today as the best date. And so in the early afternoon we drove from the north (me) and the east (my brother and his family) and the south (my sister and her family, my mom and my daughter) and we all me in the center of the country in a very lovely park. We had so much fun spending time together and talking that six hours later we were still there. So it seems like we'll try to do it again and maybe even make it into a new tradition. It's nice to see everyone and it's nice to see the kids having so much fun. As for my immediate family, me and my kids, one of the things we like most about being back here is this family ties thing so the three of us just loved it. And it nice we can see each other and spend few hours in such a lovely setting with such great company, relaxed and feeling all fuzzy inside. I am thankful for such a special family gathering, I sure don't take something so special for granted.

Day 1714 - we went on a hiking trip today, the first real one after the hot months if summer and my first after the surgery. And it was so great.

Day 1713 - procrastination is a trait I have and try to control. I know I am not the only one but I don't want this to be an excuse or justification. If I ever want to succeed I have to control that little monster. And so something I put on my "to do" list and was dropped is back on, and this time until that mission is done. And I will add a few more. I'm reading few books that all talk about this malady. I do it without even thinking. Just put it aside for one day and forget to come back to it until its overdue. So no more, this is not something that had any good outcome, so why keeping it?! It doesn't take more time to do things ontime than to do it late, but it sure feels different. One contributes to self esteem and the other for the opposite. So I read few chapters in my book, I typed another chapter of my course. I started writing an article, I listen to a very interesting meditation guide that I'll try tomorrow, it's way too late now and I thing I won't be able to keep my eyes open. But over all a highly accomplished day and I am thankful for all that and for the clarity I had to start again on this path to self fulfillment.

Day 1712 - another weekend, this time for real. This month, because of the holidays, every other day is half a day like a Friday or a full day off like another Saturday. It's cool when you are an employee - so many days off that don't count as a vacation, but it's not so cool when you are a small business struggling to survive and there are barely any working days this month. But at least we can come out of it very restful. And I sure am thankful for a day off and having fun at home. Too bad I have to think if my bottom line as well.

Day 1711 - a movie night, watching old movies on my computer on the porch. How delightful. The evening was cooler and not humid, a pleasant change to the past few weeks; the fall might be making a sneak appearance after a very hot summer.

Day 1710 - back to work after a day of rest

Day 1709 -

Day 1708 - only someone who lived abroad understand how special is Yom Kippur here in our country. At noon you still see few people rushing to make last minute grocery shopping and by 2 pm almost all the stores are already closed, and the public transportation is making the last rounds. An hour before the onset of the day, the streets are empty of people and cars, every business is closed and people are at home eating the last meal before the fast. It's a scene out of a movie, a whole country is holding its collective breath, getting ready for this special day. I am not religious and I don't even fast but I feel blessed to be here on this day, to feel and be part of the Jewish soul. To play my little part in this community's identity. No car, but emergency cars, will roam the streets until tomorrow night, but lots of people, thousands, will walk the sidewalks and the roads in the city. Funny tradition that developed over time. I love all this, I live you can feel belonging to that even when I am not a part of that. I am thankful to be here and enjoy all the beauty of the tradition even if i choose to live my life differently. I am thankful I am here and this year two of my kids are here as well, having the opportunity to experience this unique phenomenon.

Day 1707 - tomorrow is the eve of Yom Kippur, the day of atonement, and every store in the country will be closed as of the very early afternoon. And if I don't want to fast, as most people will then I better get my grocery shopping done on time. So this is what we did after we closed the store tonight and we will have to do a little more tomorrow, but we are well prepared for the day. By the time I got to the supermarket near my house it half empty; I guess I was not the only one shopping today. Luckily we have a store near by that is not kosher, thus aiming at a different clientele and this is where we managed to find most of what we were looking for. As always, I am thankful I live in this very diverse city, where I can find most if what I'm looking for and at my crazy schedule.

Day 1706 - a big improvement on my recovery path after a very good PT session. I am not very patient and would like to see my arm back in full motion and not so limited anymore. But every little progress is welcome and I celebrate every little thing I master again. It's so interesting to realize how much our hands and arms do, the complexity of every little move we make and now that I have to "re-learn" it I get a new understanding and thanks for all those thing that happens to us. So I can braid my hair, even if in great difficulty,and I can wash the dishes, and I can carry some weight. And I am thankful for all that and for all the new skills and the cautios hope that this will not leave permanent disability in its wake.

Day 1705 - an errands day on a Saturday, our day off. But sometimes you just have to do that. The highlight was hand washing the car. It sure needed it after the sand storm. And I needed it as a physical therapy. My hand feels better and it gets better every day. It was nice getting into a clean and shiny car, not a one covered in layers of dust that you can't really tell the color anymore, and even worse is that you get dirty by touching it. Now it's back to its old self and I have a sore hand. But I am still thankful it's clean and I am thankful I am we'll enough to do that, not alone, but I did my share. And I am thankful to my BF for helping me. And I am thankful for an intriguing movie we saw tonight. And I am thankful I can go to sleep now in my comfortable bed, with clean sheets, in a clean and very lovely home, with the man i love, in a safe city with a good reason to believe I'll wake up tomorrow. So many reasons to be thankful!!...

Day 1704 -

Day 1703 - after almost a month, ever since my injury, I managed to wash and comb my hair. Until now I had to go to a hair saloon to do that. I think that this is part of the task such events have in our life - to bring back proportions; to give us the right perspective and to make us appreciate all the goodness we have and we don't even bother noticing. And tonight I am so very thankful to be able to master again this very complex motion called "taking care of my hair".

Day 1702 - two and a half weeks after the surgery I got the bendages and the sutures removed and my elbow got few more degrees of movement as a result.

Day 1701 - one more day off for the holiday. Not so good for our business but very good personally. A relaxing day to make up for all the driving I did the two days prior. A new year - what a treat!!

Day 1700 - the first day of a new year. What did I leave open? What am I going to embark on? What am I going to keep just as it is? The next few days are for reflection on all that. I love that once a year we stop for a second our daily routine and do some soul search. It's good and it helps us navigate our actions more carefully, if we actually take the time to reflect and just eat and continue the mad rush... I am thankful for a wonderful time with my son and daughter and of course with my mom. I treasure every such meeting.

Day 1699 - the Jewish New Year's Eve. At my sister's with my mom and my son and daughter. Also we have my nephew, the newest "import", one more of the family who decided to make "Aliya" and serve in the IDF. It was very nice but a little sad for the absence of my father. But this is life and we have to accept that. I'm happy to see my mom doing well and carrying on without him. Not easy after more than half a century together. It was a specially nice to see all the cousins hanging out together at the end of the meal. They grew each family in a different part of the world and it wonderful to see how upon moving here they all forge a bond. I am thankful for the year that just ended, with all it's challenges and happy moments and I'm looking forward to this new year and hope it will bring joy and solence

Day 1698 -

Day 1696 - a lovely date on a Friday night celebrating a very important anniversary for my BF. A very good restaurant, a walk by the sea in a very lovely marina. We don't do that much, so it's an extra special event. And we enjoyed every minute of it. I am thankful for a very special evening, I had a very good time and I am so thankful we don't let our very busy life and our tiredness to deter us from doing that every once in a while.

Day 1695 - once again I find out that physical therapy does wonders. I was in much less pain and much more mobility after half an hour of treatment. I still have a long way to go but I'm happy for every little improvement. It so frustrating but I'm thankful I'm in the right direction to recovery. And I'm thankful for every little extra I can, for any newly regained skill.

Day 1694 - my days are too much of the same. Going to work each morning, hoping for a good day sales wise; and going home at night after ten hours or more at the store. Light dinner, on the porch most of the time, and talking the eve away. No special excitements or big things to report. So I sit here pondering what to write about. But this routine is what I'll be missing if anything goes wrong. So I am thankful for undisturbed routine, for little daily pleasures and disappointments, for sharing it all with the man I love.

Day 1693 - we woke up this morning to a dust cloud all over the country. Yellow skies with very low visibility. By the afternoon all the cars were covered with a layer of dust. On top of it all it was very hot and very humid, really not the best day to be outside. Luckily we live in times were airconditioners are part of our daily lives and I'm sure it was widely used today. Usually I try not to use the AC too much, but not today. Today I am thankful for this invention and I am thankful my house equippted with a few. I am thankful I can afford to use them.

Day 1692 - after some procrastination I finally finished a prototype for a product I had in mind. I needed a deadline to do that, but the most important thing is that I did finish it and its a good first run. I'm sure I'll have future improvements but its good enough to offer it as it is right now.

Day 1691 -

Day 1690 - a hunt for some material we need for a product we have in mind sent us on a road trip today. It was too hot and humid anyway for a hike so a road trip is second best. It was a very lovely trip and a nice change from the daily routine, so fun all together. The end result is that we didnt find what we were looking for but we hot some contacts that might be able to help but I found a nice spot I want to visit again as a painting scene!! A bonus I didn't expect but very happy to find. After two years of artistic block I feel that I found my voice again and this time in a more controlled and intentional way. I am thankful for a very satisfying road trip.

Day 1689 - the Hibiscus we planted few months ago grew nicely and now it's in bloom. Five delicate flowers are adorning its limbs. We can look at it without noticing or look at it for what it really is - a miracle of creation. So I sit here this evening and enjoy the new comers, these beautiful flowers. I am thankful for my eyesight so I can see them, I am thankful for a cool and delightful evening here at home with my beloved, nothing special just being together on a friday night. I am thankful fir this home that brings me such quality of life i didn't even ecpected when I bought it. I am thankful for the sight i can see, for the sounds i hear and most of all for my open heart that can take it all in.

Day 1688 - sometimes I forget that processes take time and I become too impatient. I want it to already happen. But I guess time has its own importance, lessons that we have to learn and internalize and so I have to wait. And slowly, sometimes without my notice, things are getting better or change in the direction I was hoping and one day it's just here. I like to think that I am patient, I like to think that I am strong and resilient, but sometimes reality proves that it

Day 1687 - I'm exhausted at 10:30 pm and about to go to sleep. Can't keep my eyes open. Well I guess that a good reason to be thankful - early bedtime, hopefully a good night sleep and the promise if tomorrow ...

Day 1686 - September is here and we start seeing the first signs of fall. A welcome change after a long and humid summer. An evening on our porch with chilled watermelon and a little breeze. Life is in the little details and I really appreciate every such moment. It's not a given, none of it; even the "being able to sit" so an early fall evening; here for me to fully appreciate and enjoy.