Mount Sinai rode a camel too

Great!!!. Waiting to watch you on youtube riding camel and climbing sinai

taking the time to write for us
to share with us
a piece of who you are
a memory
a place
an image of what Israel is today
a beautiful journey written by a beautiful human being.

- very nice, very thoughtful of you.

so at our journey's end the time has come to part and our endless cords of love will link us heart to heart.

I thank you, Tilly.

was that ^^ a double entendr� ?!??! tsk tsk tsk...shame on you uche...

thank you for joining me, lu...

Two days before the end of the trip, our tour manager announced something unexpected. She said you would not be able to join us any longer, that you had made arrangements for another guide to accompany us for our last day.

She continued on her rant about how frustrated she was that you had made other plans apart from the tour schedule you had with us. On and on she went about how unprofessional it was for you to do this on such short notice.

Despite this and among other things she had to say, somehow, i understood you. What you did, does not surprise me.

You had already told me about your other profession in the kibbutz. You have also shown me and talked about your other tour schedules with archeology students and with Jewish expats in the coming days. As the week draws to a close, you were apparently called to discuss some issues you were responsible for in your respective kibbutz.

That night, a dinner was scheduled along with your last day with us. I had not yet finished the letter that i was suppose to give you. But at this point, i wasn't even sure how to give it to you anymore. You arrived with a representative from the tour company about 10 minutes after we had all settled down. Immediately, you greeted everyone with a smile and extended your appreciation at what a great group we were to have toured with. You gave your apologies for having mistakenly overlapped your schedule, but reassured us that a capable substitute was to be provided for the following day.

We ate dinner. I have no recollection of what it was. I was more preoccupied in wondering whether things were at an end or whether they would only be the beginning. You had with you a token gift for each of us that was handed while we ate. A small bottle of mustard seeds.

When dinner ended, we all went back to the bus, while you made your way back to your own car. I wasn't sure if it was just my imagination, but it was as though you never even saw me at all.... I held on to that bottle until we reached the hotel.

Funny how small things, can grow so large.

--- original unedited manuscript "Remembering Israel"

That day when we went to Herod's palace, you not only brought me to see where what happened. I understood what happened. I felt it.

What it must be like knowing how things will end, yet hoping it won't be that bad.

We never want to have to choose pain in life, but some things are inescapable. Time and time again, we do choose pain, for something more, for someone we love. To sacrifice a part of ourself because of the ones we love is in itself already a higher purpose. To be constantly hurt by those we are for doing what we know is right for, and yet stand firm in that belief and be able to cause others to do the same even if the end seems bleak. Surely this is not stupidity. Surely this is a sign that there is more to come than what we can perceive.

Overlooking the city of Jerusalem, amidst a field of wildflowers, olive trees and dry earth, we walked up the steps where jesus would have been led to his cross-examination. We passed by the statue that marked the three-fold betrayal he had predicted. We passed the pits where where convicts and the accused were lowered into and withheld until their sentence.

We went into a room where a solitary pit was featured. Here was where he was consigned to his fate. We went downstairs and entered a door fashioned on the side of that deep cavern. You turned off the lights...silence.

You started speaking in a hushed voice about how it must have been like to be alone in the darkness. What it felt like waiting in timelessness knowing what lies ahead would be a long dark road.

I thought about that as our priest began to say a prayer. I still think about that day up to now.

For all the good and bad that we are and that we have gone through, failings and weaknesses make us human. Love recognizes this, accepts it, and seeks to transform it into something more.

--- original unedited manuscript "Remembering Israel"

I don't have enough superlatives to describe how good is your writing. It invokes emotion, is highly descriptive, but most of all it describes the infinite possibilities in a poetic way. One is left with many stories untold.

You sir, are a prince among men.


MW, if you happen to know a publisher....i will gladly reserve the ending of this for you.

Will I be the hero who gets to kiss the maiden?

This isnt science fiction, ya know...

Gee ... another fantasy!

I will brush up on my Star Trek lingo and throw in a Romulan maiden just for you...

Weddings have never made me cry.

Every wedding i have been to, were of some relative. None of my friends or siblings have married yet. None of my cousins my age have married yet either.

As i watched the elderly couples in the bus that day sit excitedly and acceptingly of their respective spouses, i felt as if i've yet to live my life. Some of them were married for 20 years, some as much as 40 or 50. My parents themselves, an odd 30 or so years.

Before we left for our trip, it was suggested during the initial tour orientation that married couples bring with them white outfits for our trip to Cana. As many wedding days go, something unexpected usually happens. Lack of good wine would've been a big downer. Mom forgot to pack her's and dad's white clothes.

Everyone went to change from their street clothes to their "matrimonial" garb. One by one, the brides came out of the changing room. The grooms, grouped together while waiting, broke away from the pack to meet their respective partners as they approached the church courtyard. Some of the brides wore a small veil, just enough to cover the tops of their heads, while each of the grooms held a single red rose. Arm in arm they all lined up at the entrance of the church, whilst the rest of us single people held on to our cameras to record another milestone in a couple's life.

Mom would've normally felt bad at her obvious slip, but it didn't show. And it was just like dad not to mind at all. It was funny how some of the guys pretended to be nervous as if it were their first walk down the aisle, and teased their would-be wives about backing out while they still can...none of them wanted to.

As the church doors opened, they each made their way in. Quietly and happily, they led each other to the altar and took their places on stage. Photographers continued exploring for the right angle to take their photos in. The priest came out and commenced the ceremony. Some looked at the priest, some looked at each other, everyone else was looking at them.

As the quick 30-minute renewal ended, the rose was given and a kiss was exchanged. Surprised gasps were heard as some husbands pulled out a ring and placed it on fingers.

It may take a miracle to make me cry at a wedding, and some miracles take more work than others. On that day, there were no blushing brides or anxious grooms -- just contented wives and happy husbands....

--- original unedited manuscript "Remembering Israel"

Great write...... !
Love the flow of your story, keep it up girl!


*Mingle should get you to be a regular contributor of articles for the site

Now youre making me think...

Hows that again... 0.20 / post ?

I thought you'd like this...

Thanks for your advice. I think it's working

***edit king Herod's palace to house of Caiaphas (also Church of Peter's denial)...







steps leading to the trial, overlooking Jerusalem (Kidron Valley)











Peter's denial



pits and underground dungeon







sacred pit where Jesus was lowered and held

Cana / Kana

Alleyway leading to the church



Entrance to courtyard



Church of the miracle at Cana













souvenir wine