Letters From a Bomb Shelter (Part 2 – The Aftermath)

Every night, I wake up at least twice to pee. It’s been like this all my life.  I won’t even tell you what my nights looked like when I was pregnant and had a 10lb baby playing bongos on my bladder. That’s right. Ten Pounds. But I fall right back… Listen ⇢

One Saturday morning when I was 9 years old, I sat on the aqua colored carpet in our den eating cereal, watching Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles with my two younger brothers.   The real Ninja Turtles, not the new crap…. We’re talking the old school cartoon where Splinter wasn’t so scary… Listen ⇢

It’s 3 weeks til the big move. I am laying in bed with Rafi having pillow talk. And for the first time, he raises his concerns about moving.  “When we get to Israel, can I stay home with you for a week before I go to school?” he asks “Not a whole… Listen ⇢

When I was a kid, all I wanted to be was an adult.  I was always independent and mature for my age. According to my mom, if I was gifted a doll or a barbie, I usually just trashed it. Except the barbie that came with the horse. I loved… Listen ⇢

In Alcoholics Anonymous, there is a phenomenon called “the geographical change.” This is when someone who is desperately trying to stop drinking or using drugs thinks that a change in environment will do the trick.  People have moved cross country or further, certain that if they could just get far… Listen ⇢

I have a superpower. I’ve had this superpower all my life. No, I can’t fly (although that’s definitely the one I would pick). No, I’m not invisible. And I can’t shoot fire out of my wrists like my 5-yr-old thinks he can. My superpower is something much more complicated. My… Listen ⇢

Tonight we experienced our first siren and our first rocket attack. Day 3 in Israel and I found myself crouched down protecting my child’s head.  I actually wasn’t too freaked out by the sirens… I was prepared for those.  But nothing could have prepared me to hear the actual rockets… Listen ⇢

It’s 9 Days til the move. Rafi and I sit in a 7-11 parking lot all dressed up for Halloween. We had just gone trick or treating for the first time… and the last. There is no Halloween in Israel.  Rafi was dressed as “Shadow” , a character from Sonic.… Listen ⇢

Imagine telling everyone you know that you’re moving to the most controversial country in the world during a time of active war with your young child 🤨 The responses are fascinating. They are never neutral. In the beginning of my journey, I received an overwhelming “that’s amazing, I’m so happy for… Listen ⇢