Stolen Time... In A Way

Because of my Aunts death, my commander and the Israeli Consulate granted me an extra 2 weeks to be with family.

The Consulate was a story within itself. I had to get into the city and at the Consulate at around 8:40 am. I had to be there on Wednesday the 18th- the DAY of my flight back to Israel. My flight was 2:45 in the afternoon so I needed to finish quickly in case they say that I must go back to Israel. 

I get to the Consulate around 8:40 and the guard tells me I can't enter. I was pissed. I just walked from Penn to 42nd and 2nd street and I cant come in? I had to bring my bags with me from KP to the Consulate. It was hot and with all that walking and all those people, it wasn't what I wanted to hear. They refused to let me in because of my bags. It didn't matter that Im a soldier. Under no circumstance can I enter with anything but a purse. The guard who was dressed in street clothes just hanging next to a wall, told me to go to the hotel across the street. I get to the hotel and they tell me I cant leave my bags there for even an hour. Granted I didn't have a lot, it was just 3 small light weight duffel bags, one with wheels, it was still forbidden. The 3 duffel bags are easier then the giant suit case with wheels- go figure the irony in that. The hotel clerk sends to a luggage place on 36th street. I was soooooo not happy. PLUS I had to pay for the WHOLE day when it was only 3 hours. I had to go there via taxi because I couldn't walk that far and get to the Consulate on time. I get back and it was about 9:20am and after about an hour and a half maximum they tell me I can stay until August 31st. I needed proof, my ID's, and to write a letter explaining the situation. I got my confirmation and left to get my things. I decided to walk. It was so much easier to walk without the baggage. Literally and metaphorically. A weight had been in every way lifted off my shoulders.I got more time at home and possible time to be home for my aunts ceremony. She wanted a party not a funeral.

While walking to the place that held my luggage I called Transaero airlines and Ophir Tours to change my flight. The night before the airline told me to call the travel agency. When walking to get my luggage, I called Ophir tours endlessly. The branch I needed wouldn't answer so I got transfered to another branch who told me they cant help me because the branch I need is closed and my flight was in a few hours. They tell me to call the airline because they CAN help me. They are just too lazy to do so. So I call Transaero Airlines and explain the situation and after 10 minutes of arguing I finally got my flight switched. I had to pay $150 for switching the flight. I also got lost on the way to getting my luggage so that would explain why I had so much time on the phone. I learned that I should pay attention when walking. I finally got to the storage place and the lady working there started talking to me. She was an absolutely amazing woman. I am so thankful and grateful that I met her. I really feel as though I was meant to meet her. I talked with her until 130 when I started getting phone calls from my mom asking me where I was. I believe she was an angel. She gave me so much excellent advice and new insight. I feel truly blessed to have met her. I gave my my facebook link, blog link, and I think email so we could stay in touch. I really hope she writes a blog. She has so many amazing stories and such great advice. I will never ever forget her. Moments such as those could only be cherished and remembered. So if you read this, you know who you are- don't be shy!! 

It's Sunday night as I write this. I just finished playing a game of Apples to Apples with Denise's(Bonnie's Step-Mom) family. We are in a Lake House in Pennsylvania. It is such a gorgeous place in the Pocono Mountains. When I come back, it is back to reality and hopefully finding out more details on my Aunts Ceremony. I wouldn't be here having fun if it weren't for my aunt. But she could have been here. Alive. She's not. In a way it's stolen time because it could have been extra time for her with those she loved most.

My trip upstate(first weekend back home) and in Pennsylvania have been most needed. I have had so much fun. There is still so much that I want to do. So much food I want to eat and places I want to go. Im not going to waste this time. Im also hopefully going to be spending some time with Alina. My aunt loved her so much and it was easy to see. Even a blind person could see such pureness.

Within this first weekend of extra time I have met the nicest bunch of people ever. They were constantly asking about the Israeli Army and thanking me for my service. I didn't know what to say because I don't feel like I am doing anything. I can only hope that I can have a family like this one day. It was so heart warming to see a father play with his son and hear their laughs. Im not used to seeing things like that so I enjoyed it. It was so fun to watch the little boys play with each other using just their imaginations. As we get older, we forget that we have an imagination. We feel too silly using them. I think we should. This has been a vacation that I have needed so much. Something that I have needed for years. This is a weekend I will not forget and I hope that I never do. Every meal was home cooked. It was how a family should be. It was also really nice to not have to cook and clean for myself or order out food. Now Im not saying I just became a lazy bean and just let them do everything. No. They had to tell me not to clean or not to pay. But don't worry. I helped clean tonight's dinner.

This weekend, I got to watch the guys fish while watching the sun set on the lake. I got to speak with the women while cleaning and preparing dinner. Stereotypical I know, but so much fun. We all went to the pool which was just a blast. Bonnie and I laid out and tanned for a little bit. I only managed to get a shade maybe two darker. Maybe shade and a half. If I'm not wearing a bikini you cant tell. I still look so pale. I am very lucky though. I haven't burnt yet. Im grateful for that because I always always always burn. We have had two very entertaining thunderstorms and I saw a chipmunk on the front deck. It was cute. :P Unfortunately tomorrow morning/afternoon I leave. I am really going to miss everyone. Im gonna miss you guys! Thank you for being so welcoming!!! :) 

I will then have a little less then a week and a half for more adventures. I have a lot of book editing to do and lots and lots of thinking. Ill try and update soon once things get more settled. Its 11:15pm. It's time for bed I believe. I am the only one in the house not in my room or in bed. I wanted to update.

Aunt Marylou Blog Post

New York!!!

Sooo as you know, as a Lone Soldier, I am entitled to one month out of the year to fly back home and be with my family and friends back home. This time I have chosen to go back end of July to mid-August. I didn't really want to come back this time, I was having such a great fun time on base that I just didn't want to leave. As much as I miss Israel and my friends who in such a short time have become my family, Im glad I came home.

This time around the army paid for my flight. The Israel Defense Force pays for one round trip ticket to the city of your choice after a Lone Soldier finishes one full year of service. I had to go to the main Soldier Hostel in Tel Aviv where I found out that everyone knew my commander. Everyone loves Yosi. He is probably one of the best, most caring people I have ever met. The girl at the Soldier Hostel chose my flight for me. I had a layover in Moscow. I didn't really like that. It costed more money then doing a one way trip but Im not allowed to argue. Literally. I argued it. I didnt want to fly to Russia. If it was Germany or another country then okay but Im not a super dooper fan of Russia. No offense Russia, its cold and I wanted home fast. Germany is where my family is from so they get a free card. My flight was for 1250am and you have to get to the airport 3 hours early. Transaero airlines, the Russian airline, failed to notify all passengers that the flight had been delayed over 3 hours. I was pissed. I didnt get into the air until a little after 430 am. Not fun. I fell asleep on the floor for like an hour. It wasn't very comfortable. We get in the very small plane for 5 hours with the screaming baby for all 5 hours and then get to Russia. Dont like the people that much. They were very serious and not happy. The pilot was also kind of creepy when he was talking to me. They delayed the flight an hour when already on the plane. I slept for most of that flight.

I finally landed in NEW YORK!!!! in the afternoon and saw my sister waiting for me. It felt so great to finally see her. We got outside of JFK to her step mom's car and a Brooklyn Slice[of pizza] waiting for me. The pizza was great and so was the ride home. I finally got home to see my mom and dogs waiting for me. I missed them so much. About 2 days later my brother came home from his base. He is in the Marines Reserve so every few months he goes for some training. I spent the month with Bonnie(sis) and my brother Robert. We went to the movies and Splish Splash and to the mall. The mall was a few times and so was the movies. I got to see some other friends as well. I spent a night in Hotel Pennsylvania in the city with my friend Shiran when she came to New York. On August 8, I had the pleasure and honor of attending a cousin's(actually a family friend but shes like family) wedding. Karla finally married her husband Timmy after 8 years. I was so happy to be there. It was so much fun and just full of happiness.

On August 9th, after almost a decade of constant battles with Ovarian Cancer, my Aunt Marylou finally succumbed to horrible disease. I wrote about her in one of my first entries. I miss her terribly. She is usually who I go to for all photography questions and for random things of talking when I dont want advice or opinions. Just someone who listens and is understanding. I am definitely going to miss her. I visited her wife for the first time since I never met her before. It was weird, surreal even, to be in her house with her not there. Sometimes I would think she would walk in any second. I know she wont though. In a way Im glad. I know she is no longer in pain. She is no longer sick. She is in peace and happy. I know she is up there in Heaven. I feel better that she is no longer in pain.

I have been receiving a steady flow of messages and emails giving condolences and I would like to thank everyone for them. I am not the only one who lost an amazing person. Marylou was a strong vivacious woman who was always happy and laughing. She was very understanding and loving. The perfect friend for any situation. I am lucky to have her as an aunt and know that she was an angel to so many people. Aunt Marylou didnt like when people were uspet or down. She always wanted people happy and laughing. I know that she would want that more now then ever. So everyone smile at the thought of her. Dont be sad. Celebrate her life. It's what she would want.

Thank you :)

The Kaban. FINALLY!

So we left off with Avtash in May. Long time I know. But now I have many things for you to read. I came home from Avtash May 31st. I was supposed to go to the dentist but they canceled on me. So I ended up going on my birthday.

During Avtash I had a meeting with the kaban who said we had to reschedule. I got a meeting with the kaban that thursday since coming back from guard duty. I was lucky I had an appointment really early. I get to the building and sign in saying Im here for the kaban and they tell me to sit and wait. After about an hour of waiting they tell me that my specific kaban wont be coming in today. I showed them that I had an email from her saying I had a meeting but that did nothing. She wasn't coming in at all. Needless to say I was pissed. I have been doing everything this woman says. I went and did the impossible. I talked my way into an interview with the Unit Commander and Lieutenant Colonel and got his permission. Then I somehow managed to switch jobs and he became my commander. THEN I up and left for a TWO WEEK avtash that most people said was too long and that there had to be some mistake. I showed up to every meeting. Wrote all emails to the kaban showing my hebrew level. I did everything I could. When I did see her, I even spoke to her in hebrew. I wanted her to see, to hear how much I wanted to become an officer. And she couldn't even show up for one 20 minute meeting. How am I supposed to react in this situation? I was told that a kahas means Im an angry person. Not once did I lose my cool. I had fun at avtash where in 30 seconds of being on base, I saw girls start crying their eyes out because they had to sleep on base for 1 NIGHT. A NIGHT! Here I am already a week at Juara and I love the people there and they love me. Needless to say I was pissed. Im pouring my heart and soul into this and they don't care. I kept thinking something was wrong with me. That maybe I do get mad easily because it annoys me when people walk slow or dont use common sense or logic. Or sometimes when I play a video game I yell at it when I'm losing. Did this make me a bad person? Am I a bad person because I hate my roommate's best friend? Am I an angry person for getting disgusted with every guy that comes up to me telling me how beautiful and sexy I am and how I should be his girlfriend? You know, I dont think so. I think Im normal. I think I come from New York. I dont think that girls from New York like when a boy come up and ask to sleep with them. I dont think anyone likes that. So no. Nothing is wrong with me. Im fine. If anything I control my temper then most officers I see. I do better in situations then most people because I keep my cool. I can control my temper. I proved it over and over. I deserve everything Im working for.

I got back from the kabans building and went to my office. I told my commander who called the kaban and I sent her an email. She sent me a message and rescheduled a date. I felt better. I wasn't going to let this slip through my fingers. A few days later I get an email from her and she asked to reschedule again. I did. It was for the 12th. Before the 12th, Karin called the kaban where she told me some very valuable information that the kaban refused to tell me. She didn't think I was serious about this. But finally I got 2 ways of beating the kahas. Every 3 months I do 1 week of avtash and a meeting until I no longer have a kahas, or I can get a meeting with the head kaban and ask for it to be canceled. The first one takes well over a year to do and the second one is nearly impossible.

My birthday came and I got a tooth pulled and I got a week to not be at base. Sunday came. My meeting with the kaban scheduled for 830 am. I got there at 8 am knocked on her door and let her know I was there, she was with someone. Finally at around 1030 I get to see her. We talk. I told her that being on an open base was way harder and more stressful then being on an open base. We talked about my ENTIRE file. It hurt to know that things in my file weren't true. The kaban from Michve Alon failed to write things she said to me, things she asked me to do, and she didn't write things I said. Since when did I become a rebellious teenager? When was this even said? Sure I died my hair so many colors and smoked Marijuana, but I challenge you to find one person in Kings Park who hasn't even tried it or been in the same room as someone smoking it. I didn't deny and said I smoked it. I then asked if she wrote about telling me I needed to take some "all natural" pills to help calm me down. It was no where in my file. I was devastated. My file was false. No wonder why I had a kahas. Someone screwed with my file. Someone destroyed my not even started army career. I told the kaban everything. Everything about my family life and life in Israel. She then explained how I could get rid of the kahas. She requested a meeting with the head kaban to completely cancel out the kahas and told me that I need a new kaban since she was moving to a new area and job. After this meeting I went to the dentist and got another tooth pulled. I was soo late but a girl passed out so all the appointments were pushed back. After a half hour of waiting I got my tooth pulled and 3 days of no army but one intense head ache that I didn't get last time.

When I came back from my sick leave things were better. I was still wondering what was going on with my file. That thursday at the very end of the day, when I was cleaning with Steven, that we needed to discuss me becoming an officer. He told me he received a phone call from the head kaban. I said "Okay, when's my meeting?" My commander smiled at me and said I didn't need one because I don't have a kahas. I was in shock. I still to this day dont believe it. The only thing I could say was how impossible that was because I needed the meeting. He said I didn't and that wed talk about it. Well we still need to talk about it. I guess I'll talk about it with him the week I return from my trip in New York.