Walking Away

it is 7:30 a.m. in the holy city of safed.   in half an hour i will be going out with a friend for a walk.  we started being walking buddies on Monday.  we usually walk for about 45 minutes.  this is not speed or power walking.  we do not carry weights or swing our arms.  this is just walking away from the stress and the fear of the world's health crisis for a little while.  we are both committed to losing more weight but this is our commitment to exercise the old bones.

i have slept better lately.  from being home all day and sedentary; i have been riddled with back and leg pains.  the walking helps the pain and it helps the mental state.  we have all been stressed out from the overload of bad news for months.  we walked to town twice, this week.  my friend is a shopper.  we hit quite a few shops this week.  i mean, visited and not, looted or robbed.  prices are sky high.  i guess because i am no longer working; everything seems more expensive.  i couldn't buy any toys this week.

i want to go to Jerusalem t help the kids out but i have no one to take care of the dogs.  i was willing to weather the recent rona outbreak there but the kids cannot deal with my dogs.  i am very frustrated.  we have a small rona outbreak in this area.  i am walking now and venturing out of my neighborhood.   i have even, travelled on the local busses a few times.  it is so hard to navigate in masks and sunglasses.  i have started wearing sunglasses.  what a tremendous difference it has made.  my eyes are less dry and irritated.

my friend gave me a pair of her expensive designer ones.  you can hardly feel them on.  yesterday i entered my home and it was pretty dark.  i thought there had been a power outage.  i climbed up onto the dining room table and added another bulb to the chandelier.  it was till dark.  i got a bit panicky.  i thought that i might be losing my eye sight.  i passed a mirror and realized that i was still wearing my sunglasses.  pretty crazy!

this is what happens to someone self isolating.  we are all going slowly daft.  i still cannot do proper exercise but the waking is a grand start.  i have recently come into possession of some lovely second hand clothes.  i now have a few skirts and tops and loungewear for summer.  it is wonderful because i cannot find anything suitable and affordable in the local shops. i have lost weight but i have also lost most of my muscle tone.  i am one, flabby old lady.

i managed to go into the large supermarket this week.  it was the first time in three months that i tried.  i was able to buy a bit of chicken and fish for Shabbat.  i gave all of my poultry and meat and pantry items to the kids; when they were here.  i am fine.  i bought tons of fresh cherries and romaine lettuce in town at a vegetable stand and have been eating salads again.  i have been eating a lot of pasta but i have been fasting for longer hours.  yesterday i did about 18 hours. 

the news form the states has been so alarming that it's a wonder that i haven't started to binge eat again.  i hope that all of my readers are safe and in good health.  i pray that everyone has what they need and are in a loving environment; even if alone.  i wish you all a good Shabbos.