We're Having A Heat Wave

 it is 9:30 a.m. in the holy city of safed.  i am heading out soon to the local neighborhood pool.  i already had a lovely chat and coffee break with my gardener.  it is lovely to be able to discuss current events with a man who speaks english.  i call him the voice of reason.  i get the israeli take on things from someone who was raised in a kibuutz.  today's discussion was about the extreme rise in food and how the modern day family can afford to feed itself.  i became quite agitated at the supermarket yesterday when i spent $150 on cleaning supplies and a bit of fruit and vegetables.  i live alone and can now afford basically, anything i want to eat.  However, my son and wife cannot.  today's mom goes to work and relies on frozen foods to pop in the microwave when she comes home.  

i started eating healthy and green during covid.  i gave up all processed foods. i do not buy catered food nor do i dine out in restaurants.  i cook my own food.  today's moms do not have the time to do this.  today's kids are used to fast foods and tons of treats.  today's moms do not dole out the treats.  today's kids are home alone, inactive and bored.  they nash all afternoon long.  they are used to the processed microwave foods, too.  i can't imagine them coming home to a plate of grains and potatoes and beans.

i am sure that somewhere out there; moms cook from scratch and don't rely on corn schnitzels shaped like dinosaurs.  i do worry about the large families here.  most summer fruits are untouchable.  luckily, watermelon is affordable.  i myself, buy melons.  yesterday, i spent $10 for a small package of cherries.  it was sheer indulgence.  i was in a mood, you might say.  most elderly people; i know; would not.  i was feeling no pain.  i spent a lot of time fretting and felt very guilty afterwards.  i recently spent $300 on fruit rollups for the grandkids.  what the hell, was i thinking??

so i will go to the pool and meditate.  i will dog paddle my way across the pool and think about my life.  i will try to be more frugal.  i will try to simplify my life.  i will try to be calm.  i will try to breathe.  i will try to imagine that the spot on my left lung, the cancerous growth, is happy and relaxed.  i will try to feel grateful that i can afford to buy a pool membership and that i can afford the occasional package of cherries.

they predict that tomorrow will be 96 degrees here.  i am so thankful to have the pool.  i do not have air conditioning here.  i am grateful that my house, which is wickedly cold in winter; is very comfortable in summer.  that is most of the time.  but it works for me right now.