Don't Bring Me Down

I have spent the last few months debating whether or not I should continue writing this blog. People who read it have told me that they enjoy it, which for some reason makes me feel obligated to continue. On the other hand, the whole reason I started writing was as a form of therapy—a way to express my thoughts without having to pay anyone to listen.

It's not always easy. I feel that I need to have something worthwhile to say; otherwise, what's the point? Recently, someone asked me why I haven't posted for a while. She didn't believe that I had nothing to say.

And she's right. I always have something to say, but if I'm going to put it into writing, it should be something that resonates with the people reading it.

However, it's been rather quiet around here lately.

Sure, there are still protests against the judicial reform every week, but does anyone really know what's going on with that?

The other issues I write about haven't improved. In fact, they seem to be getting worse with no solution in sight.

As a side note, the Haredim in the government want to pass a law that would consider expressing anti-Haredi sentiment as a hate crime.

And then there's the comment made by one of the members of the Haredi parties this week, stating that the biggest threat to Israel isn't Iran or the Palestinians, but LGBTQRST+ people.

Hmmmm.

On a positive note, there was an amusing incident where a woman was filmed  berating a Haredi man on the bus simply because he was Haredi. She screamed at him for not serving in the army or working. He responded that  he was a lawyer and a Captain in the army.

Oops.

I must emphasize, and I don’t do it enough, that most people who identify as Haredi are good people. It's just that their leadership leaves much to be desired.

So, what else is new? Last night, while engrossed in one of the many mindless series I watch on one of the nine streaming services I subscribe to, a giant explosion rocked our house.

Was I scared? Not at all.

I knew it wasn't a missile; there were no sirens. It could have been a bomb, but I didn't believe I was the target.

Curiosity got the best of me, and I went outside to see what had happened.

Years ago, a tree almost crashed into our house while I was working. I heard a loud noise but thought nothing of it. If the tree had fallen just three inches closer, it would have landed on my lap.

This time, I decided to investigate.

To my surprise, I couldn't find any sign of an explosion.

According to official reports, it turns out that some old ordnance exploded, creating a massive crater on the other side of our town.

Why did this happen? Who knows? But I did learn that Herzliyah used to house a munitions plant, and when it closed down, they apparently left behind a stockpile of large bombs. The mayor referred to it as "a mountain of explosives." The government promised to clean it up. You would think that the local government would be more proactive in addressing this issue.

WTF.

I had never heard anything about this.

Am I surprised? Not at all.

Ho Hum.

It might sound like I'm bored, but the truth is I've never been busier. The overwhelming amount of things happening in my life lately has left me feeling a bit down.

Just the other day, I posed a rhetorical question to my wife: "When do you think I'll be able to retire?" And I came to a disheartening conclusion—NEVER. I live comfortably and have no complaints, but I don't have what is referred to as FU money. Between kids, grandkids, and other obligations, it seems like I'll be working indefinitely.

My dad worked forever. He was still working at age 90. He passed at 92. But I think he liked working.

I don't. What I do is not exciting; it's boring and tedious. Just when I fix one thing, two more problems arise. It's like playing a never-ending game of financial whack-a-mole. Perhaps that's why I haven't written as much or felt the inclination to do so.

But I must admit, writing does make me feel better.

So, maybe I'll continue for a while longer.

Shabbat Shalom.