Idealogian

Vacation Highlights, Part II

Some more:

• Hearing my niece and nephew singing one of my favorite Hebrew songs, "BaShanah HaBa'ah," on Erev Rosh HaShanah. There was something very touching about hearing such pure optimism from such little kids (even if they don't necessarily know what it means).

• The fact I haven't seen even a trace of cloud since I got off the plane 6 days ago.

  Update: I saw some clouds on Thursday, the ninth day of my vacation.

• The way most people here greet me with a simple, "Hey, Reuven. Welcome back." As if it's completely normal and expected for me to just show up for the Yammim Nora'im. (Which, considering that this is my third year in a row doing it, I suppose it is.)

• How I can still open a bag of milk with the back edges of two knives, and send the tip flying seven or eight feet. I still have the touch. (Note: if you've never tried to open a bag of milk this way, you probably have no idea what I'm talking about, or why I'm so proud of it. But trust me - it's cool.)