C U in Cebu: December 2015

Monday, December 28, 2015

Best laid plans

So Vietnam didn't happen instead.... Dec 16, Linda calls in sick, severe stomach pains. Slept most of the day. Tucky diagnosis me with appendicitis when she visits that pm.

Dec. 17 I've read webmd and agree with Tucky. I go to school and ask where is the best place for an appendectomy. Arlene and Dina and I get in a taxi. My ruptured appendix was removed that afternoon.

Dec 18, in the hospital

Dec 19 move to the floor with the wifi.

Dec 21, Standard procedures, fluids and antibiotics and then home.

Home the 21st to Tucky, mom, Betty, Robin and Hilary. They were using my place while I was supposed to be in Vietnam. I took back my bed, Tucky bunked with her Mom. Her Mom, Betty, asked me when I got out of the shower,"What happened to your water spaniel look?" I loved it. When I first got glasses at age 7 or 8, my friend told me I looked like a puppy. I was devastated. Now it seems it is still true. I got a great laugh out of it.

Home for a week resting. John is in Vietnam and I realize I am just too weak to travel. He arrives tomorrow, Dec 29. The rest has been wonderful. I've called friends at home for the holidays. I've read three plus novels. Thank you Tony for introducing me to Lee Child/Reacher. I've booked a resort for New year's about 4 hours from here. Happy New Year! The adventure continues.

Tuesday, December 1, 2015

Home Stretch

It's December 1st! Six months to go. 3/4 done. School ends June 6th.
This is actually a lovely time of year here. It is the coolest it gets, more pleasant to be outside in the evening.

I had a delightful trip to Israel in October. I visited friends that I first met more than 40 years ago. It was wonderful to see! It was also wonderful to see Israel, how developed it is, clean air, things work. I made a wrong turn on my way to my frineds, the Orens, who moved to Rehovot. I got caught in morning traffic but I also got to see alot. Rehovot is charming, an Israeli style....Costa Mesa Healdsburg combination. Enjoyed the time, seeing their kids, dining on their patio. Shlomit took me to the Chaim Weitzman Institute to see his home/memorial and the campus.

Onward to celebrate Suki's birthday at Bet Keshet. Still beautiful, at the foot of Mt. Tabor.

I finally met Sol, the newest addition to the family, got to see Segev's restaurant and helped celebrate Ayelet's 60th, with much of the Lechner clan. Never enough time with Suki's warmth, Kofy's twinkle and the sweetness of Bet Keshet.

Mt Tabor in the background and Bet Keshet on the hilltop.

A quick stop in Herzilya to meet Hillel, Ettie's grandson, and lunch with the family, then home again in Cebu.

November is a long month here, no Thanksgiving break, but a three day weekend at the end for Bonifacio Day. In three weeks, I leave for Vietnam and Cambodia. The home stretch really starts when I return. A few more spots to visit in the Philippines but I'm longing for home.