Back in the hospital

Last night Rachel took Liam back to the hospital.  The fact that she continued to be lethargic at home and also didn't gave enough urine, made us worry.  According to Rachel's report from this morning, in addition to a confirmed UTI, Liam's kidneys are not well.  The "bad" numbers are up too high.  But Rachel also said that since their admittance last night, Liam's condition is improving.  
I think that at the moment they're on the PICU floor (2nd floor, butterfly elevators, same floor she was in last two stays).  According to Rachel if the situation continue to improve they're likely to move to the 6th floor.  I'm sick in bed so I don't know much more than that at this moment.

My Christmas
On this day back in 1972, 73, or 74 (can't remember exactly) my mom did something no other Israeli-Jewish mom ever did before or since.  She took me in the middle of the night to visit the Church of the Nativity  in Bethlehem (Beit Lechem), where the main ceremony for Jesus's birthday takes place every year. 

We boarded  a cold, empty, old-style bus in downtown Jerusalem and took the 30-40 minutes ride to Bethlehem.  Now, you have to picture this:  a mom and her young son travel in the middle of a winter night to a foreign, some would say "enemy", city, alone in an old bus.  It's true that back in those days there was no Intifada yet and for a matter of fact the locals actually welcomed Israeli tourists-shoppers.  Still, it was NOT an Israeli city.

I remember the central square to be pretty empty.  Only a few soldiers patrolling.  I also remember that I was bored and suffered from this entire experience.  What do you want from me, Mom?  Why are we here?  Can we go home now?

When the priests came into the main hall of the church chanting Gregorian chant and holding HUGE candles, mom was in heaven.  She got sooooooo excited.
We eventually left (obviously) on the same cold, empty bus and made it back home.  I forgot the whole experience for years.

In retrospect today, I realize how special and unique was  Mom in her attempt to broaden my view of the world.  You see, she grew up in a very orthodox Jewish home.  Unlike me, who could care less, the Jewish values were really important to her until her last day (even though she didn't practice any of them on a daily basis after she left her home in England).  Yet, it was important enough for her to schlep me in the middle of the night and teach me about other cultures.  WHAT A LADY!!!!  Or, maybe she was just nuts....(this was the same lady who went fishing, drank whiskey and smoked cigars with the guys)
And that's my Christmas Eve experience I will hold onto for ever and the message  Mom gave me:  COEXIST.