I started crying today as I read my daily dose of the BBC. I try to be optimistic, but sometimes it feels like all the lies and hate will never stop being spread.
First, there was the story about Maale Adumim (the largest Israeli settlement in the West Bank). In an area called E1 there are plans to continue building to connect it to Jerusalem – which would effectively ruin chances of a Palestinian state, and completely disable East Jerusalem as being its capital.
Just seeing pictures of the settlement made my eyes water. It is such a stark contrast to the shabby structures Palestinians have been living in for the past several decades, and I don’t understand the dehumanization of Arabs that occurs to make people capable of living in Maale Adumim. Why can’t the settlements be stopped? They are illegal according to international law (the Fourth Geneva convention – article 49 prohibits an occupying power transferring citizens from its own territory to occupied territory). Imagine if America started a transfer policy in Iraq, creating a mini-America on the outskirts of Baghdad.
In the midst of my sorrow and pessimism I ran across another article that reminded me to have hope. Twelve-year old Ahmed Ismail Khatib was shot in Jenin (in the W.B.) by Israeli soldiers while throwing rocks at the soldiers. The boy was carrying a toy gun the soldiers said looked real. In the midst of suffering, his father decided to donate his organs to Israelis as a sign of peace.
Ahmed’s kidneys, liver, heart, and lungs were transplanted into Israelis including Jews, Arabs and a Druze girl.
His father said, “I have taken this decision because I have a message for the world: the Palestinian people want peace – for everyone.”
So today marks one month since my Dad died. It’s strange really. It feels like yesterday in some ways, and years ago in others.
I decided in honor of my Dad passing I would go and give blood today. While I was there, I realized I want to do this every year on Oct. 8th as a way of remembering him.
He had several surgeries that prolonged his life by several years, and for each of those surgeries the hospital used donated blood. He wouldn’t have been with us as long as he was if it wasn’t for donors who took a couple of hours out of their schedule one day.
I’ve donated blood several times, but doing it today was much more meaningful. I just kept thinking about the fact that I was actually going to help someone’s Dad, or relative, stay alive a bit longer than they would’ve – it was a tangible way for me to bring something positive out of my sadness today.
“Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion, and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves have received from God.” 2 Cor. 1:3-5
- Having Kristen graciously drive me around while we both had butterflies about surprising Nick
- Teaching Nick’s sisters Christina and Victoria how to write their names in Arabic
- Finding out I’ve been misusing the past tense of “to sneak” all of my life – it is sneaked, not snuck
- Going to a family dinner and then discussing politics with his mom and dad
- Talking to the chair of Political Science at Marquette University for two hours and having him introduce me to four professors and two students in the graduate department – and having them all be very excited about me applying
- Watching The Aviator with Chris, Pete and Amanda
- Seeing David Bobke and Mandy at the soccer game
- Interlocking arms under our umbrella while walking in the rain to see the Moscow Ballet perform the Nutcracker
- I casually mentioned I wished I could comb my hair out after I got soaked in the rain storm.. awhile later we stopped at a grocery store and Nick came running out with both a pack of combs and a bouquet of flowers for me
- Chatting with Matt in the sanctuary of their church while Nick beautifully played the piano in the background
The thing is that Nick has become my best friend and so I always look forward to nights/weekend minutes on my phone which is when we get to talk the most. As a result of getting closer, I am also realizing it is hurting more to leave each other. So my last highlight is:
- Saying goodbye in the airport – because I know our separation is only temporary, and that we’ll see each other again, and soon.
Mission Sneak into Milwaukee to Surprise Nick at His House Late at Night: complete
I have rightfully claimed my place in the world of trickiness by pulling this little trick off without a hitch – thanks to Kristen and his mom Jeanne. And now I’ve just been getting to enjoy my time with him and his family – which has been uber-wonderful. =)
