I just discovered this thread a few minutes ago----I don't know what to say. Your concern for me, my family and my country has me deeply humbled.
No need to explain my recent absence from the forum. All the big recent developments have kept my mind on other things. Even my grandson can''t get to a few of his outyards because of the rocket attacks. Two of my sons have been called up as reservists for active duty.
I have refrained from writing about the local developments because I don't want the forum to be turned from a bee forum into a "political" forum. I'm not a hijacker----besides, if I were really to start "talking" Iddee would probably have to put me in the censured list---perhaps rightfully so.
So just a few words to answer some of your questions. My wife and I are doing okay. Most days recently we have stayed home or near home. When the alarm sirens go off or the radio or tv announces a rocket attack we have had to quickly relocate to our houses' "safe area"---an inner hallway with no windows our outer walls and a concrete ceiling--2-4 times a day (that includes at night too--around 2 or 3 AM). Our distance from Gaza (about 35 km~20 miles) gives us about a 30-45 second time span to get there. Then we start counting the explosions and estimate where and how far away they landed. So far, I know of three areas in our small community (85 families) where rocket shrapnel landed on or very near houses. '
I've never been one to claim that I know or understand God's plans for the world, but considering that well over 2,200 rockets have been shot at us, many to heavily populated cities, the amazingly small number of civilian "hits" (3 killed) gives one the feeling that we're being looked after.
I follow the local news and the international media (via the internet) and find myself to be totally upset by the way that Israel's actions in attempting to stop this madness are being so thoroughly distorted. I wrote a little about it in a PM to Jen (not wanting to politicise the forum).
Without elaborating, your words of encouragement and prayer are greatly and humbly appreciated. They tell me that not all the lies of omission, comission and misrepresentation presented in the media have turned you against us.
I'll close with this; the PEOPLE of Gaza are not out enemies. The TERRORISTS are. In their cowardice of hiding behind the civilian population as they fight us, they put us in a double bind. All the injured and killed civilians are a tragedy, if only we could prevent their losses without having to do so by placing our lives at the mercy of these terrorists. Enough said.
Thank you again, each and every one of you, my friends.
