Clashes

Arabs in East Jerusalem went on strike yesterday ... which was good because it cleared the streets for thousands of jews to go to the Wailing Wall for the annual blessing by Jewish priests. It made the job of the police alot easier. However in the surrounding villages and towns, clashes and riots took place. Some quite violent. Arab teens continue to be killed by Israeli raids into arab villages and the arabs are protesting these incursions that lead to deaths. The northern town (refugee camp) of Shufat was rocked with violence yesterday and Nablus was locked down by Israeli army as well. The tensions are worsening by the day. 

At Clalit pharmacy

For the past 48 hours I've been travelling between my Clalit insurance clinic and St. Joseph Hospital and Shaarei Zedek hospital to organize the elusive operation that should but didn't happen due to the jewish holidays. Finally this morning Shaarei Zedek called to fix a day a week from now, so I was told to prepare myself for it.  By the way Clalit is a huge insurance entity that runs its own clinics, doctors, pharmacies all over the country. An annual policy for a foreigner costs US$1400, which doesn't sound  much ... unless you're poor. It doesn't cover dental services. Anyway I'm glad I bought the policy because now I need its services. It has links with other specialists and hospitals so I've been assigned to Shaarei Zedek where I've been told has the best cardiovascular dept in the country. Well if I survive the op then I'll testify to that.

Wait

Festive spirit at Damascus Gate

 This morning I was back in Shaare Zedek hospital. It's a medium sized hospital but is very specialized such that it's comparable with the world famous Hadassah hospital which is situated on the next hill. It was less than I anticipated. Without any other indication except "Go to 10th floor and ask for Adin" I went to the information chart by the elevators. 10th floor said "Maternity." Something was wrong so I walked to the next building and on the elevator chart, 10th floor was cardiovascular dept. Took the ride up and here were several people in the lovely waiting room with a skylight. I went to the receptionist and made my request and she very nicely brought me to an office where Adin was working. She took my particulars and said because it's Sukkot the doctors are not working so I have to wait till Sukkot is over. Meantime just don't get stressed till a heart attack or stroke hits. So I've been told to stay in bed and wait it out.

Full moon

Full moon over Damascus Gate

The past few days have been very trying. Been diagnosed with severe ischemia but need more tests to precisely locate it. Been feeling very weak and unable to walk or climb stairs. Nausea and numbing right arm. But because it's the jewish feast of Sukkot that lasts 8 days, no one is sure when my blood test results will be out - one said by noon, another said after 2 days ... it depends if there are lab technicians working. Same for hospital admission and surgery schedules. No one is sure if the dept is open or if doctors are working. It's been very stressful to try and get info or confirmation for anything. It's all waiting and waiting for the end of Sukkot before we actually can know if anyone is working at all.

Meantime the full moon is out and it is lovely. There're daily clashes and violence here in our area ... but the moon stays aloof ... far away from our problems.

Over the City Walls

Back to school

Friars at prayer

 Today life is back to normal. People go back to work. Borders are reopened. Transport fill the roads again. 

But in 5 days time, again everything will be closed down as the feast of Sukkot begins. It'll last for 8 days. It's tough for those who need the bank or immigration or other government services. Autumn is always the time for closures. A long holiday for locals but for caregivers made up of filipinos and indians, it's extra hardwork since local jews cannot work. That means cooking, cleaning etc. I was talking to some of them and they said after Sukkot is over, they need a couple of weeks rest to recover.

The first day of classes started today for us. School routine is back. Some students are still not back yet but they'll need to be back by the next 2 weeks as registrations will close. Students are requesting tables in the library and the rush for the best ones have started.

I'll be returning to hospital for my results. Then see the doc there. Then go to my insurance clinic and see my insurance doctor. It'll be a long day.

Today

Bare feet Jews

 It's Yom Kippur today. The streets are empty of people and vehicles. All public transport stopped since yesterday. Private cars too are very rare ... the occasional arab car passing by. Even the arab shops in East Jerusalem are mostly closed because the borders with Palestine are closed and shoppers can't come to Jerusalem. Locals too stay at home to avoid clashes and violence. It's all quite surreal. Once a year the whole country is like this. Eery. 

The few Jews I saw going to the Wailing Wall were bare feet ... a sign of penitence. Police presence were not as numerous as I had expected. There were police horses but we see them almost daily nowadays. Police at the regular checkpoints still stop arabs to check their IDs and permits. Strangely even New Gate which leads to the Christian Quarter was also blocked by metal barriers. Only pedestrians are allowed to walk in or out. They're really judaizing the Christian Quarter.

Empty Damascus Gate

My feet are still slightly swollen and my left ankle is hurting alot ... an old injury when I fell and twisted it in Bethlehem a decade ago. My breathing is difficult and chest still hurts as if the heart is bursting. I do feel very unwell. There're moments when I think my heart will stop as walking or climbing stairs have become an impossible task. There are moments when I just want to sit down and give up. All my energy is gone. I have nothing left. 

Feast

Statue and relic of 
St. Francis

 It's the feast of St. Francis today. Yesterday evening's vespers included the Transitus ceremony in which the death of Francis was remembered. I guess it was crowded in church. I didn't join in as I was feeling ill. My hands and feet are less swollen but I'm constantly breathless with chest pains. It's not been good these past days as I've been struggling with this deteriorating health issue. It's been very difficult. And the ongoing house renovations aren't helping.

Anyway for the feast of St. Francis, the statue and relic are brought out for veneration. A huge temporary altar is set up next to the lectern for this purpose. It's rather nice.

Meantime tonight begins the jewish Yom Kippur ... a day of penance. The whole country comes to a standstill. But violence continues with shootings and assaults by both sides of the conflict. Open daylight shootings took place in Nablus where taxis and buses are targeted. It's dangerous travelling there. Thank goodness I'm too sick to travel.

Well school has finally started and the routine of studies has resumed. The libraries are busy again. I don't know how much I can do now that I'm ill. I just don't want a heart attack in the middle of work. Or off work for that matter. Everyone is telling me to relax and don't stress. Easier said than done.

Sick

Jerusalem
artichokes

 I've been feeling quite sick since Wednesday. My feet and hands have swelled quite alarmingly. I am breathless and tire out easily. Some of my superiors noticed it it and sent me to my insurance clinic for a doctor's preliminary check-up. The doc there pressed my calves and there were depressions. He said it looked significant enough for an echo cardiogram and fixed an appointment for me as soon as the Sabbath is over. However that hospital is too far away and I have no transport, so I called our St. Joseph hospital if the tests could be done there. Well they could do it, but they cannot charge my insurance as the hospital has no agreement with the insurance company. i have to pay cash.

So early this morning I went to St. Joseph's for the tests. I was quite fatigued not simply because of my heart condition but because I was suffering a massive diarrhea attack. I was running to the toilet in the middle of the tests. After 2 hours I was ready to go home and rest. The diarrhea hasn't stopped though and I'm still in pain. It's quite a trial. The results will be out next Friday. 

Golden Spider Lily

Anyway the autumn flowers are blooming and that makes me happy. The Jerusalem artichokes are neither artichokes nor from Jerusalem but they have fantastic happy flowers. And this year my golden spider lilies are blooming profusely ... 5 in all!!! I had pruned the roses in August so they've been blooming very well. That's a trick I learned from the Parks and Recreation department of the Municipality. Whenever they start pruning the plants in the park, I do the same. Right now they're pruning trees.