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Dear Gang,
I realized I hadn't posted an update on the board in some time, so here it is!
As you can probably tell from my picture, I have cut my hair back in length some. After discussing with my hairdresser that I wanted to transition to wearing my hair unbound more of the time, she suggesting taking a few inches off and doing a bit of layering. That was back in early November if I remember correctly. I have been in school full time in 'ulpan,' which is a full-immersion Hebrew language program for recent immigrants in Israel. The ulpan I chose to attend is in Tel Aviv, which is a very 'hip' city in contrast to Ashqelon, where I live, which is much more conservative. I've been enjoying wearing my hair loose most of the time as I ride the train to TLV, circulate in TLV, attend class, and ride the train back home. Apart from occasionally getting a little hair pull when I put on my backpack, I like wearing it loose! I do get some hostile-looking stares, almost exclusively from women. It's interesting that, for many women, if a man grows his hair long he's somehow invading some exclusive female territory. Ah, who cares??!
In the same time, Clara and I have bought and moved into a new-ish apartment in Ashqelon, with four bedrooms, so I finally have my own library/workroom for the first time in years. It's in a nice neighborhood, with conveniences nearby and a sea-view from our balcony. Of course, as soon as we moved in we had to do some renovations. Clara now wants a new kitchen. This, even though I'm the cook more often! But, never mind! She'll have her kitchen...and I'll enjoy using it!
I also bought a sailing boat, in England. She's sitting lazily on a mooring on the River Hamble, waiting (patiently, I hope) for me to pay attention to her and bring her down to the Mediterranean. The plan is to cross the English Channel in her in the summer, take her through the French Canals to the Med by late August. Anthony, I'll have to find out where you live and see if I can work your town into my itinerary! Imagine an Anglican Priest and a Rabbi, both with long hair, enjoying a sail! (We'll have to twist Raymond's arm into coming, too! Do I see the opening of a joke in there??! Ah, never mind!) Perhaps I'll leave her in the South of France while I return to Israel for the high Holy Days, then go back and coastal-hop along the north shore of the Med, to Greece and leave her there for the time being.
I've wanted to have a sailboat for many years. I did have a boat briefly when I lived in Australia, but had to sell it when my tenure in the country became uncertain. Now that I'm retired, and permanently living in Israel, I decided to find The Boat; I had to go all the way to England to find what I was looking for! (She's a British-built Colvic Watson.)
So that's the update. Hoping everyone else is doing well and surviving winter and the dried-out hair it brings!
Don
Thanks for checking in....Sounds like you are having a wonderful life in retirement and I am happy for you.
Post a photo of your Colvic Watson sometime......lovely vessels !!
Here's my lovely girl, White Tail! Colvic Watson 24', approximately four tons displacement.
Don
Behatslacha Be'Ashqelon and especially good luck with the ulpan!
the city has been having an increasing amount of ultra-orthodox (Haredi) Jews lately but it still seems like a very nice and open city.
Dear Yomaku,
I think your comment could apply to any Israeli city of town today! Ashqelon has always had a 'traditional' feel, because the North African Jews who settled here in large numbers in the 1950's, even those who aren't 'Orthodox' are more traditional socially than, say, the typical Tel Avivian. (That said, one sees Hareidim even in Tel Aviv nowadays...maybe they escaped from Bnei Brak! :-) ) Not that that's a bad thing, just an observation! But yes, one sees more black hats here than, say 20 years ago.
Do you live in Israel? Or have you visited extensively?
All the best,
Don
True, Mizrahi/Sephardic are usually more "traditional" and Family-oriented but I do think we've all come a long way since the 50s.
Been living here for the past 22 years, hope you're not having too many difficulties with your Aliyah!
-Yoni
Thanks, Yoni! No worries, all good! My Mirzrahi wife is a native (Israeli and Ashqelonit). Another month of ulpan, then I can try to figure out what I want to do 'when I grow up.' (ie, I'm 60 now...)
Where do you live?
Don
Hi Don,
Great hearing,and seeing you in your most recent update.Sounds like life is going really well for you in retirement:)Even though you trimmed your hair some it still looks great! I do admit I'd prefer to leave my hair loose more than I currently do but sometimes its just not practical.With the exception of keeping my hair in henna I just let it do its own thing meaning I never have it cut.
The sail boat sounds really cool and wouldn't that be great to have a good old fashion mlhh meetup with Anthony if you guys could coordinate that.If it happens by all means post some pics here.
Its great that life is going well for you and that your keeping yourself busy.You participation here is always appreciated my friend.Keep the faith.Cheers
Mârk
Imagine an Anglican Priest and a Rabbi, both with long hair, enjoying a sail! (We'll have to twist Raymond's arm into coming, too!
Hey Don,
I would love to come over to Europe to rendezvous with Anthony and yourself in France. It seems that my list of people to see and things to do in Europe is growing and I have been considering whether or not this might be the year to do it. Among the people whom I would like to see is Markus, a member of this MLHH Community who lives in Austria. Let's keep the lines of communication open and see what might be possible. G_d willing.
Shalom!
Your long haired bro,
Raymond
Thanks for coming forward, Raymond...guess I won't have to twist your arm after all! Private e-mail sent!
Don
Shalom! Well done for your hair, Don. You’ll find here in France that people don’t care about men’s hair. I occasionally get skewish looks but I ignore them.
For your boat, I suggest the idea that I could come to England in late August or early September and meet you at the River Hamble. We could get the boat ready together and sail her over to France (Le Havre) together. We would need to discuss the logistics and work out a solution. Contact me on anthony.chadwick@wanadoo.fr
Depending on the conditions, it would take 15 to 20 hours to sail the Channel at its mid point, Southampton to Le Havre. The ideal would be a WSW wind at about force 4-5, and we'll sail on a beam reach. You need to make sure the rig and the engine are in good condition, and you have your standard safety equipment. I assume you have GPS and the charts. It should be straightforward, but we need to keep a careful watch for ships at night. An AIS receiver is useful, and one of us would be at the helm at all times.
From Le Havre, you can sail / motor the Seine to Rouen. You would then have to take your mast down and motor to Paris and onwards via the canals to the south of France. I envy you for such a lovely passage and the time to do it.
Do get in touch with me. If you want to pray the Psalms with me, it will have to be in English!
Anthony
Anthony, email on the way!
Don
Found it and replied to it. Bring hair ties for the crossing!
Then we'll be ready to raise the Peter.
Anthony
Hi Don,
I thoroughly enjoyed reading your update! Love your writing style! Sounds like you and Clara are enjoying life to the fullest! I would love to learn Hebrew in Israel like you are. And the beautiful boat is awesome! I sure hope you can meet up with Anthony for a good sail!
You and your hair are looking splendid! Please keep it growing and stay well my friend!
Ted
An Anglican Priest, a Rabbi, and a Catholic Priest all walked into a bar.... Isn't that how they all start? I'd like to be a fly on the wall, the conversation would be interesting, I'm sure. I'm a student (Catholic) of Mystical Theology myself, and I know my way around Canon Law.
I recently had my genotype done, and found that there is Ashkenazi Jew on my mother's side. She's German, and knew that much of her family came to Germany from Romania. There is Polish, Hungarian and Romany (Gypsy) in her family too. Eastern European, so somewhere, at some time, Ashkenazi Jew ended up in the DNA mix. That surprised me to find it, but it also explains a congenital disorder I have, one that is common among Ashkenazi. Makes me wonder how many have Jewish ethnicity and don't even know. Ashkenazi were spread out pretty far.
Great to hear from you.
I sometimes think about cutting a bit shorter to enjoy wearing loose hair, haven’t decided yet.
Good luck with your adventure with the boat.
Hope to hear about your journey!
Vincent
Looking good Don! Congrats on your move AND you're sailboat purchase. It's a beauty! Sounds like you guy will have a grand adventure!
Bruce
