The news out of Israel is so horrific. Shir and Nilly, please stay safe and thank you for checking in when you can.

Timelies!

Among all the checking-you're-OK texts and phones I try to do, I've texted our beloved Shir, and in her response, she said something about checking in daily here, so let y'all know that she's OK, and added that she's considerate enough to let you know that me and my family are OK, as well.

Now, it seems so selfish to me, to drop in here, in the middle of all the ongoing conversations (which I, alas, again had to skip, and break my lately-developing skimming habit), just to post a short meMeME and then *poof* disappear again, and do so on a regular basis.

But Shir is wiser and kinder than me, because if I had known a person in a warzone, that's exactly what I'd wished them to do, even if I wouldn't want to nag.

So, um, timelies. I'm as OK as it's possible to be under the circumstances, and you're all in my heart and thoughts and wishes, and I have to log off now.

(It's almost like "Good night, Westly. Good work. I'll most likely try to post again in - my timezone - tomorrow morning". No, it didn't work well with the quote as I'd hoped. Sigh.)

I'm very glad to see you here, Nilly, and to get Shir's updates.

Please be safe.

Nilly I don’t think any of us expect you to read the whole board and comment on our mundane lives, we just want to know how you are doing!

Not selfish at all, Nilly. Please let us know how you are whenever you have a chance. And thank you again to Shir for her updates.

Nilly and Shir, we know that updating us isn't at the top of your list! We do appreciate so much that you take the time, and our hearts sing when we see your font! Holding you and yours in our hearts.

Exactly. You guys being safe is our primary concern. Catching up on Natter (or not) can wait until the world's not going crazy!

Indeed. What they said.

I wanted to come here with some good news today, because with all of the truly awful things around there are amazing stories of bravery, heroism and solidarity. After being ashamed in my country for years, I'm a bit more proud to be Israeli (and I want it to be clear that I'm including non Jews and residents and just anyone who is here and not trying to murder someone else. Human beings, just human beings). The ways people here support one another are nothing short of amazing, and it's deeply painful and disheartening to realize how many of these roles should have been done by the non-functioning government. The levels of anger at the government are unprecedented. And rightly so.

So here's a video of one of the security gaurds who saved many of his kibbutz, and their response when the met him (they all evacuated to a hotel. Only three were killed): [link]

And there were some other good things that I wanted to share, but today the news started a get closer. A friend's father is missing (that is, he's either dead or kidnapped). And a wonderful, beautiful classmate from my MA was killed in combat. The worst part is to know that this just begun, and not all of the dead have been identified yet. There will be more that I know. That I knew.

Over 1,200 dead, and this is not the end yet.

Oh Shir, I'm so sorry. And please believe we're all truly grateful whenever you or Nilly have time to update us -- it's amazing that you can do that, and all we want is for everyone to be safe in the midst of the horror.