Fleeting comfort.

There are days when the rain is torrential, a cathartic release that cleanses everything of dirt and grime, tension and all that bad stuff, leaving behind only the smell of crisp, clean air.

On days like that, there is nothing else you can possibly do except have hot soup for dinner, then curl up in bed with a steaming cup of something good (that's probably sweet and chocolatey) and fall asleep in complete contentment.

Happy Birthday.

This birthday was made up of plenty good things,
love,
gorgeous flowers,
amazing people.
I can't ask for more.

Except there is one thing..
A bigger heart,
something to fill the..space,
somewhere to go,
to be life-giving.

Searching.

I'm tired of the tears;
of the constant longing;
of ephemeral happiness;
of hollowing out;
caught by the traps I set for myself.

Dialogue.

Shiri Levy, 21, Haifa, 17 July

I don't think anyone who watches CNN and reads about this online really knows what it's like to live in Israel. Or in Lebanon for that matter but I can only offer my own view. I can't really remember a situation similar to this in the twenty-one years I'm alive. I was six in the first Gulf war and don't remember much, except for those funny-looking masks.

I didn't leave my house since Friday, neither do my parents and my seventeen year old brother who are living with me. I didn't expect the rockets to reach here, I was sure it will remain a local issue, in all those smaller cities in the north that always seem to get hit. But I was wrong and for the last two days, dozens of rockets have hit Haifa, killing eight people and injuring dozens. I live in the "safe" part but the "booms" of the rockets are clearly heard.

Samar on July 17, 1.40pm

I understand what you are going through. I'm on the other end. So I guess we are enemies according to the countries we reside. Hizbollah bombs you and Israeli planes & gunships bomb us. We both lose. So hey we share something, today was the first day I left my house since friday cause I had to get to a pharmacy to get medication for my dad.

The Canadian gov't has called to get the Canadians out but I can't even get to Beirut anyway. It doesn't matter cause I don't want to leave. I was 5 during the '82 Israeli invasion of Lebanon & my parents picked us up and fled via Syria & Jordan. Now the situation is different I have a home and a life. I am scared to leave cause those that left homes in Palastine were never able to come back. I don't want Israel to invade us again & by my leaving my home I am putting up a welcome sign.

I don't agree with the violence from either side but why is Israeli PM making a cease fire so hard. Hizbollah will never give up their weapons. Why does Israel ask us to follow UN resolutions when they themselves don't.

Why can't we have a cease fire and then after discussing start giving demands?

Shiri on July 17, 2.01 pm

I don't see us as enemies, we just happen to live in countries that are fighting each other. Your words truly touched me and actually made me write this. It made me realize how awfully similar things are for us and yet so different. I just wanted to say I understand.

Source: "Middle East War: Day 23: Blogs of War" by Jake Morris (4 August 2006)