I have an easy dream. I want to sit and take in the stunning blue sea while I eat at one of my favorite restaurants in Gaza City. To stay healthy, I would order chicken pasta along with a ton of appetizers and a salad. My friends and I will be together and we will talk about our favorite TV shows, our boring lives, and our complaints about our jobs. I always find it surprising to see how many calories are in hot chocolate when I order it. I’m going to pick up my book and read some more after my friends go. I just want a peaceful day in Gaza City.
My sister is explaining to a friend how terrible things have gotten in the schools and other locations where people have fled. She claims, “The man was cooking at the school’s entrance while the sewage water was running next to him.” “I wanted to throw up because of the scene and the smell.”
I frequently inquire about my friends’ lunches these days. There are very few choices:
“We had water and biscuits.”
“We had cucumbers and eggplants.”
I don’t care what they ate as long as they were consuming food. Regretfully, not everybody is fortunate enough. Some people spend the entire day sleeping with nothing going into their stomach. The cost is skyrocketing.
Every day when we initially evacuated to the third family’s home, they used to prepare a different meal. There are fewer things available now. Since there are no more gas tubes, the one and only falafel shop has closed. We’ve been having sandwiches with cheese and thyme on a regular basis. They taste great. Every few days, the third family’s grandmother bakes. I also occasionally wait in line to get some saj bread. I have the utmost gratitude.
9 a.m. Thousands of people gather in the streets every morning to search for necessities such as food, medication, blankets, and bulky clothing. In the middle of the street, I witnessed a mother yelling at her small son. As it happened, he became sidetracked and she had
If you became lost, how would I locate you? She cried out. She was being soothed by other women.
These days, there are a lot of tales from parents who lost their kids in public or while escaping. The majority of those who are being evacuated are in these new areas for the first time; they may have traveled through or passed by them previously, but it is very challenging to become familiar with the area when most people are too scared, stressed, or sleep deprived to concentrate.
I recall speaking with my friend a few months ago who had just given birth to a baby girl. I said, “I know this will sound scary, but please write all of your daughter’s identifying information on her body in marker, just in case.”
We’d be thinking, “Really?!” You think we know the solution when the entire world is at a loss on how to handle this situation?
10 p.m. Appreciate the first hot drop of water that touches your body when you step into the shower, even if you’re feeling chilly.
When you are ready to eat, take a moment to appreciate the array of colors on your plates, take in the aromas of the food, and look at what you have. Also, the flavor.
Give the walls in your home a hug. Hug the walls, indeed. Feel appreciative for your roof over your head.
For many, these details may seem insignificant, but they represent a dream nonetheless. I promise you that if you eat well and have access to necessities,