Country Temple
Published in Issue #19 Translated from Hebrew by Joanna Chen subscribe to unlock the full storyIt happened on one of those Saturdays when we rose early, leaving the children to sleep in, and drove off to view houses. It was the end of summer, the mornings were growing colder, along the coastal road the first sea squill flowers had popped up, and the sea, calm and blue, peeked out then disappeared behind low hills of sandstone. I put on ‘A Window to the Mediterranean Sea’ by Poliker, a song that Ronit particularly loved, and when she placed her hand on my thigh and said, “I don’t know, Mickey, don’t you feel all of a sudden totally optimistic?” I smiled. We had been through some tough years, and I wanted to believe they were now behind us. Practicing Zen had helped me accept both myself and others and to be happy with my lot in life; meditation had made me more receptive, less aggressive. I was a different person; accepting my own human weaknesses had fortified me.
Against the backdrop of the sea, in a pale dress, her shoulders bare, hair blowing in the breeze as she opened the window to catch the scent of autumn, big sunglasses on her cute little nose, Ronit looked simply wonderful.
We stared straight ahead, we had a shared goal, we were united, and that was what was important.
I do not have any illusions regarding my own humble appearance, but at that moment I too felt handsome and alluring.
In the Zen group I have learned that when a moment is perfect, there...
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