to go there

About four o'clock, the flats in the tenements across from Francie's yard came to life. Through the leaves, she looked into the open uncurtained windows and saw growlers being rushed out and returned overflowing with cool, foaming beer. Kids ran in and out, going to and returning from the butcher's, the grocer's, and the baker's. Women came in with bulky hock-shop bundles. The man's Sunday suit was home again. On Monday, it would go back to the pawnbroker's for another week. The hock-shop prospered on the weekly interest money and the suit benefitted by being brushed and hung away in camphor where the moths couldn't get at it. In on Monday, out on Saturday. Ten cents' interest paid to Uncle Timmy. That was the cycle.

++++++++

Tomato juice, Tuesday midmorning and I've just finished sipping a glass of ice cold tomato juice. I love tomato juice, and regular V8 juice that I can taste the carrots and celery. At this age, a glass of tomato juice or V8 juice is best with a couple jiggers of vodka, a dash of Tabasco and plenty of Worcestershire sauce poured on top and mixed in. But also at this age I have one drink a week, usually Sunday after church, a gin martini or a glass of red wine. Now and then a cold beer midweek along with a plate of cold, salty ones. 

But tomato juice: I discovered it as a teenager, the Key Club representative hiking from Bay High downtown to the Dixie-Sherman for Kiwanis luncheon on the mezzanine. It was a highlight of many weeks when I was a sophomore, junior, and senior and none of the other club members wanted to bother, but I loved going. 

Always the same: welcomed by and visit with Kiwanis Club members for a few minutes, then go find a seat at the long table. I always walked around to the other side, by the east windows. Table always set with a white tablecloth, knife and spoon on the right, luncheon fork on the left by the cloth napkin. B&B plate with a warm, soft Parker House roll and a pat of butter. Above the knife, a juice glass of cold tomato juice - - all, to me, signifying ultimate luxury. Ever since those late 1940s and early 1950s schooldays, when offered orange juice or tomato juice, I choose tomato juice.

Nowadays, like this glass, no salt, but a tiny pour of Worcestershire sauce.

+++++++++

Israel is an established State that trusted too much, was duped, and has been dragged into existential Total War. 

In the News:

Israeli minister says ground offensive in Rafah will begin by Ramadan if hostages aren’t returned.

Israel will expand military operations in the southernmost Gazan city of Rafah if hostages held by Hamas are not returned by the start of Ramadan, war cabinet minister Benny Gantz has warned.

“The world must know, and Hamas leaders must know — if by Ramadan our hostages are not home, the fighting will continue to the Rafah area,” Gantz told a gathering of American-Jewish organizations in Jerusalem on Sunday.

“We will do so in a coordinated manner, facilitating the evacuation of civilians in dialogue with our American and Egyptian partners to minimize civilian casualties,” the Israeli minister added.

The Muslim holy month is expected to start on March 10 or 11. Israel believes that 130 hostages remain in Gaza – 101 alive and 29 dead – following Hamas’ October 7 attacks, which killed around 1,200 people in Israel.

Israel’s subsequent war on Hamas has killed more than 29,000 people and injured another 68,000 in Gaza, according to the health ministry in the enclave.

Gantz’s comments appear to be the clearest indication yet of a timeline around an Israeli military operation in the southern Gaza city, where more than 1 million displaced Palestinians are taking shelter near the Egyptian border.

“To those saying the price is too high, I say this very clearly: Hamas has a choice — they can surrender, release the hostages, and the citizens of Gaza will be able to celebrate the holy holiday of Ramadan,” Gantz said.

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It's the historic rule of Earthlings that Atrocity provokes Outraged Response, War that puts everything at risk. The proper objective of War is not armistice but to destroy the enemy and bring about his unconditional surrender. 

In the MiddleEast, Atrocity dates to the 1948 Nakba, and abused Volk have long resolves. But we are in 2024 now, and the world, including us, standing self-righteous to demand ceasefire, piously ignores that Atrocity provokes Outrage that puts every One and every Thing at risk.  

The policy and goal of Hamas and allies to eliminate the State of Israel, and the Hamas 7 October Atrocity was the latest kickoff. Israel's response of Outrage to eliminate the existential threat was foregone. Assertions that Israel is responsible for what happens in Gaza are nonsense. In this chapter, Hamas is responsible. It is still to be established whether the purpose of 7 October was sheer foolhardy hatred, or intentionally to ignite a major conflagration. Perhaps the Hamas purpose was to halt peace talks, an Israel/Saudi Arabia accord and general progress in that direction.

It is a fact that the MiddleEast conflict is beyond resolution. One can choose to be on One side, or to be on the Other side, or to Watch. Ever since hearing each side present its nonnegotiable case, at the United Nations back in 1969, I have managed to Watch, but 7 October pushed me over to the Israeli side. Hamas knew exactly what the Israeli response would be, and acted anyway, likely to ignite it. It is Hamas, not Israel, who should be looking to protect the people of Gaza; but Hamas does not care about their people; Hamas' only priority is the destruction of Israel; and so, total war.

The human cost may be beyond measure. Hamas brought this on.

+++++++++++

Books, one of my retirement projects is to read. The last Time I retired, it was to read and transcribe to print, the handwritten sermons of my great-grandfather Weller and his father. I lasted through two: they were so boring that I gave up. This retirement, I plan to read books and magazines, and eat raw oysters on the half-shell. 

More than one book going at the moment, obviously including "A Tree Grows in Brooklyn." At this early stage, Francie herself is reading a book, propped up on the fire-escape, hidden behind the leaves of the tree. It's summer 1912, and all is well. I could wish to go there. 

So far, the story is charming, lulling.

Art: from book cover

Quote, from "Tree" chapter 2