aftermath

I think now that there’s a break in all the war, some of us are finally getting to start processing some of what’s happened. I know that I’m not the only one for whom it was just too hard, too painful, too scary to really face our reactions while the rockets were raining down–there was some kind of a need to be in “clench” mode, if that makes any sense. Like how sitting shiva (the week-long initial period of mourning) is often strange and blurry, and the deeper-level grief doesn’t come up until the mourner has to return to regular life.

Last night I went out to dinner with an Israeli friend; we somewhat morosely picked at our food and spent most of the time talking about the war, the mess that is the government, and our fears about what’s next. He brought up some funky feelings he’s been having about the army and his role in it (he’s been doing his milluim, reserve service). The things he was saying would have been much more applicable any time over the last month, and I find it pretty interesting that it was yesterday, Cease-Fire Day, that this stuff finally made it to the surface.

I think that there’s going to be a lot more of this over the next week or so (God willing the next week is quiet), people starting to sort out all of this stuff they didn’t have time to face when the news was so horrible, every day. And heck, we’re just down here in Jerusalem. The trauma recovery process–for the folks in the North (yes, even the very strong “ma la’aasot?”-type Israelis who go through this every ten years) and probably even more so for the Lebanese in southern Lebanon–is not going to be easy. I just hope people get the attention and care that they need. I suspect, fear, that they won’t–thereby guaranteeing that this process of violence and breaks between violence will continue to cycle.
Sigh.

In any case, I’m probably going to go to Haifa this weekend. Hopefully it will be safe and quiet. I wonder how much of the effects of the last month will be obvious to the naked eye on the bus. I guess we’ll see.

In other news, USA-Today linked to my post from yesterday–thanks for the props, guys, and welcome to anybody new just stumbling in.