I was chatting online to my great friend Elisabeth this evening. Elisabeth and I met about 3 years ago when we were both studying at the WUJS Institute in Arad.
Elisabeth made aliyah in December last year and we were lucky enough to spend quite a bit of time together when I was back earlier this year.

The last few days I have been doing a lot of thinking. I put this largely down to the fact that I have been sitting on my arse the last 4 days, and apart from watching movie after movie, thinking has been occupying a lot of my time.

Writers are by their very nature, quite inward, introverted individuals who revel in solitude. Or at least I am. Sure. I love a raucous get together. A drink with friends, friendly office banter. But give me silence any day.

The realisation that I am moving back to Israel in almost exactly 6 months is hitting me now and hitting me hard. I've been all talk for two years. Now, it's time to steal a well used phrase from my friend Kobi, to "walk da walk."

I think that if I think about it too hard I will convince myself that I am insane and I just need to take a hold of my senses and start living in "the real world" Oh yuch! Who wants to do that??

Anyway, it was Elisabeth who reminded me tonight of something very important. When I was in Israel at the beginning of the year I bought a beautiful sterling silver disk that slides effortlessly on a silver chain. I chose two inscriptions, in Hebrew to be engraved by the jeweller.

The first side says (translated from a song by Shlomo Shabbat) "Whatever will be, will be. I will make a difference, I will fulfill my dream"

The other side says "Follow your heart even if it hurts"

You must forgive my terrible photo. I tried really hard to zoom in close enough to pick up the engraving, but it just blurred and looked dreadful. You get the idea though.

Anyway, the point is this.

I stopped wearing the necklace a while back. Not deliberately. I just like to change my jewellery quite often. I have an accessories fetish. Gimme a break. I'm a girl.

But Elisabeth reminded me why i bought that necklace in the first place. It serves me a daily reminder of why it is I am doing what I am doing.

If making aliyah was so damn easy, we'd all be doing it right?

My necklace is back on and I will sleep better tonight knowing that in 6 month's time Elisabeth will be there with open arms and (when needed) an industrial sized box of kleenex.