Boker tov from autumnal Tel Aviv-it’s officially acharei hachagim (after the holidays) which means you have to start doing all those things you put off.
It’s been busy here in Beit Lovitt. Like a lot of people here, I kept working during the chagim (not ON the chagim but all the off-days) preparing for my next trip to the States. So far in 2014, I’ve been to the US for a quick trip for Limmud NY, then over Purim for shows, then again for Yom Haatzmaut, and then for a family simcha. Add that to my annual fall tour and I’ll have been to the US five times by the time 2014 comes to a close. And this one is a biggie: a full month. By far my longest trip to the States, not counting summers when I worked at camp. I fly tomorrow night.
I typically I go for around three weeks, doing shows for various Jewish organizations. Never as many as I’d like but enough to get paid, have fun, see family, and make my friends jealous that I’m at Target buying enough deodorant and razor blades for a small village.
This time, my schedule is much busier. Thirteen shows (plus a workshop for a high school class) and counting. How did this happen? Thank you, Operation Protective Edge. Either people are looking for positive Israel programming after the war or maybe it’s just my lucky month.
When one group called with a show the day I was supposed to return, I was able to change my ticket. When another called with a show another six days later, that was a tougher decision. I decided it was worth it to stay.
A month is a long time to be away from home, friends, Fridays in Tel Aviv, life, and all that other stuff but, hey, this is what I’ve been working towards the last few years. I’ve been hustling, performing, networking, writing, and more, in hopes of getting more shows. Now I’ve done just that so hopefully my hair trimmer will hold its charge for the next four weeks (because I’m sure not paying for a hair cut after 5+ years). It will be fun, it will be meaningful, it will surely be tiring at times (as I explained on Facebook, these trips are not all fun and games, contrary to what some of my countryfolk think), it will be (adjective for “parnasa“….parnasic?), and hopefully I’ll return with a new winter wardrobe and at least one new Apple product.
If you’re in America, hope to see you at one of these events.
Otherwise, see you next month in Tel Aviv. Please don’t have a war without me.
P.S. It’s not too early to start thinking about 2015.
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