Amiram Hayardeny's My China Experience

The "Away" Team

Some context.  Keren (17) and Tamary (12) are my older daughters who live with their mother in New Jersey.  We've been living in two different continents for most of their lives.   Frequent phone calls, Skype, Instant Messaging, and the yearly visit takes the edge of the pain of separation, nonetheless, it's always there.  Karen just graduated from a New Jersey high school and chose to spend the year in Israel.  Tamary, like previous years is going to sleep-away camp.  When I think of my two older girls, I always think of them as being away.  Truth is, it is me who is away.  When we moved to Beijing, I felt that the "away" changed a little.  Before, they were in the US and we were in Israel.  They were with my ex-wife and her family, and we were in Israel, with my extended family.  In Beijing, we are away, but "once removed".  We are away from our usual "away" location.  Now, that Karen is going to spend the year in Israel, and Tamary is going to sleep-away camp, I feel that we are away "twice removed".  Indeed, the global village provides many opportunities for convoluted relationships...

I sent the following email to Tamary's camp.  I hope she sees it.  Just in case she doesn't, I decided to post it as well:

Tamary,

Thinking that you are not only away (as you always are), you are really really away, even away from your usual away, is making me miss you twice the usual.  And I miss you quite a lot usually....  I hope that you're having the time of your life, making new friends and seeing old ones, having fun, being happy, being careful.  I love you and I miss you so much, you have no idea.  Everyone here says hi.  Guy is sending his cutest smile, Shiri her curious look, and Dorit is sending her regards.  From me you get a big hug and two kisses...

Be well.  I love you and miss you...

Posted at 01:09PM Jul 30, 2008 by Amiram Hayardeny in Personal  |  Comments[0]