Three years ago, when Corona was just a beer and Rachel Itzkovich was "only" 92 years old, she celebrated her birthday in her favorite way: an organized carnival trip to Sardinia, not a retirement trip, because she does not like to belong to this age group.
Last week, when she turned 95 and had no one to celebrate with since she had lived alone by choice for many years, she received a bouquet of flowers from her home in the southern town of Lehavim.
"Ruthie and Moti Aharoni, a lovely couple I met on a trip to Sardinia, make sure to send me a Shabbat Shalom greeting every Friday night since the trip, and on my last birthday they sent me a large bouquet of flowers that really moved me," she says.
Shortly before that trip, I published an article about Rachel in "Israel Today", with the headline "Free is completely alone".
She told of her full and fun life, even though she lived most of her life alone and had no children.
In the article, Rachel told with tremendous clarity, humor, and with precise dates from the past about her life routine "as a childless and childless woman," which broke any stigma we have about old age or childlessness.
With the flowers from the couple from the trip, Photo: Home
From her small and colorful home in Tel Aviv, she described her life as a 92-year-old, who was embedded in plays, walking in the sea, shopping in the market and organized trips around the world.
Letters of thanks to the special woman flowed into the system, in which many women found real empowerment and legitimacy for the unacceptable choice to live without a relationship, despite the environmental pressures and fears of old age.
Now that she's 95, we're back to hear from her how she survived the Corona period without trips abroad that filled her world, and found out if she's still not afraid of anything, as she mentioned back then.
"I went to a carnival in Sardinia, slept last night with an air conditioner and have since coughed for nine months without stopping. That was before the corona arrived. I had endless tests, and the cause was not found. Then one day it suddenly stopped on its own, but the corona arrived shortly afterwards." , She says.
"Since I live alone, and my two nephews live with their families far away from me, I did not stop traveling as far as possible to the market, with line 4. There were three shops that were allowed to stay open in closures, so I would get up early in the morning and drive. Because I'm used to it and do not like strangers to host me for company. Already in the first closure I went to the city park to buy a new tablet, and was not at all affected by being in a risk group. I'm out of the box in every way and not afraid of anything. For small groups, I was one of the first to go, and I was completely relaxed, "she shares in the openness that is so characteristic of her.
"I also watched TV. I always loved politics, and during that time we got plenty from it. I read books until I lost the ability to concentrate on fine literature, and contented myself with reading newspapers on a tablet and newspapers in French. I went to the movies as soon as they opened, and I make sure to go to movies on Tuesdays. Just sitting at home quietly and conveying thoughts, I do not have to constantly hire. "
Loves to read books,
You do not help the neighbors?
"I have wonderful neighbors, including a lovely architect who always wants to help me, but I just don't like asking people for help. Once a week someone from Social Security comes and helps me with cleaning, errands and a little laundry."
And you're still walking?
"Walking is already harder for me, and unfortunately all the bus stops that were close to my house were closed to me because of the works on the light rail, so even when I travel to the market I take an umbrella with me and sometimes use it for walking, or I use my shopping cart, which has four wheels."
How did you manage with the closure of the sky and the cancellation of flights abroad?
"I have not gone abroad since that trip to Sardinia, even though I had two tickets to Paris, one of which has already expired and the other has been extended for a third time.
"In May there is an 11-day cruise from Bordeaux, to southwestern France and the Basque Country, and in light of my age, 95, I am still undecided whether to leave due to walking difficulties, but I think positively that this could be the swan song of my travels in life."
Finally, do you have any tips for our readers?
"I still adhere to a good diet, standing and cutting vegetables myself, like radish that cleanses my body, lettuce, and tomatoes. In the morning I eat blueberries, which today know that they are also very good for the skin, and maybe that's why my skin looks great. I am also addicted to pomelo, and carry The fruit in the cart, despite the weight. "
Were we wrong?
Fixed!
If you found an error in the article, we'll be happy for you to share it with us