Tuesday, November 3rd, 2020

I wake up early with a plan. I will take the fast train to Jerusalem. I don’t have a particular destination there. I just want to take the new electric train out and back. I get on the railway’s website, and then on my phone, to get a ticket. First, I have to get confirmation that I can take it, since the trains can’t be too crowded. Fair enough. I select my departing station and destination. I set the time that I want to travel then choose a particular train near that time. I enter my name, email, national ID number, telephone number, and travel card number. I get an authentication code on my phone and enter that. The national railway confirms that I am cleared for the trip. I then have to book the trip itself. They need my credit card information, even though it is already associated with my travel card. I haven’t yet had a chance to indicate that it’s a round trip and when I will return. I imagine that I will have to clear that, too. I worry about having to pay for the trip out before I have selected a trip back. The bureaucracy drains my enthusiasm. I give up. Later, I decide to take the bus to the mall. The supermarket there should be open. I need a few things that I’ve only seen there. I tear myself away from the computer and get my phone, wallet, travel card, and shopping bag. I start to open the outside door. I realize that I’ve forgotten my mask. I double back to my desk and get one. I tie up the garbage bag to take out to the trash. I put on my mask and open my front door. For the first time since early spring, it starts to rain.