Dust and Sirens

Yesterday I got up and took a shower before heading into the hospital for class. When I opened the door - this was the view I was greeted with. Sigh....it's spring time in Be'er Sheva - time for dust storms. By the time we got to the hospital, we were all gritting our teeth, smiling thru sand masks. It's in the 90's and there's no way to avoid the sand while walking in.....living in the desert has its own set of complications.




Today, the air was split by a siren that sounded in memorial of the Holocaust. I still grit my teeth - not only because of the sand but because of the memories the siren triggers. I don't like being outside while it's sounding even though I know there are no bombs coming - it just makes me edgy. I wonder as I look around if anyone else is feeling the tension or if I'm the only one. Why would a country who so often has to use their sirens as a warning decide to use them as a memorial as well?