Desert Drives and Unforgettable Milestones.
In 2008, we made the bold decision to escape the cold Dutch winter and spend Christmas and New Year in our homeland, Israel.
We kicked things off with a week in Rehovot, celebrating with Yoni’s adventurous family.
But the second week was reserved for my family in Jerusalem, which also happened to coincide with Chanukah—a major celebration in my family filled with candles, songs, and, of course, delicious food.
Now, as much as we loved the family time, I knew there was a ticking clock on how long Thom’s adventurous spirit and Yoni’s aversion to social gatherings would hold up.
So, I secretly arranged something special. My cousins, who are part of a 4×4 Jeep group, organized a Saturday adventure in the Judean desert.
Off-road driving, exploring hidden landscapes—this was just what we needed.
At the crack of dawn, we headed out, driving from Jerusalem into the desert.
The minute we left the main road and hit the dirt trails, the beauty of the vast desert took over.
Even Yoni, who usually isn’t the most social person, was enjoying the wild, bumpy ride.
Thom, of course, was ecstatic.
When lunchtime came, the magic of desert dining unfolded. Tables and chairs were pulled out from the Jeeps, and in minutes, a feast appeared.
The spread included salads, chicken, meats, and sausages—everything smelling irresistible.
Now, Thom had grown up a vegetarian, and the closest she ever got to a schnitzel was the soy version.
So, when she started eyeing the meat schnitzels, I reminded her, “That’s meat, love.”
Without missing a beat, Thom turned to us and said, loud enough for everyone to hear, “I think I’m old enough to decide what I want to eat.”
There was a moment of silence.
All eyes were on us. And there it was—the moment every parent faces.
I felt a strange pride in her confidence and assertiveness. Yoni and I exchanged glances, realizing that our little girl was no longer a little girl.
She had the right to make her own choices.
So, I simply said, “You’re right. You can decide for yourself. But in our house, you’ll still eat vegetarian. My house, my rules. Outside? You do you.”
And just like that, in the middle of the Judean desert, Thom had her first non-vegetarian meal.
It may sound odd, but it felt like a milestone. Our kid was growing up, asserting her independence—and we were proud.
A few days later, to keep the adventure going, my father—the historian of the family—suggested a day trip to Masada and the Dead Sea.
On the way to Masada we stopped for the traditional photoshoot with a camel on sealevel mark and started descending to deepest place on earth – The Dead Sea.
My dad was always fascinated by Roman history, and Masada’s siege was one of his areas of expertise.
As for me, I spent my summers in the ’80s as an archaeology student, excavating sites like Masada.
Naturally, Dad and I were excited to share this with Thom, though her enthusiasm might have been more for the cable car ride to the top than for the ruins themselves.
But bless her heart, she humored us.
While we geeked out over ancient stones, Thom politely endured our endless explanations about Roman sieges and archaeological finds.
The real reward came later when she got to float in the Dead Sea, a sensation like no other.
She had a blast, and by the time we drove back to Jerusalem, she was fast asleep, tired but happy.
After that, it was time for just the three of us—Yoni, Thom, and me—to have our own little adventure, separate from the rest of the family.
