Love

Spring has come to Israel. I almost missed it as I was visiting my family and friends in icy Chicago. When I came back, I realized that the country has gotten warmer. It's as apparent in people's faces as it is on thermometers. Along with spring, another guest has made its way here. I've been introduced to that guest on the train ride from Haifa to Tel Aviv.
The next step on my journey is bringing me to Jerusalem for the next five months. That is why I was using the services of IsraRail this particular Monday. As I made my way to one of the few empty seats and arranged my bags in the most ergonomically efficient way (camera, backpack, shopping bag covered by a coat with a sports bad hiding under the seat), my thoughts were about retrospect, worry, concern and hope. Therefore, it took me a while to notice a couple facing me a few seats away. They were a beautiful Israeli pair. She, with expressive dark eyes and long black hair, stylish in clothes and makeup, smiling as He, a tan confident stereotype of a Sabra wrapped his arm around her. The fingers of their left hands were intertwined and they were cheerfully involved in their conversation stopping for an occasional kiss. They couldn't have been more than in their late twenties and I couldn't help but wonder where they were going this early morning. As He gave Her another long kiss on a cheek, I felt obligated to look away.
As my glance wondered around the train car, it fell on two school kids sitting on the floor near the door. The girl was dressed very simply and the guy was wearing mostly black. He seemed unsure of himself and way too shy as she kept smiling at him, fixing her hair from time to time and not looking away for even a second.
My observation of the teenagers was interrupted by fluttering of two soldiers looking for a spot. Holding hands were a darkly attractive girl with a white satin top teasingly peaking from under her Air Force uniform and a tall blond guy in green Army garb. They were loud and full of energy.
As the train was smoothly rolling along, I started enjoying the outside scenery. Yes, the spring has truly arrived. Green fields were sprinkled with countless yellow wild flowers. Once in a while they were dispersed with purple, pink, white and magenta colors.
The beautiful landscape was interrupted by Binyamina train station and yet another observation of people. Looking like a scene from a movie, the main characters of this story were once again a young man and a woman. However, they were a bit different from the other pairs. There was something constricted about their movements and yet their affection for each other was unmistakable. The bearded young soldier with a kipa, red boots and a machine gun on the back was smiling as he was probably saying something about his companion's shoes. In response, the tall girl with covered arms was slightly picking up the bottom of her long skirt and smiling gleefully.
The train pulled away and I was left wondering why I haven't seen such storied before. Were they hidden from me, or were they simply not there? Does spring really bring love? Could it just be that I simply am enjoying the spring of my life?