A Regular Corporate Meeting When the World is Anything But Regular

 I work with an amazing hi-tech in company. There are simply no words for the incredible work environment they have created. Largely, simply by showing they care about us not only as employees or workers, but as human beings.

They have a generous policy for working from home, especially now, given the situation. While many people work full time again in the office, many Israeli companies continue to work in "hybrid" mode. This company works 3 days in the office and 2 from home.  And, because of what I do (tech writer) and where I live (close to Jerusalem), I only have to go in 1 day per week. And now, with the war, only one day.

So our many meetings are all taking place, once again, on Zoom. Today's meeting involved 8 people. One of the co-founders, a brilliant woman, opened by explaining that her son is in the army so if the phone rings, she's answering. She then went around and asked each of us how we are doing? 

I couldn't think of much to say, so I smiled. How am I doing? How does anyone know? Our world is in mourning and yet we can't really mourn because there are non-stop rockets most of the day. 

So after the greetings, we began our meeting discussing new directions and thoughts within the company. Some people muted their audio because they have children playing in the background. A few left the audio opened. And suddenly, there was a siren - and we all froze. It sounded like it came from outside my window, but before I could panic, one of the men said, "sorry, it's me." Others wishes him safety but he was already walking out of the room, rushing to grab his children and go to the bomb shelter. 

I realized that another person had left. She lives in the area of Tel Aviv that had also been attacked. There was silence for a moment and then we continued. Eight became 6 people and two empty chairs. Surreal doesn't begin to describe the feeling of listening to constant beeps on my phone app, scanning names of cities, including one where Elie is now.

By the time they came back 10 minutes later, I was done. Unable to concentrate, unable to accept this new reality.