There’s a Japanese saying that translates to “one moment, one chance.” The positive perspective suggests taking every moment as a new opportunity. However, the saying also suggests that a missed opportunity will never present itself again. FOMO - the “fear of missing out” The other evening we had our third meeting of the Long Island Dinner …
I noticed the credit card on the ground as I walked away from my parked car. I picked it up and asked myself “What now?” Leaving it for someone else to find didn’t seem right. After a moment’s thought, I called the number of the back of the card. The bank was very nice, appreciated my call, canceled the card, and said they would contact the cardho …
I’ve always thought it was nice that you go through U.S. Customs in certain Caribbean islands before leaving the island. Convenient. And I wondered whether customs agents enjoyed their tours of duty on a Caribbean island. Several years ago, after we had recently secured our Global Entry status, we were leaving Aruba. We tried the express clearanc …
It is happening more and more frequently. There was a time when people were reluctant to share their cell phone numbers. Perhaps less so now and people are more accepting of being reached on their cellphones. In any event, if I must speak to someone (as contrasted to email), I generally first try them on an office line (unless I have an establ …
Last Sunday, we attended New York’s Annual Gathering of Remembrance, in observance of Yom HaShoah Holocaust Remembrance Day. One of the speakers was a Holocaust survivor who, like my mother, speaks to school children about her life. This woman took great pride in how, after surviving, she rebuilt her life and her family in the United States. The f …
Have you ever just wanted to be left alone? A little precious time. So it was when I went to the car wash recently. I took a book and was so looking forward to those few minutes. I found my way to the waiting room with my book. “Nice day, isn’t it?” asked the woman who followed me into the waiting room. How to ignore her? Couldn’t. And I just …
Let’s share snow stories. Rarely do I ask for reader participation in my blogs, but as I sit at home watching the snow fall, I wonder how others faired through the storms of March 2018. Those in warmer climes are free to join in....but please be gentle... As for me, yesterday’s morning commute was memorable in the paucity of cars on the road. After …
I may have mentioned this before. One of the most memorable lines from my daughter, Mea, was her observation when she was five years old that “Music goes right to the heart.” The other evening, we saw “Farinelli and the King” a wonderful Broadway musical about a musical voice that quelled the craziness of King Philippe V of Spain. The power of mus …
Last Sunday, we got to the museum a little early and found our way to the room. The leader of the workshop asked each of us to introduce ourselves and say what we expected from the workshop. “I’m Ben and I’m here to escape outside of my comfort zone.” It was a workshop in tie-dying at the Jewish Museum in New York and was given in conjunction wit …
Last Sunday, Flo and I were at a hardware store in Huntington, Long Island, just picking up a few things. As we got to the counter, the cashier informed us that he had to charge us 5 cents for a bag to pack our purchases. It was our first encounter with the new “bag law” that went into effect in Suffolk County on January 1st. “No, thank you. We …
It’s cold, really cold, and one of the absolute necessities are gloves. But what’s it like from the viewpoint of a glove? “I like being needed, especially when the weather gets really cold. I feel appreciated. But one of the great occupational hazards of being a glove is being lost. I hate being taken for granted, neglected and lost. The worst is b …
Last Saturday, the Mediterranean Snack Bar in Huntington closed its doors - for good. It had been an institution for 43 years and, I can safely say that Flo and I have been eating at “Mediterranean” for a majority of those years. It was a safe place, good food, always welcoming and comforting. It’s the end of an era. I think back on other “in …
Reflections from the subway. I am an occasional subway rider. However, I was on the subway yesterday. Walking in the tunnels connecting the Times Square stations. I could not help but think about the incident on Monday. The planned bomb that, thankfully, did not cause the intended result. I am confident that I will continue to take subways. I’m l …
Yesterday, the morning after Gotham announced its Networkers of the Year and recipient of the revered Red Bandana Award, Time magazine announced its Person of the Year — the Silence Breakers — the women who came forward to hold Harvey Weinstein accountable and bring him down. Inspiring, and inspired by, #MeToo, the Silence Breakers began a conversa …
I’m not one who pedals conspiracy theories but I do marvel at some coincidences. We live in stressful times. Cable news attests to that. Is it any wonder that the standards for hypertension have been lowered? More blood pressure medication will flow. And the new head of Health and Human Services comes from Big Pharma. And all this came in one …
