Today is Uncle Joe’s funeral. He was a few months short of his hundredth birthday.Flo’s Uncle Joe was the superhero of the family. As Flo’s brother, Jeff, reminded his siblings, cousins, nieces and nephews, without Joe, there would be no family — or none as we know it. Here’s the story:After the War and liberation from concentration camp, Joe met V …
With Labor Day behind us and summer over (although, technically, we have a few weeks left), we struggle with the annual question of the moment:Did the summer go by quickly or slowly?
We were on vacation last week and when we returned I was confronted with the familiar aftermath of vacation.No, not getting back to work and the old routines. Rather, it was the challenge of holding on to the good karma of vacation.I thought of the familiar places we just left. They are still there. However, we’re not. With a little psychic energy, …
We were sitting on the back deck of the ferry from Orient Point to New London. As we approached New London, a man came over and extended two leashes to me.“Will you hold these for me?”As I reflexively extended my hand, I realized that there was a dog at the end of each leash.“Only if you promise to come back!” I said.The leather Louis Vuitton leash …
Since when did “No Problem” become a synonym for “You’re Welcome” ?Increasingly we’re hearing “No Problem” in response to “Thank You”. Often in restaurants from younger wait staffers.I’m not a language expert, and, perhaps, I'm old-fashioned, but I think there’s a difference in meaning between“No Problem” and “You’re Welcome”.....
Last Sunday, we were at an upscale art fair in Southampton. Very upscale.Big tents set on an open field. Hundreds of galleries.All of a sudden, we heard what sounded like a train roaring by. There had been the forecast of possible thunderstorms and we quickly realized that the forecasts were, in fact, materializing. But we never expected what was t …
Years ago, Fred and I would routinely meet at lunchtime for a run in Central Park. With its circular road and crossroads, the park offers the potential for runs of many varied distances. We would plan to run a long run one or two days a week and shorter runs on alternate days.On those long runs, we would approach the cutoff that would take us on a …
The quotation, attributed to Winston Churchill, was tacked on the wall behind the desk.“However Beautiful the Strategy, you should Occasionally look at the Results.”As I gazed upon those words, other familiar words came to me and I considered… do the “Ends justify the Means”?
The simple question was posed to a world reknown glass artist after his inspiring talk about his life’s work.“What is your best work?”He answered, “My next one.”That equally simple answer reveals the key to creativity.
Flo and I were taking a walk in Great Barrington last weekend and passed a lawn that was covered in dandelions. A carpet of yellow. It was pretty.But my initial reaction was “weeds!!!”Then we talked as we walked.“Who labeled them weeds?”“Do they know they’re weeds?”“Is that bad?” and“Do they care?”It doesn’t change the beautiful yellow.But they’re …
Last weekend, we attended our nephew’s graduation from Brandeis University. It was nice being back at my alma mater. But that’s for another blog.My takeaway was from the graduate who told that she was failing organic chemistry in her first semester. She recalled how her professor took that special interest in her and mentored her through the challe …
Early morning. Sun rising. Window open. The birds are chirping. Talking to each other. I’m eavesdropping.Springtime.
We recently saw “Plays for the Plague Year” a wonderful and worthwhile musical/play by Suzan-Lori Parks at Joe’s Pub at the Public Theater.At the beginning of the lockdown, Pulitzer Prize-winning author Parks set out to write a play a day. The result is this production.As you entered Joe’s Pub, you were offered a little note card asking what you re …
I was speaking to my ten year old grandson and we began to fantasize about a Time Machine that would allow us to travel in time and be the same age and be friends - rather than grandparent and grandson. We considered whether we should be his age or mine. It wasn’t difficult to agree that his ten years was the better choice.We laughed about what we …
I had never given it much thought -- until recently.The thought is that I may become a victim of gun violence. Just "being at the wrong place at the wrong time" has taken on a new perspective and a new concern.Not that it wasn’t there in the past but it has moved to a new place in my thoughts. And, perhaps, my behavior and routines are impacted.As …
