My Dad loved to sing. And he had a beautiful voice. He grew up on the lower east side in an Orthodox Jewish community. He often told us that his parents urged him to become a Cantor. But he had no interest in that. My Dad limited his singing to our home. He never sang publicly. But he sang often. He loved to sing songs made popular from the B …
A friend of ours recently received a daunting diagnosis. The way his two adult daughters are reacting to the diagnosis are profoundly different. One is optimistic believing that, with the right treatment, he will be okay. The other feels that she is being more realistic in terms of the effect of this diagnosis. I do not know which daughter is right …
I was watching the movie Vengeance this week and, in the opening scenes, two male characters are discussing commitment. Their view on commitment was essentially, in this time of social media and instant gratification, why should they have to commit to anything? With endless options at their fingertips, why commit to personal relationships or long t …
Every relationship comes with its quirks—those little habits that might drive our partner up the wall. At first, these habits might seem insignificant, but over time, they can test patience. Yet, those that love us, or those we love, see our quirks and choose to love us anyway. My husband is almost phobic about anyone or anything touching his eye …
I have to admit that I am jealous of my husband. We can walk into a restaurant and he can order a French onion soup, with extra cheese, a steak with all the trimmings—loaded baked potato and rolls with butter. No second thoughts, no sideways glances from the waiter. He’s able to indulge and clearly enjoy doing it. I, on the other hand, will gen …
I visited the Queens group last week. As an aside, it’s a great group and everyone should stop by. Before the meeting started, everyone was chatting. Two members of the group were discussing their affinity for running. Trying to join their conversation, I mentioned that I enjoy walking on the treadmill. Being among people I did not know very well …
I love to read. For as long as I can remember, reading has always been my greatest escape, a doorway to worlds unknown and stories untold. I can easily read one book a week, most often before I go to sleep. Although, during football season I can read all day while my husband watches football. My husband, however, is the polar opposite, preferring …
I shared one of my favorite Gotham experiences at a Gotham meeting this past week. Fred urged me to share it in a blog. And, after some thought, I agreed. Several years ago, I was hired to represent a woman in a divorce action who owned a second home in a secluded county in North Carolina. She wanted to buy out her husband’s interest in the home …
Growing up in a Jewish family in the 1960's and 1970's, the Holocaust was an important subject in our home. My father, as he did with most things, had very strong views about the Holocaust. He insisted that, as Jewish people, we must continue to discuss and learn about the Holocaust to honor the millions who died and to ensure that it never happens …
Lately I have been dealing with hiding my personal emotions while in a professional setting. During a recent oral argument I found what the other side was saying so unprofessional, outrageous, and outlandish that I had to battle internally to keep my anger in check. Hiding emotions in a professional setting can be incredibly challenging, especial …
There was a time when I would check my horoscope everyday in the newspaper. Now that I get all of my news exclusively online, I no longer do so. Astrology has fascinated people for centuries, captivating believers and skeptics alike. While I find the insights entertaining, I won’t comment about its accuracy in predicting the future. But astrology …
Last weekend, my son, Ryan, got married. This is my third child that has gotten married. So, one would think that I would be used to the impact of emotions you feel watching a child get married. But I wasn’t. Watching my son get married felt so surreal, like being in a television show, only I had a starring role as "the emotional tearful mom." Al …
This past week, I have spent a lot of time with my grandchildren, Jordan age 3 and Taylor, 18 months. Having grandchildren is like signing up for a circus you didn’t know you were hosting. They show up, turn your house totally upside down, eat one bite of what you offer them and then ask for something else, deciding for some reason that they no l …
I was having trouble thinking of a blog topic this week. Nothing came to mind. Then I started to think about the concept of nothing. In a world constantly buzzing with information, sometimes the most refreshing thing is. . . nothing. Nothing doesn’t demand attention or push for productivity. It simply exists, waiting for you to notice its quiet …
I am frustrated. I need a dress to wear to the dinner the night before my son’s wedding. I quickly looked online at some of the department store websites near me. Then I went to the mall to look at and try on the dresses I had seen online. I was shocked that, when I got to the first department store, I could not find any of the dresses I had s …
It's Monday, Monday. Let me know what you think about. . .
