As our communication systems evolve and become ever more sophisticated I believe actual communication suffers. When I was young we had telephone operators who said "Number please?" and shared our telephone service on a "Party Line". In those days talking (or just listening) was a treat and a long distance call was cause for excitement and shoutin …
I have been privileged to have been to the Western Wall in Jerusalem several times. There is an awesome and unavoidable sense of history and, for me, a holiness that encompasses the historical and more. There is a custom of inserting little slips of paper inscribed with personal notes, perhaps prayers, in the crevices of the Wall. It was reported …
From Wikipedia: Kintsugi, also known as Kintsukuroi, is the Japanese art of repairing broken pottery with lacquer dusted or mixed with powdered gold, silver, or platinum, a method similar to the maki-e technique. As a philosophy, it treats breakage and repair as part of the history of an object, rather than something to disguise. As a philosophy, k …
We all know that networking is amongst the most powerful marketing tools. Success in building your business is directly related to who you know and perhaps more importantly, who knows you. But my question for you today is – what is the value that you find in networking that is not directly about building your client base? How does networkin …
I look forward to May and June every year. Not only because those months signal the beginning of summer but there is always so many wonderful events going on during those months; graduations, weddings, bridal showers etc. For us, this May brings us two happy events, my youngest daughter, Sydney’s, college graduation and oldest, Danielle’s, graduati …
Some people can boast of attending Woodstock or Monterrey Pop some renowned concert like George Harrison’s Bengla Desh shows at Madison Square Garden or the Allmans at the Fillmore East or The Band at the Academy of Music (Rock of Ages) or their Last Waltz, or No Nukes also at the Garden. Indeed movies chronicles many of the shows and most of the …
My cousin Helene, Norman's daughter, tragically passed away last Wednesday. As I reflect through this heartbreaking loss, my memories take me back to meeting her when Norman and Mara were married in my parents house. She was bright and beautiful with a big smile. Helene had a great voice and even sang at my wedding reception. When we had her over …
Do you remember the 1987 movie of John Updike's above entitled novel?A brief summary: Jack Nicholson is cast as the male lead with dynamic costars Cher, Michele Pfeiffer and Susan Sarandon cast as unknowing witches living together in a coven into which Jack wanders. I just love the send up and can't help casting myself and my three female partners …
"Please silence your cellphones." An often-repeated admonition that has become part of our everyday lives. Sometimes heeded, sometimes not. So, heeding the advice, and, more significantly, wanting to enjoy a romantic anniversary dinner, Flo and I silenced our phones and tucked them out of sight. About an hour later, when we were brought desser …
A story of change... A three-alarm fire ripped through an empty, landmarked synagogue on the Lower East Side Sunday night, according to the FDNY. Nearly 140 firefighters battled to bring the blaze under control for about five hours, from p.m. to shortly after midnight. The congregation's building, a Gothic Revival structure built in 1850 as the N …
I carry them with me. The oldest one is handwritten note from my grandfather. My grandparents gave me a watch for high school graduation and my grandfather wrote me a note on his special notepad telling me to think about him when I wore it. When Jaclyn was 8 years old, she visited my office. I left her sitting at my desk for a few minutes a …
Recently I sat in the middle seat on a cross county flight, between my husband who had the aisle seat and a stranger who had the widow seat. Several times during the flight the channel on the television I was watching unexpectedly changed. After the second time, I realized the channel changed because the stranger next to me had put his arm on the a …
Happy Mother’s Day to the all moms, especially the three most important ones in my life. After basketball yesterday, I gave thought to this blog and realized not only this one falls on Mother's Day but what I posted last year fell on the day (and as long as I get to blog on Sundays, I easily claim this and other cool topics). I searched back an …
Being the guy in the hospital bed, you gain a unique perspective. A little over two years ago, I was that guy. Recently, my brother-in-law was that guy. He had a heart attack, got a stent and is doing fine. We talked about "being in the bed" when I saw him last weekend. We both had the same reaction. When you're in the bed it's your reality. Yo …
As you may know, my son Alex has 2 bands: Tiajuana Caravan and, the off shoot, The Tall Boys. When Alex was in the crib we placed a toy guitar next to him and it took root. He now has more than 20 guitars and has become, to my taste, a very entertaining and talented performer fronting and writing songs for his bands. I know no greater thrill (kve …
