Come over I am making cutlets and sweet potato fries.

Sure bring a bottle of 
Pouilly-Fuissé and I ‘ll ask Marie to bring a bottle of Josh Red Cabernet.
The wine class we took at the Y was so helpful we upgraded from Almaden and Mateus. If you buy the wine at Costco it is a bargain for a more flavorful buzz. Remember we learned about the bouquet and we kept calling it aroma. Ha ha you can take the girl out of Staten Island but…
So yeah come at six. We’ll open a bottle have some brie and ritz crackers and I’ll pass around my stuffed mushrooms. I know even with gluten free bread crumbs they still come out so good. Funny you ask about my sides. I tried a broccolini recipe I found in The Post.
It’s an acquired taste yeah a little burnt flavor but we are liking it. The sea salt flakes at the end really help.
Or maybe could be the eat and sip method. Two sips with each bite. I know I’m turning into a comedian at this ripe older age.
You shouldn’t know from it.
All the wear and tear and repair. Yeah I am a poet and I didn’t know it.

So listen good, now we are thinking we are gonna move. No not out of the hood, but to a ground floor unit. Salvatore can’t climb the steps no more. 
Yeah the doctor at the V. A. put him on a new medication cause he wakes up a lot to pee in the night. His sleep is so interrupted and he cut out his espresso and sambuca after dinner.
Get a load of the name. I remember it cause when I go pick up his refills I bring to mind our old friends from the Bronx The Gindis- Flo and Max. No I am not kidding that’s it Flomax. It helps tremendously but he’s still tired. I know he loves our apartment but he said it was time to give up steps.
So we’re looking. 
He promised I could customize the kitchen with the designer we met in the appliance dept. at Home Depot. Yep, down to the finer details like the instant hot water maker to make the mint tea quick. We started drinking it for digestion. No yeah we still chew Tums and take Pepcid extra strength. Too many years of double espresso burnt like a hole in our gut.
But you know after all is said and done we are doing ok. We go to the bingo nite at The Knights of Pythias center. We renewed our Fred Astaire ball room dancing lessons. Also we got involved in a gardening course. We just learned about a natural weed killer. You mix vinegar, baking soda and a drop of Dawn in a spray bottle. Good tip. We are seein less of them.
Ok, see you Saturday and sure bring some cannolis. I am making my lemon pound cake with frosting too. Love ya!

On this day April 15 in between mit’n drinnen, we’ll stop at the pitch and putt in our local Calaveras County. We’ll be careful to watch for the jumping frogs as it is their high season.

With dejavu on our breath we’ll turn up the radio that is set to Cousin Brucie on our local WABC am.

The top is down on our new yellow mustang convertible, our hair (what is left of it) blows in the late summer breeze ( which makes us feel fine.) We add some pedal to the metal and sing along to the catchy phrases “ in the village the mighty village The Lion Sleeps tonight.” “In this whole world, you can love but one girl. Let me be that one girl. For I’ll be true to you.” We will wait patiently, we understand the Duke of Earl is about to arrive. We hear he’s shrouded in Blue Velvet the kind that’s softer than satin in the light.

We heard they added some new holes at the aptly named Periwinkle Pitch and Putt. One hole is named after Mark Twain and one named after Shania. We are thinking maybe his great niece. We’ll try their new chili dogs and awful awfuls. How about a peppermint stick (a la Howard Johnsons) ice cream cone for dessert and call it a near perfect walk down memory lane.
As we wake up to devastating news on the daily, in the core of our arena, we thought exhuming a moment in time when the term “homegrown criminals” only existed on Breaking Bad, when access to weapons were not readily available to 14 year old children and when the alarm system in our house (who had those growing up?)- didn’t go off because armed villains were coming into your safe haven to steal the black and white T.V.’s. you watched Bonanza on.

So just for today, pick up a T.V. Guide and look to see what time Gene Rayburn is hosting The Match Game on NBC. We are all in Jeopardy.

Definition of Recidivism-a tendency to relapse into a previous condition or mode of behavior; especially relapse into criminal behavior. Is there a fine line between addiction and recidivism? Let’s consider how popular prison romances are and seem in no danger of dying out. One theory is that prisoners create a literal wall against closeness. Conjugal visits preclude hanging out Sunday morning with Russ and Daughters and The New York Times. They certainly eliminate variegated activities i.e. strolling through The Whitney and eating french toast at Bubby’s in TriBeCa. Delving into a veritable pantheon of theories that depict the profile of personalities enraptured by the incarcerated is a thesis unto itself. Far from the cover for every pot concept. We recently viewed for the second time Jacob Ephron’s documentary on his mom Nora Ephron. Oh, Nora you hated your neck but we loved you. We so related when Harry met Sally and they were “Sleepless in Seattle.” We followed as Julie and Julia “Got Mail.” When your character Rachel Samstat, a successful cookery writer found out her husband Mark was having an affair -we too got “Heartburn.” Your self deprecatory humor was comforting and relatable. And I quote “when you realize you want to spend the rest of your life with somebody, you want the rest of your life to start as soon as possible.” The converse rings ever so true. When you understand that burnt pot roast doesn’t necessarily taste good, negating that we grew up eating it, you throw it out and start again. Sensibility does not kick in by chance. Don’t wait for the next ship to come in to carpe diem.” Seizing opportunities and disregarding discouragements our modus operandi.

I know cliche counters, it is one of those self help days. Nora Ephron we were “Bewitched” by you. And…  I quote you. Everything is copy.

Chapter One “In the Land of VPL’s.” It all began while we waited for a parking spot at the Boys Farmers Market (which is the $1.00 store for fruits and veggies). It’s close by, right on Military Trail, a veritable bargain and if I tell you —fresh! Lach.

So we sit and painstakingly wait until someone slowly wheels the stocked shopping cart back to their car, searches for their keys, loads the car, chases after the jar of herring in cream sauce that rolled away and finally removes the sun visor from the dashboard. A zuchen vey.
The name of the place could be changed from The Boys to the “I’ll trade you my spot for the container of prepared lasagna I didn’t get cause the line was too long.”

Btw if you open the cantaloup container put it in tupperware cause getting the lid back on is a gansa megillah.

With their swimming aerobic class over, a quick shower at the gym, the ladies are off to beat the crowd and get a coveted spot. Today the strawberry containers are two for the price of one. 

They can serve them next to the bridge mix (chocolate covered nuts and…)  at the canasta game they are hosting later. They are using the new card table they bought at the furniture store that specializes in small furniture. The table should fit well in their new condo. The store is next door to 3 ggg’s, the almost like a New York Deli restaurant. Sorta.

Ok, sidebar back to the VPL’s – (visual panty line leggings.)
They feel like a combo of spandex, helancas and stretch pants. A good switch from dungarees, pedal pushers and tummy control skorts.

We got them wholesale a few years back at the gone out of business flea market on Sample Rd.) The handwritten sign said “one size fits nobody over the age of 25.” Cheaper by the dozen if you like the color maroon. The booth was next to the Hawaiian print men’s short sleeve shirts which are bogo (buy one, get one) – like the light mayo at Publix. We got enough mayo for 6 months. So many bargains were plotz ing.

So we made it through the (you shouldn’t know from it) parking lot. With a little Mazel, coupled with a work out routine for balancing, we’ll come back next week, wait for a place to park, watch the brigade and who knows the blueberries could be two for the price of… Have a good go to humor day.

Laughing out Louder😎

The new rage on how to age with grace.

Who can touch their toes?

As you are on the way down traveling south past your new hip, you might bypass the pins and screws in your knee or perhaps.

Destination-our newly coiffed toe nails. We stopped at “Dr. You Nailed This,” before we picked up six bialys to freeze from The Boys.

We change our shirt, put on some lipstick and get ready to meet our canasta group at Poppies for the early bird dinner/lunch for tomorrow.

 We ask to have our table changed  a few times as the A/C was  blowing right on us. We put on our new cardigan sweater we got at the now closed Flea Market on Sample Rd. 

After we pool our medical updates and order a cocktail we ask for the bread to be heated. We then wait for 20 minutes until we see our waiter again. Ok then, the conversation ensues with a new pill for this, a new procedure for that. As long as our “funny bone” is intact- we got this. A tennis game, a round of golf, a pilates class or two. 

We acclimate to the “back nine” with our new cataract less foresight, becoming our new hindsight. 

So just for today we will put on our prescription less rose colored glasses. We will go to the we got lucky dept. at Bloomingdales and be grateful when we get a text that a table opened up at the new Mediterranean restaurant on Federal Highway. They give us all the hummus and Baba ganoush we can eat as we watch the belly dancer shake her age appropriate belly fat from table to table. 😎 Next stop fro-yo to claim our free (after ten times punched on the card) dessert.

Have a great Saturday a.k.a. senior discount day at Publix.

Altitude Hi(gh)- 
Airport Clamor Imagined.

Carl, Carl did ya hear me?
Root Beer, yes, no not diet. 

Stanley get on line, go on, say you just had your hip replaced.

Sol,  hurry I want to stop at the place that has pizza so I can have a couple of slices on the plane. No nothing to drink. I get dizzy when I pee on a plane (toilet.) Ugh and the floor is always wet.

Marty hold my coat, I knew I should-a checked it with my luggage. What ya mean I have to hold my new mah jongg set on my lap. Are you joke r-ing me. Get it Marty that’s a joke. Ha! Ha!

Ron- go show em your shoulder strap maybe we can get the exit row. No one can bang into you, you’ll sit by the window. Shout out to yup! You looking at me Ries.

Mel-ask for two bags of cookies and chips and pretzels. If I get nauseated I will have what to eat.

Frank- can you get me a magazine in the front  of the plane? Doris what century are you living in? This is Jet ( no magazines) Blue.

Morris-ask what plantain chips are and if they’re kosher. Don’t tell me to shut up. 

Kyle- what sandwich do you want?  I brought cream cheese and jelly on white. Or sardines on a roll with butter and onions. Neither one? You’ll eat the plantain chips. 
Dinner? We are having Chinese from the new place. Best moo-shu.

Danny, Danny you sleeping? Watch my handbag I am going to see what they are selling in the cart. Quick let
me out.

Sol, I am putting our doc appointments in my calendar. Reminder -You need to get citralax for 

the prep for your “last” colonoscopy at the doctor you call “ Dr. one stop shop. 

Al – we have plans on Saturday with Phyllis and the guy she is dating. Don’t worry he doesn’t hear so well so he nods a lot. You can tell him all the same stories I have been listening to since 1964. A zuchen vay.

Ricky – here’s a list for when we get home and you go to shop- rite. I have a Willy for Pizza bagels. Also get some herring in cream sauce and a six pack of Fanta.

Jacob -reminder- we have a birthday party at Juniors for your cousin Miriam. We chipped in for an at home podiatrist. You shouldn’t know from it.

• That’s What Friends Are For.
• Before the Parade Passes By
• It’s all so Taxing.
• Don’t Cry Shopgirl…Don’t cry!
• VPL

One Day at A Time.

With aging feeling like it is in fast forward leap year mode it is time to take our new addition pills. No longer a fine wine, but more like a green matcha with almond milk.
What was a one a day in the morning thyroid pump up pill has now turned into a new 7 day plastic container of more make our bodies work better meds.
When did blood pressure switch gears? We look at things with a more intentional purpose. We are now learning how to drive by switching gears rather than turn the key and put it in drive. Smooth sailing was a thing of the past.
Since, never before did it take a Z pak ( get a head start with 2 pills at once) an inhaler and a nebulizer to get rid of what was a sniffle turned cold.
You cannot fall our doc tells us. She will then suggest a whole new regimen for bone preservation.
Getting up from the floor? You are kidding me. What is the bone protruding from the side of your thumb my friend asked last night? Oh, the hand doc called it arthritis. Hand doc? What happened to a blood test with a prick of your finger, a multi one a day vitamin in the absence of pre or probiotics and a flu shot to help make that hacking winter cold cough not turn into a growl?
Oh, Father Time you are getting away with so much recently. How about we make a deal? We watch our sugar and carb intake by eliminating chocolate chip muffins with a 680 calorie count on the container and stick to an everything flat bagel cut in thirds and freeze the remaining 2/3?
Can we take our pills every other day so it doesn’t fell like the end of the day rolls around so quickly? We know we are marching along at rapid fire speed. Round number b-days are skipping a grade and getting in and out of the car is not a hop skip and a jump. But seriously Father T- can you give us some warning when you fast forward us so our Senior moments don’t feel like seconds.
Sincerely one of your students who skipped a grade this year and feels her age.

We woke up had oatmeal and wrote 74 on our application for a new Doc for a new part of our body that is making itself known.

The years, like the bouncing dots of a text message being replied to have flown by. Resplendent with a potpourri of memories that have marched along with us like dutiful soldiers. Grateful to have built lovely little corners for them in the attic of our minds.

They are always there to call upon (especially when the path you are walking on is temporarily unpaved.)

Haven’t you read a book twice? You know what’s coming and still look forward to the race of your heart and the a-ha moments. The cost of admission-down memory lane every penny (heads up) that we’ve saved to gain entrance, worth it. Through very little provocation we tap into them. We share our euphoric recall thru posted pictures that we carry with us in our eyes only. Those moments in time that brought pink to our cheeks and offered an everlasting glow. Her look, his smile when you gave them a collage that documents their happy moments. Doesn’t get better, in-spite of all the the crazy glue stuck to your fingers times.

Then like the fleeting visit of the Robin Red Breast sitting upon your lawn who just stopped by to announce Spring-they go. You start another project, read another book, or exhume memories spending time throwing out old sweaters and picture frames.

Lucky to have a new day to create a new moment. We Polaroid the feelings that having lunch with childhood friends offers and document the look on a young child’s face when they jump into a cool swimming pool on a hot summer day. Just for today turn the other way, minimize disappointments and maximize your good fortune.

Make it a great Friday and who knows perhaps along the way add a new memory that will last a lifetime.

14 years ago today. The moon is twice as lonely, the stars are twice as bright. You were there for my first breath. I was there for your last.

“Yitgadal v’yitkadash Shmei rabbah”
Daddy