Dear Columbo- we are having a conundrum of sorts. We need your help in solving the mystery of misplaced time.

We know it was here somewhere close and yet it flew by. If only we can feign absentmindedness as well as you do.

The early years we recall euphorically and with more clarity than yesterdays lunch.

The toys we played with, the Pyramids along the Nile under the Blue Moon, and the “lilac trees in the heart of town” just on the street where you lived.
No brainers.

The exact spot where we did our homework and our after school snacks, ( hostess twinkies and pink snowballs -yum) still top of mind. Where were you when Kennedy was shot? No problem.

The Saturdays in high school when we went shopping for name necklaces and fitted button down shirts with large, sharp, pointy collars. Missing Wassers French fries.

With ease we remember the day to days of our jobs and hard earned pay/commissions. You still with us?

All the backgammon games at Cavallero’s and dancing on the crowded floor at Studio 54. We can still turn that “beat around.” Love a little Vicki Sue Robinson.

Not sure how we arrived home pre-Uber days and woke up in our own beds, two aspirins and at least 8 hours of sleep later.

Of course, yes, our share houses on Fire Island and in the Hamptons. Hazy days of summer to say the least. Soda, pretzels and that Almaden bottle of Chablis.

The Weddings, babies, watching school plays our #niecestopieces starred in, indeed.

Easily remember Family Thanksgivings, Chanukah and birthday parties.

No, it’s more a case that the long agos and far aways are accumulating into decades.

So Peter Falk when you’re trying to figure out who stole the cookie from the cookie jar- please give us some answers about all the years. As we debrief our time thru picture albums and how we looked in pedal pushers, skorts, shifts and A- line dresses. Oh the fun, the glory days and our first not so fun hang over. But Columbo how did we get to so many yrs.old?

“Yes G-d father-time we’ve come to ask a favor on the day of your daughters wedding.”

Can you please slow down. Our friends are having milestone b-days, we are going to bar mitzvahs of our friend’s grandchildren and our young nieces are having babies of their own. We would take back our own good and not so good luck. Wouldn’t change much about fate and how it has unfurled. But, for heavens sake the only thing we really want to be binge watch are the shows we taped. So Columbo, “one more thing,” exactly what were you wearing under the famed raincoat?

Have a euphoric recall kind of day as you break out a pair of clam diggers.

Got Game? Repost on Demand.

When we figured out that the perpetrator was Colonel Mustard who went after Mrs. Peacock with a Candlestick in the Conservatory we knew we were playing games hooked. Until then we had no “Clue.”

After several games we understood that putting hotels on the Boardwalk Square in Monopoly was going to cost anyone who landed on it a couple of the orange and yellow monopoly shekel’s.

Ah! The days of sitting on the floor with our friends and playing Jacks, scraped hands aside, were so much a part of our “Wonder Years.” Back then getting up from the floor could be done with a quick sprint in the absence of holding onto something to level ourselves. You with me? 

So many of the old adages are now living at our front door. Cliches that we never got, couldn’t internalize or just weren’t ready for have now come into play with regularity. Fortuitously, they serve as the bettor at our Mah-jongg table and the leather decorated card turner at our Canasta games. 
We are more accepting of our differences and grateful. We are here to socialize and have fun. Medicinal indeed. We sit down and the magic occurs. First game out we adjust our seat, call on our strategy and throw the dice or deal the cards. We leave so much more to chance. 

We flinch at the first interference in our game of Life–and in turn almost welcome it. A phone call from a friends daughter sharing the joy over their granddaughters ballet recital, is typical. An interruption because the dentist needed to move our appointment up a half an hour, or the bell ringing when the handyman comes to fix the window that is stuck, is how it goes. We pool our woes and share our joys. We take home the name of a good acupuncturist and flatter one another when they have a new haircut.

We are the lucky ones who have turned happenstance into “sheer” delight. One of our friends imparted her mother’s wisdom in choosing your table of play wisely. Yes, it is who you are sitting with. Shout out to Gloria’s Mom. That memory never gets old.

My parents had an activity with their weekly Canasta group called “Coffee and…” I am now getting that the “and” was so much more than chocolate bridge mix or babka. Yes mama, I’m counting sevens and aces, remembering to take the Talon and looking three cards back not to throw the deck. Nope not missing the joker to replace a 3 crack, not this time.

We love our “and.” When I was younger and had pieces of chicken, I would eat the wings last. I savored the best for then. I now sit down to our chicken lunch and go for the wings first. I rush thru my broccoli and cheddar omelette just to get back to mixing the tiles, dealing the cards.

We know that one reason we enjoy our games so, is because they recapitulate our parents activity of continuity. Well here’s to so many more days of Mah-Jongg, Canasta “And.” Have a fun-day Sunday. 

If you could read it in Winchell’s Column.

A you’re Adorable, B you’re so Beautiful. 

Somedays a song enters our mind and we skip along -dot, dot, dot. 

“If they could see us now, that little gang of ours.”

Cause it’s a long, long way from May to December and I don’t want to walk without you Baby. Walk without my arm about you Baby. 

I have often walked down the street before. But the pavement always stayed beneath my feet before. All at once am I-  speaking of my Sweetie Pie only 60 inches high. Every inch is packed with Dynamite. That’s my little Honey Bun. Get a load of Honey Bun tonight.

10 cents a Dance. That’s what they pay me. Gosh how they weigh me down. 

Cause oh how we danced on the night we were wed. We vowed our true love, though a word wasn’t said. The world was in bloom, there were stars in the skies. Except for the few that were there in your eyes… This put us sitting on top of the world, rolling along, yes rolling along. 

Maybe I didn’t love you.
Quite as often as I could have.
Maybe I didn’t treat you.
Quite as good as I could have.
But you were always on my mind. Always on my mind.

Hit it.
One Day you’ll look to see I’ve gone. For tomorrow may rain and I’ll follow the Sun. “You might just make it after all.” 

Have a lyrical kind of Monday with a Fringe on the top. Mic Drop.

When the next times are now.
After a long weekend of phone in hand visuals at every table, we pinky swear promise to live in the moment. Our eye hand addiction is really quite potent.
Life is fast forwarding on a short order path. It boils down to metrics, just do the math.
Let’s try and take our eyes off our phones.
We’ll make an effort in the absence of groans.
The hours we are missing turn into days and then weeks.
While sitting and dining with our closest of peeps.
The abundance of notices through a ring or a chime.
Distinguishing sounds as our anticipation climbs.
An email, a text, a memory comes through.
Socializing through electronics is just what we do.
We glance at the table our phones perched on top.
We have tried not to look but we just couldn’t stop.
Put down your iPads and follow along.
We missed what you said, our addictions that strong.
So just for today we will silence our phones.
Cause what’s that important till we get home?
We might miss a picture from 2018, or a Brooks Brothers coupon to purchase something green. We’ll tell you no secrets we’ll give it a try.

Banking on hopeful as we start the month of July.

Summer in a Song 2026.

Just have Fun‼️

Summertime and the living is easy, fish are jumping and the cotton is high. After A Hard Day’s Night – we want Breakfast at Tiffany’s with a Splendor in the Grass chaser.

As we approach the Autumn of my Life- we ask “What kind of fool am I?” “we want to come home to you and find the things that you do will make me feel alright” ah! Paul.

So we roll out the hazy, lazy, crazy days of summer, the days of soda and pretzels and beer, (well maybe Stoli) and to go to the “drive- in on Friday nights.”

“As we stroll along together holding hands walking all alone.”

Perhaps we’ll see the pyramids along the Nile, standing near “Moon River,” and feel grateful to be out of the “heat wave.” Could this be magic, as the lion sleeps tonight, in the jungle, the mighty jungle?

“Who knows, could be it’s only just out of reach down the block, on a beach, under a tree. Tonight?”

We call on wishful thinking as we put on our yellow polka dot bikini and wish we all could be California Girls.

We find ourselves dancing in the streets, eating icicles, popsicles and simply remember our favorite things.

“Are there lilac trees in the heart of town? Can your hear a lark in any other part of town? Does enchantment pour out of every door no it’s just on the street where you live.”

“Wouldn’t you like to ride in my beautiful balloon? We can sing a song and sail along the silver sky we can fly, we can fly.”

“Girl, I heard you’re getting married, heard you’re getting married this time you’re really sure.” So, we’re going to the chapel of love. Love summer weddings.

“We are the lucky ones, some people never get to do all we got to do, now and forever I will always think of you.”

“It only takes a moment for your eyes to meet and then, it only takes a moment to be loved a whole life long.”

“Could this be the magic at last?” Now, now and hold on fast.” Love a little Barry thrown in.

So let’s get those good vibrations, cause G-d only knows at any point, in the still of the night – tomorrow may rain so we’ll follow the sun. Phew! 😎

Fievel (Mousekewitz) Goes West.

The story of emigres mice who migrate west in search of the American Dream. The caveat is to escape being what the cat dragged in. Made in 1991-on demand it if you can.
A favorite take away song “Dreams to Dream.”

There are so many movies based on fairy tales coming true. The when you wish upon a star. Makes no difference who you are moments. Kiss the Blarney Stone and rub the Buddha’s tummy. Superstitiously we try to will the ball down the middle of the bowling alley and strike all ten pins at once. We carry a rabbits foot, a good luck 3 crack mah Jongg tile or a vintage hanky that once was mom’s.

The come on now, don’t you know we create our own luck has little effect when we watch the proverbial horse come out out the gate.

So when we put money in the quarter machine last time we were at the casino and on our way out we won $157.12( we think the 12 cents was to keep us humble.)
We instantly felt the flush of winner. Isn’t winning win, place or show? As the days of summer get underway we have this sense of urgency to use all our tickets of chance. Should we theoretically go on all the rides at once? Perhaps save a few for next time? Conserving energy is optimum as we “ease on, ease on down the road.” Come on Dorothy, you got this Girlfriend.

Moving forward is a safe bet when encouraging good luck. We have learned when the past comes knocking, don’t answer, it has nothing new to say. Beverly Sills said – “there are no shortcuts to any place worth going.” When we adjust our sails and re-direct our energy at least we are positioned toward where we want to land. Let’s polish our lessons, seal them in the let’s help to make our own luck compartment – and hope for “ fair winds and following seas.” Have a funday Sunday.

Back to the Future! Just have Fun.

No Rhyme-All Reason. Landlubbers, drindl skirts and bell bottoms. Tennis sweaters, weejun penny loafers and madras blouses. Typewriters, wax dipped monogram letter seals and loose leaf notebooks. Bon Bons- jujubes, chuckles and double bubble. Chocolate yoo hoo’s, dairy queen sundaes and red licorice strings. Dave Clark Five, Connie Francis and Charlotte Russe . Dobie Gillis, pink erasers, papagallos. Loden pea-coats vinyl jackets, mary jane patent leathers, and white shoe polish for ked sneakers. Apple Brown Betty in Swanson tv dinners, buitoni ravioli in the can and potato sticks. Sewing class, emenee toy trumpets and the morning show “Just for Fun.” The Mikado, Pirates of Penzance and Flower Drum Song. Won-ton soup, chopped suey and egg foo young. Peanut Butter and Jelly on Ritz Crackers with Campbells tomato soup. Spaldings, Jacks and 45’s. Army, Navy Stores, Kresge’s Dept. Store and Alexanders. Mohair sweaters, shift dresses, mini and maxi skirts, baby doll dresses, colored tights- stirrup pants. Science projects on Oak Tag, pencil sharpeners and No. 8 pencils. Revlon Rum Raisin lipstick and Mary Quant make-up. Shalimar, Joy, Ambush, jade east, english leather and Old Spice. Po-ke-no, parchessi and Simon. Bonanza, Gunsmoke and Wagon Train. Make it a throw back Tuesday.

Dear Our New York, Our Friend. On a Day Pass.

The safety of your harbor.
Your crescent shaped appeal.
Could fill bottomless pit emptiness.
We really had some deal.

Your allure and all your glamour.
From every pillar to every post.
Almost on the daily you proved the consummate host.

The streets were jammed with clamour.
Central Park our landing pad of choice.
We rarely missed an opening.
So many opportunities to rejoice.
Shared songs at your great venues.
Danced on too many floors to count.

There never was a question.
You were where we did belong.

The seasons changed with such panache.
The leaves, the snow and the flowers they did bloom.
Our frowns would turn to smiles.
Never sat with doom or gloom.

Your restaurants encouraged our palette.
Started with foie grois ended with chocolate soufflé.
Never missed an opportunity to window shop and stray.
As we collected a lifetime of memories.
Full-filled so many dreams.
It’s time to say we’ll see you.
On the road our show we’ll take.
We are packing stacks of pleasure.
On the wonder you create.
Hit it.
“From the very heart of it New York, New York. If we made it here, we’ll make it anywhere… With ❤️

We are now back to visit, the patina has lost its sheen.
The traffic and the bike lanes and everything in-between.
We stop at our favorite food haunts.
The restaurants we adored. We loved the gastronomic memories. When the check came we hit the floor.
The lines to buy a bagel and Anita’s gelato around the block.
We devoured our Matsu sushi.
At Barney Greengrass we love the lox.
We stopped for a Levian cookie.
If you know you know for sure.
The turkey from P.J. Bernstein-on rye it didn’t disappoint.
The burgers and fries at Melons still call it our favorite joint.
We no longer crave the tumult.
Our thermostats changed their tune.
We love to drop in and visit.
Adios we’ll see you soon.

Our Bucket list has been reduced to the size of a “come kitty have your dinner dish.” 
The focus on shining our accomplishments, minimizing our regrets.
Now we see the picture with cataract corrected rose colored lenses. Our intuition a safe bet in that nexium enhanced gut reaction way.
Our group has been  reduced to the “give me five minutes”  I’m on the way ones.
“They say nothing lasts forever; dreams change, trends come and go, but friendships never go out of style.” You got that right Sara Jessica. 
We’ll take Health on the daily with a walk with a friend for the win.
We can forgo a new Prada bag for no traffic on the FDR with Waze in place when we have an early eye doc appointment.
We will trade a cruise to the Mediterranean for 12 nights of early dinners and an evening of couples canasta with a little gelato in the absence of Ebola threats. 
How bout a strong hug and a knowing smile while all the while counting our blessings when saying “see you after camp to grandchildren.” Nothing Better. Endorphins jumping. 
Come on now -champagne and caviar dreams have become give us a good colonoscopy result and the words your sinus’s have cleared up and we are holding strong. 
Hello Dolce -Hello Gabbana your exhibition was breathtaking and a one of a kind glorious treat but we are good on J. Crew tee shirt sales and bogo’s ( buy one get one at CVS. So what if we have enough cotton balls to distribute to a good portion of the Northeast. Shout out to J. Dines for the ride.
As we are speed walking, well really a quick stroll toward a big number are you kidding me b-day we will take a steadfast and predictable evening of chicken cutlets, a baked potato, a Celebrity Wheel of Fortune episode followed by Jeopardy and all the while playing Canasta Junction while sending appropriate Instagram posts to our peeps. Run on sentence counters that was for you. Sign on the dotted line if you’re in. 
Oh and one more Columbo like thing. You know those high heels without a platform we saw at the Mall last week – no thanks we are good Skechers slip ins. Don’t knock it if…
B’h.

Subject: Two plants surrounding the Orchards add another year.

Have been keeping these two plants thriving since 2012. They were my father’s plants that he cared for when he moved into The Esplanade on the Westside.

He passed away in March that year and we schlepped them from our apt. on 72nd Street thru years of time spent in Florida and back. They traveled in the car over night. Hydrated and obviously Happy.
Now they are in Englewood, N.J. and seem quite cooperative and well adjusted. Here’s to bringing life forward in a most special way. b’h.

“Zog nisht keyn mol az du geyst dem letstn veg.”