Shall We Play? Tra la la-

We’ve just been introduced.

I do not know you well.

But when the cards were shuffled.

Something drew me to your side.

I sensed we could be friends.

Share a joke or two.

It made me think we might be— Similarly occupied.

Shall we play? Tra la la

Shall we still sit together,

And depend upon each other?

On a clear understanding that we signal with the 7’s? remember to count aces.

Shall we play?

Shall we play- shall we play?

Shall we play? Tra la la

Shall we turn on the music,

Shall we try?

Shall we go down with four jokers and hope our partner matches.

And just go for a mere per chance.

With a clear understanding that this kind of thing can happen, shall we try and then try and then try.

When the last little 3 has left the deck.

Shall we still play together,

Staying tethered to the table.

And show up with a poker face?

Cause we know we are better.

For engaging one another

So we played and we played and we tried.

Crying Out Loud

Chai 18 b-day today.

With make-up and hair in place I dressed for a blessed day for Liam’s right of passage. With a lingering picture of the first glimpse of him 13 years ago Grandpa Ira and I entered the shul carrying that memory in the forefront of my mind. This beautiful baby boy was about to ritualistically come of age. Yes indeed we were kvelling. With luck and determination I’ve come to know this young man in an intimate and charming way. We just love him. 

Dearest Liam a beautiful baby now on the bema making us beam with pride. He lead the congregation in prayer with a full heart of “right from wrongs,” and hopes and promises for what will continue to be a philanthropic and protective future. He prayed to HaShem to bless his immediate population and the world beyond his four walls with love, health and peace. He never begrudges his birthright and his nature is philanthropic and generous. He truly cares about how other people feel.

Cut to yesterday morning in Pittsburgh. A day of sabbath in a random synagogue engaging in a sermon of prayers and gratitudes as we did one month ago.

No Donald Trump-an armed guard in the Tree of Life Synagogue would not have prevented this assailant from storming in Nazi style and committing the deadliest rampage against a Jewish Community in our country’s history. The murderers life was spared and he was deemed in “stable” condition. As far from the truth as can be imagined.

We are mired in prayer today choosing to focus with eyes who spent formative years in the 1960’s when we walked into a Shabbat service, our school, the bowling alley, or the local candy store and banked on leaving with more than we came in with.

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 emotional closeness. Conjugal visits preclude hanging out Sunday morning with bagels and…from Murrays and The New York Times. They certainly eliminate variegated activities i.e. strolling through Central Park and stopping into a Pizza Parlor for a slice.

Delving into a veritable pantheon of theories that depict the profile of personalities enraptured by the incarcerated is a thesis unto itself. 

Last weekend we re-viewed 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”and found a new fix for “Heartburn.” Your self-deprecatory humor was relatable, and so comforting. 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 clean up your rolodex. When it comes to people to share time with – one size does not fit all. And I quote Nora “ above all, be the heroine of your life, not the victim. It will be a little messy, but embrace the mess.”. Make it a great Wednesday. You Got Mail.

Dear Prudence, won’t you come out and play and greet the brand new day. Who knows how long I’ve loved you, you know I love you still, will I wait a lonely lifetime, if you want me to I will. 

I think I’m gonna be sad, I think it’s today. The girl that’s driving me mad is going away.

Cause one day you’ll look to see I’ve gone but tomorrow may rain so I’ll follow the sun – 

So as I see it you gotta pay your dues if you wanna sing the blues cause – 

There is music they tell me in sweet fragrant meadows of dawn and dew, 

there is love all around but I never heard it playing no I never heard it at all till there was you. 

I wanna hold your hand as we cross Abbey Road, so don’t let me down-love me do. 

Please don’t twist and shout because she says she loves you and you know that can’t be bad. Anytime at all, all you got to do is call and I’ll be there. 

Cause when I’m home, everything seems to be right, when I’m home feeling you holding me tight. And if you want some fun take Ob-la-do-bla-da – Life goes on!

A Rising Tide Lifts All Boats

Farewell “Murder No Mystery.” Prodigious proportions of murders down the block and coming to your neighborhood and Not on the big screen. On the street you’ve walked home to with no thought of not making it to your front door.

We are reminded (one year ago today) of Lt. Alison Russo who was laid to rest. Her father said it best through his pain “my daughter was fatally stabbed and left on the ground like a rag doll.” 

She would have been the first to run and save her assailant, had he not stabbed her to her death first. RIP posthumously Captain Alison Russo. 

Where were you when Kennedy was shot? Our young, formative, developmental years were spent during the 1960’s-70’s. The innocence of knee socks and loafers, bell bottoms and clogs, pappagallo shoes, alpaca sweaters adorned with lady bug and circle pins, madras blouses, peter pan collars, baby bead bracelets, curl free hair relaxer (ode to that wide tooth, pink comb that came in the kit,) blue loose leaf binders (ouch to every time we got pinched trying to close the three rings together, Wrangler and Lee “dungarees,” and cracking our Wrigley’s spearmint or juicy fruit gum while listening to The Shirelles, Four Tops and Diana crooning to Dancing in the Street. Oh how somedays we miss Johnny Angel under a Blue Moon as the The Lion Slept. Yes, to Those Magic Moments.

We find comfort in exhuming our past when going forward needs a push. We learned to take the right action and let go of results. Respect your elders, do unto others and lend a helping hand. Basic adages that started on our front lawn. I know cliche counters but when the going gets…

Destroyed norms of human behavior were unimaginable as we stood stalwart with presidential reverence and pledged allegiance. 

Just for today, look over someone else’s shoulder and be careful not to trip over the homeless person sleeping on your corner as you are reading your messages on your phones about one more shooting around the corner and down the block. Prayers strong!