Once in Awhile-

Dear Ordainer of Weddings and Funerals. Would we still have tried as hard? Perhaps overlooked more.

Please stand on that long line over there. That’s the one that says “Weddings and Funerals only.”

You don’t see it? It’s the longest line in the room. The shared celebrations and the pool your sorrows with tones of mandatory invites and holiday seats filled.

The terms Kismet, Destiny and Beshart suggests- the prophetic,
the meant to be’s.

How much does luck or chance factor into who we go the distance with? Does forever mean until the holiday meal is over, the card game is finished, or when someone moves off the block?

Early on we come to learn Holiday Anxiety can exist all year long .The uncomfortable dread of the “do we have to” kicks in.

As social media has connected us to our past, we have become voyeurs into the lives of the people we met through our “chance” encounters.

Reunions, cousin clubs and catch up events offer the second time around opportunities. If we try hard can we champion our first time around defeats and turn our once in awhiles, into the more oftens?

Our primordial worries of will we be liked, accepted, invited back have subsided with time. Some of the people…

So we learn back to the future isn’t always in the canasta cards. The surprise of the well blended double date shows up. We walk away, look at one another and think yes, a take two would be very nice, indeed.

We spoke with the pharmacist at CVS yesterday about waiting until October for our, as he referred to it “upper classmen” flu shot. What a gentle way of saying senior discounts accepted.

So as a member of that category we took our senior day discount on our over the counter Nexium and went home and took a nap.

My take away is, we can dwell on missed opportunities and bemoan our fate about who has stayed and who is gone, or we can accept that our time with them was inscribed as exactly what it was “meant to
be.” Make it a reach out to someone you love day. I just did.

As the juggernaut of talk show hosts, endowed with the gift of gab.
He showcased life changing moments, all breaking news he would grab.
A round table was his prop, paced the audience with a mic in hand.
He’d asked startling questions, the responses were never planned.
Off script his signature posture to his audience of devoted fans.
On the show he courted “That Girl.”
They exited hand in hand.
44 years together a life well lived would unfold.

Marlo found her dream of a man- Donahue his pot of gold.
When flat screens were called T.V.s.
And cheerleading was our afternoon sport.

At the 4:00 hr. we’d make our way home and watch Phil Donahue hold court.
Referenced as king of daytime talk shows, he trail-blazed his way to the top.
Oprah and Maury and Rosie and Ellen on and on it just didn’t stop.
Phil’s folksy and eye to eye style made for easy listening to what he had to say.
The bottom line to all this is that pretense stayed out of the way.
RIP Mr.Donahue you had us under a spell.

When the early bird catches the extra blintzes.

It’s 4:45 when we begin thinking about dinner.

We have an hour to get ready.

We put on a new blouse and hope It won’t get a food stain on it. This is new.

We walk out the door.

We’re on line at our go to restaurant of choice. Long line but we are in the door, getting closer to the table.

We grab some after dinner mints at the counter and a couple of tooth picks while we wait. If we order the corned beef and it is stringy the toothpicks will come in handy.

Oy, the beeper they gave us to hold just went off.

We push through the crowd, disregard the dirty looks. We’re in and being escorted to our table. “Excuse me sir maybe you got a booth? My husband has a bad knee, is a lefty and needs to sit on the outside and with his leg facing out. TMI-

Again a dirty look, alas we are sitting.

Here honey have a pickle, it’s a good mix and they have the sour tomatoes you like.

We catch up with out friends about medical stuff and get it out of the way.

I point to my mouth as to signal our friend that a piece of coleslaw is stuck to her lipstick. Yup, not a good look at any age.

So we open the menu of oh so many choices.

Excited that the two sides with our main course we can “substitute” did you ever? A potato knish or potato pancakes instead of baked or mashed.

Glad we swigged a little mylanta on our way back into the house because we forgot oh, well something.

Our orders are in.

Only took twenty minutes for four people to decide. Not like it is ever an easy order going through the book of choices. Unless you had a willy for something. Like you could taste it.

“Saul my friend says to her husband of all the many items to choose from a hamburger deluxe with sweet potato fries is what you are getting.”Saul says to my husband, can you believe with everything going on in the world you would think if I want a hamburger it would maybe, just maybe once go unnoticed and not a gonza magilla. Do I tell her a side of balsamic dressing is not going to matter in her salad if she orders the fried chicken as her main?”

Ok, so we get our food and only one of us returns something- a veritable miracle.

My friend sent her fried chicken back, she only likes dark meat. She says go ahead eat. Your meatloaf won’t taste good cold.

So we talk over one another. We know every detail about their grandkids camp experience and how long they waited at the airport when they went to Aruba this summer.

The table is cleared, a new dessert menu is handed to us. Wait, oh my they have the Boston Cream Pie tonight. I ask my husband if he wants to share, I suggest four forks and one dessert. You would think I was taking their toys away.

No, my friends husband Saul says I am getting my own. Under her breath I hear my friend whisper “ maybe get the jello, you ate every sweet potato fry. Then “ give a kick” he says to her- mind your own sweet potato fries, did I mention that you inhaled the potato pancakes like they were going out of style.

Goodnight, it was great seeing you we yell out the car window. Same time, same place- next week. We took the flyer at the door it says the specials are chicken in the pot or flanken. See you in the morning at water aerobics. Vayismir I am so full

Step out, step out of the
sun, if you keep getting burned. —Evan Hansen.

Ok listen up, what’s it going to take?
Adages galore bout repeating mistakes.
First toast to health and good luck along the way.
Stay with me this time, cause it will juxtapose naysay.
As time marches on with challenges stockpiling.
We fuss and we muss with the “not importants” all the whiling.
“Elementary dear Watson,”
It’s easier said than done.
We’re turning our cheek, as we’re coming undone.
We try flipping the negatives.
Counting one by one.
Will they like us and invite us to come back?
The hard on ourselves, try cutting some slack.
Hit the ground running.
It’s medicinal indeed.
Give it a chance.
Plant a new seed.
The news on the daily, breathtaking for sure.
Like a minute under water, open a new door.
Dr. Seuss and I quote.
“I’m afraid that some times you’ll play lonely games too. Games you can’t win cause you’ll play against you.”
Give someone else a good day.

Walk a mile in his shoes and you will never be PET-TY again- RIP – Sal.
You had a certain something.

Watchful of reruns of Two and a half Men. #justhavefun— you know all those things you want to do. Yup! Go do them.

A Gastronomic Potpourri 

Pasta and Pizza.

Bagel with schmears.

The best bec n biscuit we’ve tasted in years.

Eggplant Caponata with prosciutto’s a pair.

Fava beans are marinated with Rosemary and Sage. 

Soaking in flavors with love as they’re aged.

Try a ricotta cheese ball, add a garlic bread loaf.

        This winning combo undoubtedly takes the troph.

Choose 3 of a kind or a plate filled with five.

With Italian wedding soup simmering and shrimps served with eyes. 

Go ahead and sample, bring your taste buds alive.

The 15 bite hot dog is a site to behold.

The Brooklyn’s baked mac and cheese never grows old.

 Sip a bellini -add some peach schnapps (who knew.)

Consummate Italian food, hailed

Fireman-the quintessential Bronx Jew.

Try sushi from Red Eye.

    A fried artichoke or 3.

The chilean sea bass the best from the sea.

Now for the back tooth that begs for some sweets.

A Tartufo creation you won’t find on the streets. 

Cookies and cheesecake wake the taste buds so strong.

In a booth along the wall is where you be belong.

      They lead with hospitality it goes without saying.

      The experience in one of Shelly’s stores, will have you on the ground praying. 

Matzoh on The Shelves

Twas the night before Pesach and all through the house.
The smell of the brisket,
Added water to our mouth.
The chicken soup was simmering.
To a boil it was brought.
Our liberation from slavery.
From which we were fraught.
With water turning to blood,
Frogs, lice and flies.
Livestock and locusts.
No firstborns survived.
The Bible unveils,
With g-d on our side.
Letting the Israelites leave Egypt.
The Gates opened wide.
Now Asher, now Sadie, now Evelyn,
Now Moe.
On Manny, on Gertie on Sarah, on Joe.
To the top of the porch, to the top of the wall.
Now dash away, dash away, dash away all.
The children were ready to ask the four kashes.
Ma nishtan halailah hazeh mikol haleilot?
The questions all answered, the food was dipped twice.
No one was naughty, tonight just be nice.
And mamma in her kerchief and papa in his cap.
The dishes all done, they’re ready for a nap.
The afikoman was eaten.
Sugar plums danced in our heads.
Our inalienable rights.
Erased all the dread.
Chag Pesach Sameach one and all.

Tim Walz portrays the Zeitgeist of the moment.
It’s as if he fell out of a tree.
A real “who knew” from Minnesota.
Enter the Land of the Brave because of the Free.
His agenda is nothing but hidden.
He wears his feelings on his blue collar sleeve.

Just when we needed a panacea.
He threw us a life line to retrieve.
He certainly comes across Jolly.
A recipe suggests a life well lived.
He’s traveled life’s path with his Gwen.
Grabbing moments with their two beloved kids.

With a glimpse of Grover’s Corners.
An ode to a simplistic small town life.
With energy he’ll hit the ground running.
Dukes up for the conflict and strife.

Go get ‘em with your moxie and determination.
Bring along your hammer and nails.
Our country cries from chaotic disrepair.
Refreshing and hopeful, stalwart and principled.
We welcome his breath of fresh air.
His charisma adds a welcomed new view.
Now the hard work to get the votes swaying.
With Mazel to turn your Sunny Blue.

What a ride. You got this Strong. Bh