Neil Simon Penned One Long Love Story. Valentines Day!!

In 1997 he wrote the screenplay Proposals. The take away thought about what he loved in a character he developed is ” her humor is different. Her take on life is different.”
“Never Underestimate the Stimulation of Eccentricity.”

Homage to Neil Simon-. We binged your movies to help ward off “The Biloxi Blues.”

Whether we were “Barefoot in the Park, while “Lost in Yonkers” or hitching a ride home from “Brighton Beach,” we waited to hear Jonathan Schwartz “Playing our Song,” on WQXR American Standard Radio. Marvin Hamlisch played Carole Bayer Sager’s lyrics to his music with his particular Zip-a-dee-doo-dah enthusiasm. We swayed along and knew all the words. Your collaborations with Mike Nicols and Gene Zaks prolifically chronicled our youth. Oh Neil, we got hooked when we read your name amongst the credits as we watched Sgt. Bilko, played with such guile on The Phil Silvers show. We waited to hear your interviews with Joan Hamburg on 77 WABC to learn what play was next to be “Broadway Bound.” Her interviews typically came at the end of her show after the bargain shopping and food segments. There was often a reference to Shelly Fireman, our forever friend and his spin on delicious Italian fare.)

When we spatzered around our favorite thrift shops we heard your familiar very New Yawkish sounding voice broadcasted live. When Joan interviewed you, the two of you had a repartee we so enjoyed, although we considered you quite the “Odd Couple.”

We marveled at the big city duplex apartments with sunken living rooms, and gilded cage appeal that set the stage for many of your playbooks. Was Willy’s (Walter Matthau) apartment at the Beaux Arts Ansonia really that big? We thought it could possibly the best pad ever to play hide and go seek. Did Jane Fonda actually run around “Barefoot in the Park” as she pleaded with Robert Redford to try again to save their marriage? We wanted to live in her apartment as soon as we moved to the Village. We knew we didn’t want to live uptown and become a “Prisoner on Second Avenue.”
We weren’t sure you could top the episode when Felix Unger walked into Oscar Madison’s cluttered apartment to try to get back together with Gloria. You certainly did when you portrayed the classic “Northeast distributor of Guilt,” and had Molly Picon threaten to keep her head in the oven over the troubles with her bachelor sons. Oh, Frankie.

Our take away quote of yours is “if you can go through life without experiencing pain you probably haven’t been born yet.” Neil Simon- we trust you’ve be filling them with laughter in Suite 203-04 during your “Chapter Two.”

And so the story goes…Swing easy!

G
O
L
F
When Birdie met Bogey in the old neighborhood they were pretty much hook(ed). They (fore) warned their parents that they believed strongly this was their (stroke) of good luck. They knew there might be (rough) days ahead, but their attraction proved to be (out of bounds.) With no (mulligans) in sight and no red (flags) in view they would plunge ahead, not let sleepy dogs (lie.) They would disregard an (albatross) as an impasse and call it three strokes in their favor.
Perhaps there would be (hazards) along the (Fairway) but for now they were in the (Green.) They vowed to (bunker) down together, knowing all the while as long as the (Eagle) has landed they would invite everyone to the 19th hole to raise a glass as they celebrated their ( hole in one.)
See you on the Tee box- off to drive a few buckets. Reeking with enthusiasm. Minchen by you.

Papa Can You Hear Me? With a “single secret tear.”

We would run into their home always overflowing with the smells of Shabbos on the stove, cookies in the oven and ripped toilet paper in a box, next to the toilet bowl. Symbolic of an Observant Jewish Home on the week-ends. Zada sat on his over-stuffed chair surrounded by prayer books. We would fall into his smile, his warmth. He particularly cuddled my sister Roberta. She was the youngest and so curly haired adorable. We watched him read, we observed him in prayer. Our backs were covered as G-d had to be listening, he did it so well.

Rabbi Irving Gottlieb presided over a congregation in a shul in the Canarsie section in Brooklyn. In the late 50’s, early 60’s it was a predominantly Jewish and Italian neighborhood.

He also owned a rabbinical artifacts shop on Rivington Street on The Lower Eastside. We would visit him on Sundays and once again was greeted with a big smile. He couldn’t wait to hand us a hard candy from a dish he had sitting on the counter next to the cash register. Wonderful memories indeed.

 In our early days growing up we were traditionally observant. Our mother kept a kosher home. Her father was a kosher butcher. We were frum, devout and pious Jewish people. 

On Passover mom koshered the kitchen from head to toe. She changed the dishes, pots and pans and utensils. She lined the refrigerator and cabinet shelves with “oak tag.“ 

The food strictly kosher for Passover. Matzoh Brei our favorite, was our comfort food. One thing we knew was that the dishes were not as pretty as our every other day dishes. Green glass was just not our style.

Our remembrances are of very long Seders where we were so hungry that eggs dipped in salt water tasted so good. We cherish those days. Silent prayers strong.

And then it all changed. Our taste of orthodoxy, our world as we knew it was different. We moved from Brooklyn to New Jersey and our affiliation to strong observation paled. My father was the only son of an orthodox Rabbi. He had 5 sisters.

We moved from our solid roots and he radically decided to join a reformed temple. Our lives would change forever in how we observed Judaism. Somehow we followed his lead.

We all stayed enamored by tradition. Holidays and their loveliness have resonated throughout our lives. We come together for dinners, we worship and practice our faith in a different format.

What is the “chosen” people in G-d’s eyes? We sing and we pray to him in our own hearts, but not in a different way.

As fate unfolded I am blessed to share 8 grandchildren. They are orthodox and observant.

I have moved much closer to my very observant roots now. We live life sequentially. Fate brings us to situations at different times in our lives. There are no coincidences. I strongly believe in G-d and a divine order. I feel my faith so intensely thru the blessings of grandchildren who run into our house threaded with familiar smells and traditions. They fall into our smiles, our warmth – as I did on Rabbi Gottlieb’s lap in 1958. Zada, I smile big as I hand them candy sitting prominently on “our” counter. We wish this on everyone. Bh

Ah, We Remember it Well!  

2024 we are back out on the town. 
Our favorite seats are the ones where we are lying down.
At Cinema 123 or the Royal Crown.
Row F or Row G.
Seats 3-4 or 5.

An aisle seat we’ll grab.
And here’s where we’ll meet.
On the corner of 3rd and 59th Street.
Have a bite before.
Or popcorn in our seats?
We have tickets for Town Hall.
A reservation for dinner has been made.
It was between Italian or Chinese.
5:45 quite a tight squeeze.
We want to be on time
As the show we hear is great.

Got the tickets last July, it was quite a long wait.
How bout a drink and dessert, after the show?
The theater is on a block with lots of places to go.

We’ll meet again next week.
We got tickets in advance.
This time we are going downtown to watch “Dance.”
This lingo on our tongues.
So ready to say once more.
We really missed the option of just walking out the door.

With so many things to do.
In places we adore.
In harbinger like fashion.
We’re headed towards Times Square.
The day of reckoning is precious and held so very dear.

Les Miserables No More🙏
Three years ago today.

I dreamed a dream in time goes by,
When life returns to more forgiving.
I dreamed no masks were in our sight.
Except on Halloween with candy giving.

When we were young and unafraid.
When hugging Grandpa posed no limits.
Our days galore of fun and games.
When looking both ways before we crossed, our aim.

But the virus came along.
The impact soft as thunder.
As our worlds soon fell apart.
And our days left without their wonder.
We lived our life while stuck inside.
Our hopes and prayers put on back burners.
-Still here as autumn came.-🎼

We slashed our plans to party on.
Weddings and Bar Mitzvahs-no where in sight.
No children at the Bema.
No hope for brides in white.
-All of this was gone.-

And now we hope our life will be.
With ”better off” not just a fable.
We will raise a glass or two.
Pulling chairs up to the table.
A little nova, an Everything bagel.

The days now growing longer.
Punxsutawney Phil did not see his shadow.
We’ll grab a moment to reflect.
The advent of shots not narrow.
We have come to see our way.
So much hope and much more promise.
We’ll buy a dress, a pair of shoes.
Make sure to grab our tallis.

As life is coming back.
Adding color to our palette.
In one more hour, one more day.
As life resumes –
We’ll Hope, we’ll Pray!

Our hearing is not what it used to be,
And all the jazz.
Our patience is on the borderline,
Add a pinch of that razzmatazz.

So we’ll watch where we are walking.
As falling is simply no good.
Our laugh lines are no longer laughing.
We need a dose of junk food.

And all that Jazz.

So you left the water running and the
door slightly ajar.
If we were reading of this new reality,
We’d be sure to hobble real far.
The early bird specials are appealing.
As soup or a salad comes with.
Are we really living this chapter?
Please tell me we’re just dreaming this.
Our morale is down in the basement,
Can’t find our get up and go.
The days are getting longer.
The Count down to reach for the sun.

Let’s brush off the cobwebs of winter.

Plant some seeds in the ground.
Mallomars are flying off the shelf.
As we’re turning this chapter around.
Wishes come two in a package.
We are thinking we’ll sign up for four.
Dog days will soon be behind us.
We’ll set the table for more.
Our new pair of sneakers are waiting.
We can get back on the treadmill of life.
We will grasp at our new found mojo.
Say goodbye to the anguish and strife.

Adios to this season of drama.

Let’s make it a thing of the past.
Say good-bye to nasty ole winter.
It just was a matter of time.
So pull your chair up to the table.
Looks like all will be just fine.

Double down for your chance at the win.
Springtime it is a coming.
A new dawning day will begin.

And all that jazz!

Naysayers need not apply.

And then one day the light at the end of the tunnel was in view.
We pushed boulders in an attempt to overlook nothing that would impede the progress to the finish line. Amen.

Who would a thunk in 1996 in a dressing room at Bergdorf that your shopping spree would cost you 83.3 million dollars- to be paid in full to someone who isn’t your type and you’ve never met. 
You raped a stranger and justice is being served. POS replaces former, three times indicted twice impeached POTUS. Dayenu.