So long to Marilyn Bergman- BH
“We found we must be more abstract when writing for film,” she said, “because film really speaks more to the preconscious part of the brain, the part of us that dreams.” RIP Marilyn Bergman.
Nothing will be the “Way it Was!” You were no “Ordinary Miracle.”
Certainly not in “The Windmills of our Mind.”

Cut to an evening spent at Carnegie Hall listening to Michael Feinstein croon the songs by Marilyn and Alan Bergman. “Never say Never Again.”

With fabulous spirits we danced the “oh, what a night away.” One more evening of “will you dance with me? The music started before we got there. As I put on eyeshadow and lip gloss I listened to Julie Andrews crooning to “On the Street Where You Live” and knew then “I could have “danced all night.” And we did! With our history of forever dance floors we stepped out, turned into our inner souls and boogie, oogie, oogied. A little, vodka -vu den? and some rack of lamb was the precursor to watching you both devour the bones and leave the meat and potatoes behind. It’s always amazing when I learn the same lesson twice. Last evening I was reminded how I will always have a song in my heart for you, as you both occupy a large part of it. The music may have stopped, but our melody lingers on.🙏

Our ability to discern what is safe and what’s not.
Holding tight to our senses as they fly in the wind,
Measures of safety, just won’t rescind.
With a leap of faith and every precaution we’ve been offered,
We put on our Canadian Goose
And attempt to break loose.
We get in the car, destination unknown.
We know we need to roam out of our home.
Getting darker a little later,
Counting days through the frost,
Praying Punxsutawney’s shadow, just won’t get lost.
We are looking toward March as it goes out like a lamb,
And in a bada bing moment,
Call in a Grand Slam.
As we get through the winter,
Building sandcastles in the air.
We are focusing on better.
Through another bad year.
Minimize the negative a feat unto its own.
We’ve been sitting and binging, since
“A Place to call Home.”
Our reserve close to empty,
Time to refuel,
This too shall get easier,
We’ve taken a pool.
Need a new hobby, a new skill to learn.
Back to the premise, our ability to discern.
Let’s do it Saturday!

You bring me up with predictability. Always there to add to a good time. You have helped to make the simplest events happenings. In big celebrations you know how to join a room and get everyone up there doing the hokey pokey. When I’ve needed you most you came through. It was clearly love at first sight. You are my go to as you ask nothing in return. You listen without judgement and you know I always do my best. When we are together I let you boss me around. My biggest responsibility when we meet up is not to fall or make a fool of myself. Anytime I’ve dared to abuse you, I woke up with extreme regrets and vowed to never do it again. Whatever I adorn you with is just fine. A lemon, an olive you’re cool, you know who you are. At times when I have been fickle, you waited and knew your appeal would win out. Thank you for adding a dimension to my life that I can return to happily. And you know what, you were right when the tough get going let it be, they were not part of the Plan A that were getting the seat when my music stopped anyway. #Stoli you rock!

Nora Johnson who wrote one of my all time favorite movies died last year at 84. The movie, The World of Henry Orient is a story loosely based on her very New York City schooled at Brearley, luncheoned at Romanoff’s life. With financial indulgences galore by luck and emotional limitations in abundance as a by product of a divorced home she managed to balance a well integrated life. She had three marriages, several children and grandchildren and attained a great deal of success through her well received books. Her third, late in life relationship turned marriage came when she was 71 with a man who was 84. The net/net on their years together was best summed up by her. And I quote- ” He had said I was his last, loveliest adventure and he brought joy and magic to my life. He died when he was 91 and I was 78. Only then did I start to get old.”

Attached is a blog I wrote from April 27, 2016 – The World of Henry Orient.

My dream away movie starring Peter Sellers as an eccentric concert pianist and two young Brearley-esque ingenues who groupie their way around New York City. I had a crush on the entire movie. The friendship between Val and Gil served as the prototype for my best friendships and our shared tuna fish sandwiches with malteds, stirred by pretzels. It was based on a book by Nora Johnson written in 1964. The movie directed by George Roy Hill also extrapolated the concept of infidelity. Ah! men. I too had my own Henry Orient in high school. Mr. Schmoltze the Director of the all school musical was my man crush. Loyalty is Royalty. Good friendships never go out of style. Stay in close touch with the friends that touch you deeply. Friendship and trust are synonymous. “We’ll always be bosom buddies, friends, sisters and pals. “I’ll always be Alice Toklas if you’ll be Gertrude Stein. Auntie Mame had her priorities in order at least when it came to friendships. Sometimes we call our friend just to hear her voice. There is a treasured certainty in knowing we haven’t thrown each other out after all the tales of woe we’ve shared. Our discussions so much cheaper than therapy. We paint a picture, create a collage or write a poem inserting a compilation of shared memories. We know we will never “Walk Alone.”

Betty White! Homage- post revised



We got “Swept Away” by Lina Wertmuller, the Italian Filmmaker with an unmistakable style who left her mark on Italian and worldwide cinema. Sylvia Weinstock the “da Vinci of Wedding Cakes,” added tiers (tears) to her wedding cake wonders. She produced floral-drapped architectural works in the shape of rose-studded topiaries, baskets of speckled lilies and bouquets of anemones. She didn’t start baking until she was in her 50’s. Yes, my point. They both lived, until this past month into their 90’s. Long livers with passions strong. They focused on their interests and fine tuned their talents. Sylvia was lucky in love. She grew up in Brooklyn and went to the beach on the Rockaways with her friends on the weekends in the summer. One summer day she walked over to a group of boys and asked who wanted to go swimming with her.? One of the guys walked her to the ocean and as it turned out down the aisle. Relationships amongst long livers tend to be deep and strong with the emphasis on forgiveness.
As we are stepping into our 70’s as begin 2022 we are regrouping, pulling out all the stops and putting the
accent on the right syll-a ble. Long livers and some tips on long living is a curious study.
The power of luck cannot be overestimated. However, as studied by Dr. Shigeaki Hinohara the Japenese physician and longevity expert who lived until the age of 105 there are tips and suggestions worth paying attention to. The obvious well played song book we grew up with included staying active, keeping busy, 3 squares a day and take the stairs and exercise your way to the make up department at Bloomys.
Our take away from his study was to have fun and minimize pain. And I quote “ Pain is mysterious, and having fun is the best way to forget it.” If a child has a toothache, and you start playing a game together, he or she immediately forgets the pain.
Betty White believed everyone needs a passion. Her passion for animals was palpable. Her charities speak for themselves. She kept humor at the forefront. Her motto “Forgiveness” works in your favor. She wanted to have Fun. Hit it Irene Cara- “I’m gonna live forever, I’m gonna learn how to fly. I’m gonna make it to heaven, light up the sky like a flame. I’m gonna live forever, baby remember my name. Long life of loving animals and forgiveness. Finding a passion is a talent in itself. Make it a good and find your passion Sunday. And Betty White, no problem, your memory will be a blessing.

Summertime and the living is easy, fish are jumping and the cotton is high. After A Hard Day’s Night – I want Breakfast at Tiffany’s with a Splendor in the Grass chaser. As I approach the Autumn of my Youth- I ask “What kind of fool am I?” “I want to come home to you and find the things that you do will make me feel alright” ah! Paul. So as we roll out the hazy, lazy, crazy days of summer, the days of soda and pretzels and beer, (well maybe Tito’s), I’d like to go to the”drive- in on Friday nights.” As we see the pyramids along the Nile, standing near “Moon River,” we 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 set our sights on the beach boys. 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. 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 I’ll follow the sun.

2022 we’re coming for you.
Left our sandals on the beach,
And going for a swim.
One foot in front of the other.
This time A win.
Carvel, chocolate covered marshmallows and a bon bon or two.
We’re usurping the gloom, move over, make room.
We hung a new calendar, on the refrigerator door,
Skipping to the good part
Adding fun, raise the score.
Tapping into wishful thinking, pulling out the stoppers.
Eye on the prize, done getting clobbered.
Left the door opened, Elijah’s cup is half full.
As a guest at the table, he’ll herald in the messiah, poo poo.
We are flipping the energy and our get up and go.
A rabbits foot, a four leaf clover, an evil eye
And more.
Leaving nothing to chance,
Let’s get up from the floor.
2022 means “Hope is Ahead.”
With hope, prayers and promises.
Putting the past years to bed.

“Let the Children’s Laughter remind us how we used to be.” As we round out ANOTHER year that was… It is June 2025 and I am getting ready for my high school graduation. I am graduating with honors and excelled at the top of my class in creative writing. I was bestowed the honor of delivering a speech on my take away of the Covid-19 virus that plagued the world in 2020. It is 6 years later and although it took the better part of 2 years plus until the eye of the storm subsided, we were left with a brave new world. The last five years have defined our world and my youth in ways that could never have been believed with no preparation in site. We were human shock absorbers. In guinea pig fashion we were isolated in our own boats navigating a storm flooded with fear, rage and no real answers. The virus knew no limits and left it’s mark on millions of innocent bystanders. We never knew if it was our turn to suffer on the front line of battle. We spent time dodging bullets, while baking blueberry pound cake with our siblings in lockdown mode. There were months on end where no expiration date was just that. As 13 year olds while forming friendship’s was top of mind, we were concurrently learning to fight an enemy that could come from around any corner, on any block. The streets crowded with people wearing masks was a clear visual of the enemy at hand. As lucky kids, the worst we knew was strep or a wrist sling from breaking a fall on the basketball court. Yet, we came to understand we were now dealing with deregulating the rules of the health cards as we knew them. Belly aches, scrapped knees and irritated gums from braces were mere annoyances compared to what we were up against. Fast forward and with no braces in sight, I am dressing in a new suit and sporting a tie decorated with happy faces. We survived and are thriving as a vaccine and maintenance program is in place. While overcoming an act of G-d, and a human disaster that has left us with emotional scars, I will address my graduating class today with honor. I will look in the eyes of my friends and know we developed strong friendships in spite of the scariest of times. My take away dear friends is if anyone one of us falls a little behind, we will wait till you catch up. We all started behind the starting line and emerged stronger and knowing together is “hashtag” better.
We listened to what Dr. Fauci suggested!

T’was the Night before Christmas and all through the lab,
Not a creature was stirring
As we got all three jabs.
With precautions in place,
Bated breath we do have.
On the brink of a surge,
Our freedoms been grabbed.
We put on our new sneakers,
To test on the line.
Fauci has spoken,
He says give it time.
The reindeers were fed along the path to our door.
We are waiting for Saint Fauci
To tell us some more.
In the absence of malice, no forethought or greed,
Pulling together we’re bound to succeed.
Dasher and Dancer and Rudolph in tow.
We are ending the year with some get up and go.
So Dear Saint Fauci,
We all wish you good cheer.
Make it a great one starting your 81st year!