We woke up had oatmeal and my peeps and I are about to turn 70 wtf years old. The years like the bouncing dots of a text message being replied to have flown by. Resplendent with wonderful and some not so wonderful memories that have marched along with us, like dutiful soldiers. Luckily, we have built lovely little corners for them in the attic of our minds.They are always there to call upon. Reliable, friendly and filled with warmth. Haven’t you read a book twice? You know what’s coming and still look forward to the race of your heart and the a-ha moments The cost of admission-down memory lane every penny (heads up) that we’ve saved to gain entrance, worth it. Through very little provocation we tap into them. We share our euphoric recall thru posted pictures that we carry with us in our eyes only. Those moments in time that brought pink to our cheeks and offered a glow to last a lifetime. Her look, his smile when you gave them a collage that documents their happy moments. Doesn’t get better in-spite of all the the crazy glue stuck to your fingers times. And then, like the fleeting moment of the Robin Red Breast sitting upon your lawn who just stopped by to announce Spring it goes. You start another project, read another book, or spend the day perfecting the new recipe you got for osso bucco. Lucky to have a new day to create a new moment. We Polaroid the feelings that having lunch with your childhood friends offers and document the look on a young child’s face when they jump into a cool swimming pool on a hot summer day. Today I will steal a glimpse of GHG during dance class as she swings and glides another opportunity for me to create a picture to call all mine.
Make it a great Sunday and who knows perhaps along the way add a new memory that will last a lifetime.

Shawshank No Redemption!
Steve Bannon in “Double Indemnity”
The role was perfectly cast.
Recidivism has new meaning,
Behavior quite aghast.
You’re taking the punch for the culprits,
The losers and the rest.
Volunteering to be the “final jump” as lightning did the rest.
Chief Strategist was your title,
For a minute and a half.
The facts and the law were evident
Your innocence couldn’t last.
Go stand on the line for your uniform,
Orange IS the new Black.
We hear them calling Bannon-
Go ahead you fool, go back.

Judy Gottlieb Gomberg

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And I quote- Lillian Hellman-“It is a sad day when you find out that it’s not accident or time or fortune, but just yourself that keeps you from things.” With the glory and glow of celebrations we just experienced and more in front of us we sit for a minute and take stock. Knowing what counts, is tantamount to counting. The quality over quantity adage comes into play more so. What amounts to enough? Restaurants are mobbed, the streets are crowded as everyone is clamoring and starving for freedom. Safer place pandemic, the new left of normal and this mask you are wearing, yep, gonna last. Have we emerged with a different appreciation of collecting moments? Perhaps for now. Will we surrender to half doses factored into our years ahead? And why not? One emphatic take away is the more you can discount the “only ifs,” the better a chance you will have of 12 stepping it and attaining the wisdom of “knowing the difference.” Make it a Sunday with a cherry on the top.

Alexei sailed straight to the top
His praises we will sing.
The day was clearly perfect,
You didn’t miss a thing.
The splendor of the moment
Leaves us breathless as we glow
The nachas and the wonderment
On our faces it does show.
You raised a boy so tender
His values deep and strong.
A culminating day, center stage he did belong.
He owned his place in manhood,
The boy he leaves behind
A warmer and loving menschkit.
Would be very hard to find.

A Rising Tide Lifts All Boats!

Our lower school memories of the sugar cube vaccinations, TB skin tests, when a small amount of tuberculin was injected into the skin, (as we waited a day or two to see the results on our arms) and finger prick blood tests were what we knew. Our children and grandchildren have a much heavier load as masks, mandates and deleterious effects of the Pandemic are their mainstay- for now. The days of you can’t hug your grandparents from the waist up because you could transmit “corona” hopefully are fading and will hold.

Where were you when Kennedy was shot? Our young, formative, developmental years were spent during the 1960’s. Knee socks, tennis sweaters, madras blouses, crinolines, helancas, mary janes patent leather and capezio shoes, loden coats, pea jackets and wrangler dungarees were our go tos. We were taught to take the right action and let go of the results. Respect your elders, do unto others, lend a helping hand, sell girl scout cookies, collect for The March of Dimes-basic adages that started on our front lawn in front of our white house. Destroyed norms of human behavior were unimaginable as we stood stalwart and pledged allegiance with presidential reverence. Our battery operated toys, playing clue, monopoly and the game of Life excluded the possibility of getting carpal tunnel, tendonitis or suffering from the results of social isolation. So for today let’s professionally clean up our own acts, stop pointing fingers and make sure the days of leaving someone out are professionally cleaned from memory.

Feathers Brush My Heart! I’ve been touched by an Angel sent down by my mother.
Placed a feather around my neck from a Gal like no other.
You took it off your neck-
Handed it over to me.
The gesture quite extraordinary, my heart filled with glee.
I was stunned for a moment as
your thoughtfulness kicked in,
Doesn’t get much better,
A genuine Win/Win.
The message gave me shivers,
Up and down my spine.
The beginning of a friendship
With glimmers of divine.
I will cherish the moment
As the jewel hangs above my heart.
A message from my mother
Nothing can keep us apart.

Ringo meditated his way to “80”
A relic, in the pantheon of Rock is how he Rolled.
The ever present thought of aging, rapidly taking its toll.
Rounding out numbers a blessing, yes privileged.
The progression our story at hand.
Amanda Gorman, The Queen’s Gambit, And Fauda
We marvel at the talent, the brand.
Moving slower as time moves more quickly,
Love watching the shows on Demand.
Our mistakes, our misfortunes our loses
All mixed right into to the fold.
A lifetime of lessons and falling
Getting up, while we brush off the mold.
Reevaluation a constant envoy
Of the people who get in our way.
Our inventory of “friends” going forward
Positioned center stage on display.
Primordial lessons of kindness
Comes first, second and third
And so who will make you do push-ups?
In lieu of cheering you along
Get rid of the the flies in your picnic
Hold tight to the words in your song. Amen!

Alexander Graham
Hold on to your Bell
Listen very closely to this tale we will tell.
4 out of 7 people walking on the street,
Faces we will never know
No one we’ll ever greet.
The instrument you invented, that sat upon our desk, came alive with Ding a Ling and oh, you know the rest.

An hello was the greeting
The connection came so strong

We got to schmooze and gossip

Tell a joke, sing a song.
145 years later and
The world has gone to hell.

Oh, Alexander, we need to be saved by the bell.

We are carrying, pressing and gazing at your namesake like no other.

You brought communication from one house to another.

We speak with our friends and check in with each other.

If you could see the spin off, we are holding in our hands.

The newest and most modern always in demand.

You gave us communication, sensibilities though were lost.

In fear of missing an email, a text at any cost. We are talking while we’re walking, our stories overheard,

Every Tom, Dick and Harry can hear our every word. Let’s travel back in time, when a phone call cost a dime, we had a party line and it all seemed fine.

We couldn’t take a picture or play a word with friends,

It simple was a means to a very happy end.

I dreamed a dream in time goes by

When life returns to more forgiving

I dreamed that masks were out of 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

Looking both ways before we crossed our aim.

But the virus came along 

The impact soft as thunder,

As our world fell apart

And our days left without their wonder.

We lived too long while stuck inside

Our hopes and prayers put on back burners,

It wasn’t gone as autumn came.

With dreams of life returning.

We slashed our plans to party on

Weddings and Bar Mitzvah’s without the music.

We had a dream of brides in white 

Children praying at the bema

And still we dream our life will be 

Pulling our chairs up to the table.

We will share a cup or two 

A little Nova, an everything bagel

The days are growing longer 

Punxsutawney Phil saw his shadow

We’ll grab a moment to reflect

And know we emerged so much stronger.

Double vaxxed now filled with hope

Six feet apart has gotten closer

Touching elbows and hugging shoulders.

While we kneel and pray for strength

Deep breaths while chanting prayers

“When we were young and unafraid

There was no ransom to paid.

But the tigers came at night with their voices soft as thunder.”

So for today we will rise above the cloud

Shrouding our better judgement.

We will open up our minds and dream that peace is on its way.