B.N. Before Netflix- our days of Mary Tyler (give us Moore.) ”Oh G-d” (1977) The “2000 year old man,” enters the pearly Gates Laughing. Estelle Reiner, his wife said it best at Katz’s Deli, “I’ll have what she’s having.” She was married for 64 yrs. to the controller at Rancho Conejo.
98 years funny he certainly had “The Thrill of it All.” When Morey Amsterdam and Rose Marie reworded phrases to get the rhythm right on The Alan Brady show Carl Reiner called it a Wrap. So as Rob Petrie tripped into our living rooms each week on the eponymous “Dick Van Dyke Show” it was really his “Show and Shows.”
Norman Lear’s line in Carl Reiner’s 2017 documentary on aging, “If You’re not in the Obit, Eat Breakfast.” So today Carl, we’ll have your coffee with cream and a little oatmeal in your honor. His credo was “ find your hammock and live in the now. The transition of time in between “ok, it’s over, to what’s next, is when his productivity kicked in. HBO featured the documentary- “on demand” it if you can.The cast of characters the best of the best. Mel Brooks is hysterical, Dick Van Dyke dances, Norman Lear is brilliant and Carl Reiner’s direction and hosting ever so warm and welcoming. When it was filmed in 2017 they were all Nonagenarians. One thing distinctly portrayed in this work of long livers is that they were passionate and fell in love with lots of things.
So Carl we imagine as your enter the pearly gates we will hear you say to G-d, “so Divine One, if you were commanding a performance your timing was propitious as “The Russians are coming, The Russians are coming”- in this “Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World. I will pass the baton on to my son Rob and remind him of the line written in 1963 for “it’s a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World. “And in a democracy, it don’t matter how stupid you are, you still get an equal share.”RIP Mr. Reiner well done!
Papa Can You Hear Me? Repost 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 a 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 50’s, early 60’s it was a predominantly Jewish and Italian “good” 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 on the counter. What fun we had. In our early days growing up we were traditionally observant. My 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 and utensils.She lined the refrigerator and cabinet shelves with oak tag. The food strictly kosher for Passover. Matzoh Brei our favorite, was our biggest request. All we knew is that the dishes were not as pretty as our every other day dishes. Green glass was just not my taste.My memories are of very long Seders where we were so hungry that eggs dipped in salt water tasted so good. I cherish those days.And then it all changed. Our taste of orthodoxy, our world as we knew it was over. 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, as we respected our father. We all stayed strong to tradition. Holidays and their loveliness have resonated throughout our lives. We came together for dinners, we worshipped and practiced our faith in a different format.What is the “chosen” people in G-d’s eyes? We sang and we prayed to him in our own hearts, albeit in a different format but not in a different way.As fate unfolded I am blessed to have 8 grandchildren. They are orthodox and very 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 my 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 my counter. I wish this on everyone.
Les Miserables No More🙏
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
When 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 our year 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 Mitzvahs 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
Maybe Bruce, will bring the bagels
The days are growing longer
Punxsutawney Phil did see his shadow
We’ll grab a moment to reflect
And know we emerged so much stronger.
A Repost Memory- Now More Than Ever- Nora Johnson
Nora Johnson who wrote one of my all time favorite movies died this past week 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 from April 27, 2016 – The World of Henry Orient.
APRIL 27, 2016 ~ AROSEBYANYOTHERNAME2016
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.”
Repost from 2018
Dear 20chai
Maybe this time we’ll win. We make the promises, we pump up the expectations and we pass the in winter only Mallomars at the supermarket.
“When a child loves you for a long time, not just to play with but REALLY loves you, you become Real. Does it hurt?” Asked the Rabbit. “Sometimes,” said the Skin Horse, for he was always truthful. “When you are Real you don’t mind being hurt.”
A favorite quote from a most favorite children’s book, The Velveteen Rabbit or (How Toys Become Real) by Margery Williams.
So once again we try to brush away the flies in our picnic of life. Sadness only takes away riches. We know for certain laughter, especially when it involves the belly adds life to your years. Norman Lear, who is still going strong at 95 years young, believes as he was moving on up to the East Side with Maude, Archie and Sandford’s son that the “Good Times” even if it’s “One Day at a Time,” added years to your life.
I know run on sentence counters, relax that is it.
This year while reading the New York Times obits I came across one that shouted out loud.
Dr. Shigeaki Hinohara a Japanese physician was listed. He lived until 105. He cautioned against gluttony and early retirement and vigorously championed annual medical checkups, climbing stairs regularly and just having fun.
So as we -At A Glance- our 20chai weekly appointment book let’s replace “wishful drinking” with “wishful thinking.” Oh and by the way, Yes hello American Express. That charge was a real purchase. Yes, I bought the whole store. Uh huh, yep the whole store. It’s the store where I bought the Basket, the one I put all my eggs in. Eight, yes, eight of them hatched. Alevei-
Young and Refreshing- much needed memory!
When the leaves were orange and the living was easy. What does the tooth fairy do with all the teeth? Why are the people in the front of the picture so much bigger than the people toward the back? Out of the mouths, when life was oh so mellow.
We bought our first pair of silk stockings which were to be held up by a stretchy pink and white striped garter belt. The days of Ozzie and Harriet, Susan Lucci and Soupy Sales.
We re-dialed after our friends line was busy the first time and screeched with excitement, Conrad Birdie style, over our anticipated coed- girl/boy party that evening. After we sat under a hot dryer with beer can sized rollers in our hair we brushed away the fumes from our eyes left by aqua spray. The decision to curl our hair rather than iron it straight was a good one, our hair came out just right. Getting ready “Was” the excitement. Our new madras blouse and alpaca sweater hung prominently in the front of our closet right above our shiny, new cordovan colored weejuns. Bright, new Penny, dated 1967 heads up in place.
A touch of revlon blush, a glimmer of light pink lipstick proceeded a spritz of Ambush and we were on our way. With dejavu on my breath I can still recall euphorically how it felt when I unbuttoned the wooden clasps that kept my new Loden green PeaCoat in tact. The boys gathered on one side of the room as the girls sifted through the 45’s on the other. At this point there was no bottle to spin in sight. Would the Angels sing tonight as our soldier boys danced under the Blue Moon?
The specialty years of pre-teening had a wonderful life of its own. We made room for our daydreams laced with Johnny Mathis lyrics. Our Barbie and Ken’s were repositioned and left to fetch for themselves in the back row of our minds. In the still of the night I hold tightly to the moments that Jay and the Americans knew were Magic.
Madam Vice President
Upon your welcome Dear Kamala,
The object of our desire
For FOUR too many years
The world was set on fire
We welcome so your valor, we’re delighted by your charm
In the absence of our hugs
We’ll extend to you our arm
The moment when your hand, was placed upon the Bible
We sighed a huge relief
We know there is no rival
You’ll champion our causes
Brava Sista you are strong
We’ll sit back in our seats
We trust you can’t go wrong
So ripe for welcomed changes
You’ve raised the bar by octaves
Dedication blended with wisdom
Your credence our adoptive
So today, a new beginning, we cried Relief through tears
We welcome Madam Vice President
Our blessings to the next FOUR years!
Sometimes you get the elevator- now you get the shaft
Bye bye Donnie
Your time is up today
Bye bye Donnie
Now just go away
Now just go away
No more toxins we know you
Dumped your share
Just go Donnie
Karma’s coming near
We despise your bolden lies
You have had your final say
Our country suffered strong
You took our lives away
Pack your shiz up
Take all those spray tan cans too
Once in jail you’ll be turning blue
We’ll have sunshine to help dry up our tears
Just go Donnie we lost 4 years
We’ve lost 4 years
Brave New World
Donald J. Trump take your magic pillow
And just go away
The thought of your disgust we can’t bear for one more day
We won’t waste another moment indulging insanity Our diminished population
For all the world to see
The pain and devastation has wreaked havoc far and wide
You are one psychotic psycho
No longer can you hide
The fat lady has sung the swan song
Aldous Huxley got it right
In John the Savage fashion
The denouement is close in sight.
Ah! We Remember Them Well.
2022 we are coming for you
Just as we figured it out
Our favorite seats laying down
At Cinema 123 or the Royal Crown
Row F or Row G
Seats 3- 5
Row J -7, 8, 9
Waiting for the world to be back to fine
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 or 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 miss the option of just walking out the door
With so many things to do
In places we adore
In harbinger like fashion
The day of reckoning is coming near
Our freedom we’ll get back
And hold so tender and more dear.
