Yet before we go, let me
“quickly” try
to take a look at what
happened this year
though we cannot cover
everything here.
Some U.S. happenings, some
world events,
a few business items,
disasters, science.
In the U.S., we had our elections.
The American people made
their selections.
Obama’s got another four
years.
The Republicans lost;
Romney/Ryan shed tears.
The Democrats kept their
majority
in the Senate, so now we’ll
have to see.
The rich will pay a higher
tax IF
the Congress fixes the
“financial cliff”.
The income tax for the middle
class
should not go up and thus if
passed,
we can pay down the deficit.
American families voted for
it.
The Supreme Court, upheld the
“fine”
Called it a “tax” and said,
“Pay
and don’t whine.”
Individuals needing Obamacare
by 2014 will be covered. It’s fair.
World Series winner.
“Go
Giants,” yelled the crowd.
Made San Francisco fans very
proud.
Business items: Facebook
shares publicly sold
$38 – Wall Street gold.
BP pleaded guilty for the
Gulf Oil spill
paying 4 billion dollars and
also will
compensate for the 11 who
died there.
Can money pay for a
life? It’s fair nowhere.
Over 12 million people are
still unemployed,
so freelancers are hired;
health benefits avoid.
With episodic income, paychecks
are quite few,
This is playing havoc with
the economy, too.
What happened
worldwide?
Here’s
an overview:
An oil embargo by the EU
for uranium enrichment “Stop
‘em if we can.
that troublemaking country
they call Iran.
America’s still in an open
war.
Our own boys still dying
and
the Afghans are sore
especially when civilians are
killed or have died.
That war’s going
nowhere.
We
failed though we tried.
Bashar al-Assad is killing
his own
Syrian people, tyrant on a
throne.
Kim Jong Un launched a
long-range missile
The North Korea “show”, we
watched it fizzle.
Putin for the third time, won
the presidency
though protests made clear
that not popular is he.
Hugo Chavez, again
Venezuela’s choice
back in power, by the
people’s voice.
Mubarak of Egypt sentenced to
prison.
Morsi, a Muslim, was the
people’s decision.
François Hollande beat
Szarkozy
and a new government in
Greece, soon to be.
A seat for indomitable Aung
San Suu Kyi
in Myanmar’s Parliament,
democracy.
The UN declared Palestine a
state.
In Gaza the rockets keep
falling, can’t wait.
And Israel’s building more
settlements, Jeez!
They killed Hamas’ al-Jabiri.
No peace!
The Summer Olympics in London
were seen,
and the opening ceremony
included the Queen.
Michael Phelps swam, 19th
medal to date.
Athletes competed,
made
their countries feel great.
Disasters: where
people died in two hurricanes:
Isaac in the Caribbean
brought
flash floods and rains.
Sandy
caused havoc on the East Coast – New Jersey,
Connecticut and even in NYC.
8.6 earthquakes in Singapore,
Indonesia,
Tsunami warnings in Thailand,
Malaysia.
Even in Italy, a 6.0
In our own South and Midwest,
a huge tornado.
Wildfires in Nevada, New
Mexico,
blackened the forests of
Colorado.
Russia, Manila, had fires,
too.
People died, homes were lost,
what they went through!
No escape for workers in an
Indian factory.
Honduran prisoners – 300
tragedy.
The Costa Concordia, off
Italy, hit a rock,
capsized this cruise
ship. That was a shock.
150 died, in Nigerian plane
crash.
West Nile virus deaths in
Texas.
Spiral injections caused
meningitis.
Who’s responsible for what’s
put in us?
Scientific
breakthrough - DNA discovery:
gene switches can cause
diseases,
where
there’s no recovery.
Physicists wrote a major
article:
Higgs Boson is the Universal
“God” Particle.
A rover landed on Mars –
named “Curiosity”.
Could there be life
there?
Two
years and we’ll see.
*
* * * * *
Now for our own year if you
care to know.
Read
on in rhyme – out loud and slow.
DAVID at year’s end was age 39.
Film
and marketing, trying to combine
in his career path,
distribution worldwide
at PanGlobal Entertainment,
assisted
Brett, to decide
what should be done for
features, indies,
reality series, and
documentaries.
Now at The Testing Group
(TTG),
a quality assurance lab, for
Blu-Ray and DVD.
Major
studio clients need their products Q A’d
so Dave’s learned what’s
needed, in this trade.
He likes what he does,
but
he works when they call.
His paycheck comes sometimes
& then not at all.
We keep very close on the
phone and emails.
His advice & wise
counsel, we seek, never fails.
LANA, 46, Frank’s daughter by birth,
lives in Plano, but works in
Dallas/Fort Worth.
As
Director of Sales and Marketing, she sells
for Mariott International,
chain of hotels.
She’s mother of Riley, and
wife to Tony.
She’s
serious about cancer walks
and
raising the money.
She “walked for the cure” in
Washington, D.C..
She finished in three days.
Hooray Whoopee!
TONY runs a copy shop in Dallas,
manages Inventus; his own
little palace.
Keeps
in touch with Matt in San Francisco
and Jessie on the farm where
organics they grow;
cooks for Lana & Riley,
plays golf, & reads, too
loves the Cowboys and movies;
with
Ri, the two do.
RILEY’s now 10 in the 5th grade in school.
Student Council
President. We think that’s cool.
In the gifted program; loves
to write and swim.
As grandparents, we are quite proud of him.
FRANK is now age 74.
The stress-of-work lifestyle
he has no more.
Sleeps when he wants to,
reads and plays chess,
looks at Facebook with
interest, more or less.
Again
took English 35A
and wrote about his “great escape.”
when he left Hungary, ‘twas a pivotal time
in 1956, when still in his
prime.
He repeated the class at the
JCC,
writing and recalling in
“Every Life’s a Story.”
He’s
done some travel diaries,
integrating ideas with his
memories.
Spends time with Barry, his
friend with whom,
works at the Christian
Science Reading Room.
Keeps in touch with George
and Nick in L.A.
Worries about their health;
good friends are they.
We celebrated our 40th
anniversary year,
Together
as partners. So come on, let’s
cheer
for the husband and wife team
of Sally & Frank,
the
former teacher and employee of the bank.
DAN 67 says that this year
had no real highlights, but
listen hear!
He
met with LOWELL ORREN from BHHS
scanned & got ready for
all the guests
a photo mural of the class of
’62
their 50th
reunion: who knew who?
Saw who was or wasn’t a
Beverly someone.
They all met at the Beverly
Hilton.
With
LEN, History of Recorded Sound
still is where he’s daily
around.
Drove
up north to Mendocino’s hills
re-united at the house of
Hildegard & Bill’s
When we came down, did an
interview
‘bout our dad, for the doc
that
I definitely will do.
Dinner
with Shirl, ritual that’s nightly
Both keeping eye on the
other, quite rightly.
We also talk often because
he’s right there.
On the
speaker phone; some thoughts we share.
MOM, that’s SHIRLEY 92
Doing just fine with nothing
much new.
Still
does her crossword puzzles, so she’s,
connecting the neurons to her
synapses.
With friends in the HUD
house,
plays
BINGO for a dime;
at the Tuesday night movies,
she
has a good time.
Her answer to,
“What
would you say about your year?’
Shirl says quite frankly,
“I’m glad to be here.”
An example of her humor, (but
let me warn ya):
“Feelin’
great for the state I’m in – California!”
ZOLI’s daughter STEPHANIE (22), ALAN, TROY, 2,
drove from Merced to spend
hours, a few.
A family lunch, El Toreador.
We talked, took pictures,
Troy
played on our floor.
We congratulate both, for
they graduated.
Frank’s Facebook account
keeps us updated.
As for me, SALLY, I’m 71.
Newly retired, so Frank ‘n I
have left home.
You can read more about it as
part of this po’m.
The students, the teaching,
the classroom I miss
so I plan a short stint in
the new year, my wish.
‘Twas a thrill for mom and my
treat to seek,
to be together in Mexico for
a week.
One project I started – a doc
about my dad,
Never knew so much material I
had.
Photos and tapes and sheet
music galore.
Just opened the scrapbooks
and files for more.
Interesting man, talented
musician.
Working title: “Moments of Recognition”.
As for DAN CYTRON: One Artist's POV,
now available for you to see,
on Amazon Instant Video
for $1.99 - good price and good show.
now available for you to see,
on Amazon Instant Video
for $1.99 - good price and good show.
RETIREMENT
When
don’t you need your resumé?
On
the day you retire, you can throw it away?
“Yes,”
I said, “retire,” and today it is true.
I’m
finished; it’s over; I’m done; I’m through.
But
it’s with regrets that I call it a day.
After
45 years I’ll step down, if I may.
Now
I’ll look back on those years
from
right here,
And
think of the things that I did year by year.
It
won’t be like Edith,
of
“All-in-the-Family” fame
Who
said at a reunion when this question came,
“So,
what ‘ve you been doing since graduation?”
[high
voice] “Well, the first day I got up.
Let
me think what I’ve done.”
I’ll
not tell you day by day,
nor
even year by year,
I’ll
make it short, to lessen your fear.
I
went to school at UCLA,.
I
majored in English and then sped away
To
teach in a high school
in
the U.S. Peace Corps
In
Lagos, Nigeria, in 1964.
After,
I traveled in Europe, the Middle East,
Did
the “Grand Tour” like a gypsy,
but,
believe me, at least,
I
tried all the food, saw art, churches, too.
Came
back to UCLA. What else could I
do?
Then
got a Masters in Film and Folklore.
Then
L.A. Adult School let me in the door.
Taught
GED and Adult Basic Ed,
Civil
Service Test Prep,
WIN
Program from the Fed.
Support
for nurses, upholstery, auto tech,
Grammar,
composition, I did it by heck.
Even
taught classes in ESL
At
Roosevelt night school, teaching was swell.
In
1972, I got married to Frank,
working
for BofA, world’s largest bank.
He
got an offer, too good to refuse –
Transfer
to S.F. So with nothing to lose,
We
moved here in l975
One-year-old
David, Frank, and his wife.
In
Oakland, for seniors I showed my slides.
Marlin
Perkins/Huell Howser – was I in disguise.
2009,
no more slide travel shows.
They
closed their classes. That’s the
way it goes.
* *
In
Summer ’76, I went job fishin’
Got
my first teaching class, in the Mission.
Also
taught at MLVS
Vocational Ed is always the best.
Then
a stint at ITP,
Miao,
Hmong, Cambodian,Vietnamese, Chinese.
Adult
literacy, started in l979.
Just
to hold a pencil was considered quite fine.
Adapting
to the U.S. in so many ways.
Education
was social work,
and
I learned “patience pays”.
A
teacher learns from her students for sure
Where
ABCs, empathy, and compassion blur.
*
*
Have
done teacher-training in Beijing, China
Did
it in Daegu, South Korea.
Have
been a mentor for UC Extension.
SHINE
Volunteers, too many to mention.
Been
a Master Teacher and one-to-one coach
For
many-a student teacher,
and
tried to approach
this
teaching task, I enjoyed, too,
To
encourage and help in what they had to do.
Have
given those workshops on “Say It in Song”
“Tips
on Teaching” and what can go wrong.
Also
made a teacher-training video,
Included
my colleagues,
who
showed what THEY know.
Wrote
two published workbooks,
LITERACY
IN LIFESKILLS
More
pain than gain, but paid a few bills.
Book
One is for Literacy A
Reading
‘n writing and what they should say.
Book
Two is good for a real level one
Students
learn English while having fun.
I
started on Filbert Street, 1981
Chinatown
Campus - It’s been a long run.
Every
level, from Literacy to 9
You
name the class, and it’s been mine.
I
even tried credit, but non-credit stuck.
And
over the years, I’ve had quite good luck.
I’ve
loved my classes, my students, most peers.
I’ll
take with me memories
from
all of these years.
Now
to CCSF, I bid adieu
And leave with a great big,
“I thank you.”
* * * * * *
We’d like to report
‘bout
our TRAVELS AND TRIPS
& tell you in rhymed anecdotes & short quips.
(Last)WINTER BREAK was three weeks long
A few days at home, and then
we were gone.
Off
to LA to see Mom, Dave, ‘n
Dan
to help clean up – whatever we can.
Mom’s collection of magazines
and books.
Robert’s stuff in boxes, in
bags and on hooks.
David’s garden, planted
succulents and cactus,
Indoors reworking – maid’s
training & practice.
New Year’s at Len’s, then New
Year’s Day,
Saw Tin Tin; it technically blew us away.
Then RANCHO MIRAGE on January 3rd,
There
for a meeting to decide in a word
if there was a there there;
it somewhat bewilders,
for the doc we’d planned, on
Michael Childers.
One fun thing happened, Dave
held a “toy” –
Schlessinger’s Oscar, for Midnight
Cowboy.
The
project turned out to be a “no go”
But something will show up,
as we all know.
We then drove to Indio, to
Shield’s, a date shake
& samples galore, what
sweet snacks they make!
Stayed in Westmoreland and
then moved on east
mountainous roads, desert
scenes, an eye feast.
Toward
YUMA, Arizona, then to MEXICO
For a day in SAN LUIS
RIO COLORADO.
When crossing back over, 2
inspections got we;
Orange peels forbidden; bags
looked too heavy.
Small-time
harassment by the Border Patrol
Tested our cool and our
self-control.
Stopped
outside Yuma, a reservation went on
Met Will, Joyce, and Judith
from
the tribe called Quechan [Kitswan]
Talked
about language preservation
And other things on the
reservation.
Took back roads, horse
ranches,
state
parks with small lakes,
California’s
great, when leisure one takes.
Blue skies and sunshine,
Highway 79.
Our short get-away was really
quite fine.
* * *
MLK weekend before school in SPRING,
GRETCHEN,
Frank and I did a fun thing.
Drove up to DUNSMUIR to visit our friends,
JANET and VINCENT.
Life tends
to be exchanging emails and
such,
But up there, there’s outdoor
beauty so much.
Mt. Shasta at sunset at 7000
feet,
Orange tints on tree tops;
wood
fireplace, warm heat.
CASTLE CRAGS viewspots
inspire
poets’ thoughts.
Breakfast, lunch ‘n dinner;
we enjoyed it, lots.
* * *
We always like it when we can
take
A little vacation during the SPRING
BREAK.
Berkeley Rep on Sunday, the
matinee,
Saw “Red” about Rothko, a
wonderful play.
Monday of the week, a group
of us went in,
Packed the literacy stuff –
Rod, Lori,
Marianne, Lin
Tuesday, we drove down to
L.A.,
Had a lovely, family, 5-day
stay.
Wednesday, Mom and I were
able,
To Visit Robert at Country
Villa Maple.
Dave and I shopped everywhere
for Friday’s “Passover”, a
pot-luck affair.
Mom lit the candles; Dan was
the lead.
Dave asked, the four
questions;
Marvin’s Hebrew, good indeed.
Andrea, Tom ‘n Mary read
their parts, too’
Len, Mike, and Frank did the
“Dayenu”.
“Who Knows One?” and “An Only
Kid”,
Charoseth, matsoh, wine,
macaroons – all did.
It was a nice gathering of
friends and family.
Our hope is to keep up this
ceremony.
Feri saw George and went out
to eat.
How nice it is when “barats”
can meet.
Saturday, Santa Monica
College, the place,
A farcical drama, “Arsenic
and Old Lace.”
Murders, police. Watch out
for that wine,
And do pay attention at whose
house you dine.
Sunday we drove back on
Highway Five,
With a dinner stop, a 7-hour
drive.
* * *
SUMMER
SUMMER
The
date was in the middle of June,
Our
first stop was PRIMM,
the
NEVADA stateline
Whiskey
Pete’s hotel, $30 was fine.
From
the Barrow gang, Bonnie and Clyde,
saw
the bullet-ridden car, in which they died.
On
to LAS VEGAS, with no plans
to do,
A
time-share presentation - the info we knew.
To
buy was not a possibility
but
to get the gifts was a surety.
A
Harrah’s buffet, we got for free.
Then
a show called “Legends, a Legacy.”
Lady
Gaga, Michael Jackson, Elvis Presley,
Blues
Brothers, Tina Turner -
all
“alive” for us to see.
Plus
dancers and a band,
perfectly
dressed from heads to toes
In
a nightclub setting, with original videos.
* **
Seniors
have perks, one’s a $10 pass
for
National Parks - a lifetime it lasts.
So
ZION “a place of refuge” we
went.
The
beauty of sandstone, literally God-sent.
Drove
through the tunnel, from the mountain cut
to
the Checkerboard area, very special, but
our
plan, the GRAND CANYON
was
the focus at hand.
A
world of wonder stretched out on our land.
So
first we camped at Jacob Lake.
Tried
to sleep there but stayed mostly awake.
Had
lots of hope but our prospects were dim
of
where to stay there on the North Rim.
But
we got lucky, having no reservation,
The
North Rim is grander
and
the trails offer views
of
five different rock layers in many hues
from
early morning till late in the day
so
hard to say,
but
took many pictures so that when
we
want to remember and relive again,
we’ll
see Roosevelt Point and Point Imperial,
a
stupendous sunset at Cape Royal.
From
a ranger in one of his geologic talks
we
learned some history
of
the Grand Canyon rocks.
Astronomers
with telescopes tilted up high
pointed
out Saturn with rings in the sky.
In
the old wooden Lodge,
there
for visitors and guests
treated
ourselves to a lovely breakfast.
* * *
CORAL PINK SAND DUNES,
a
Utah State spot
Shared
shade with a family; 104 degrees hot.
Setting
for movies, some of them old
like
“Arabian Nights” &
“MacKenna’s
Gold.”
Walked
on the dunes -
sunflowers, mormon tea,
deer,
rabbit tracks - beauty absolutey!
Back
to ZION, which was
unplanned
but
again got lucky because we found
an
empty space in the Watchman campground.
An
evening program of the Milky Way
and
how cities take the dark skies away.
To
the Emerald Pools, lower, mid, upper falls,
Virgin
River cut the sandstone walls.
Hot
we were but in a good mood
Canyon
towers, cactus flowers,
squirrels
that take your food.
Get
from them pictures and poetic remarks,
How
lucky that these experiences we find
to
take away and store in our mind.
Back to LAS VEGAS, stayed at “El Mirador”
like
a Hollywood location from way before.
Had
a pizza, pasta, and salad buffet
watched
gambler’s losing, night and day.
Wonderful
reunion with old friend JEANINE
Imperial Palace for brunch, pig-out
scene.
Drove
to L.A. stayed there for a
week.
Had
a party at Dave’s; the food it was Greek.
We
reminisced about my first teaching chore
Showed a DVD, my Nigerian Peace
Corps.
Andrea,
Mark, Mike, Mary, and Len,
Robert,
Sydney, Mom, Feri, and Dan.
The
occasion, my retirement,
Frank’s
and my birthdays, too
Nice
to gather with family - so rarely we do.
Dave,
Frank, and I, we also took Mom.
Saw
a movie, pre-teen love,
“Moonrise
Kingdom”
Squeezed
in some gardening;
organized
some stuff
No
matter how long, the time’s not enough.
I
visited Ronda; George and Nick, Frank saw
Got
to spend some time with Dave, Dan, and Ma.
We
all went to Theater West, “Arise and Sing”
Clifford
Odets reading,
‘twas
MARVIN KAPLAN’s thing.
Directed
and played Jacob; the cast did its best
A
memorable performance at Theater West.
* * *
LATE FALL
LATE FALL
SERGIE our savior and neighbor divine
Drove
us to the airport. We got in line,
Went
through security - the full body scan
Given
to every child, woman, & man.
One
stop, Chicago, then LaGuardia, NYC,
To
the Westside Y, 12th floor where we’d be.
The
city was ours, as was Central Park.
back
‘n forth to the east side
(but
not in the dark).
Dogwalkers,
horse carts,
pedicabs,
people running,
bikers,
some sitting and others were sunning,
baseballers,
photographers, locals, and tourists,
harpists,
guitarists, and saxophonists,
chipmunks
and birds and ducks in the lake,
fountains,
huge rocks, and rowboats to take.
To
2nd and 84th for a Hungarian meal,
Columbus
Day Parade - all-American feel,
with
Italian flags, bands, ROTC.
No
better place could then we be.
“Imagine”
memorial on the west side,
The
Folk Art Museum, an exhibit, “Foiled Art”,
folded
flowers, photos, painted glass - all a part.
Thank
God we just missed the superstorm
that
flooded the East Coast
with
high winds, not warm,
and
with it, electrical outages came.
Cursed
be this hurricane, Sandy by name.
Toured
the Guggenheim by Frank Lloyd Wright,
an
exhibit entitled “Picasso, Black & White”
from
his late blue period to cubist design
down
the spiral walkways, his style did unwind.
Living
one block down from Lincoln Center
Made
it so simple that we could enter
three
separate times - the City Ballet,
The
New York Phil, Il Trovatore.
We
caught one show, a drama in fact,
The
play was “Cyrano de Bergerac”.
Town
Hall was one of the places we shot.
The
house, the stage, and the outside we got.
Planning
a movie ‘bout my violinist dad
at
21 he played there. Now, that’s
not so bad!
The
Photography Center, a South African show
with
pictures and videos to let us all know
that
there was a struggle, Apartheid is done.
Mandela
was freed and the blacks the vote won.
A
special trip we took so we
could pick up some Hungarian
pastry.
Poppyseed,
apple, cherry, and cheese.
Bought
eight big pieces, our tastebuds to please.
* * *
to
see where Frank was a short-order cook.
His
very first job in the U.S. of A.
at
the private sea club called Coveleigh.
We
got a map and walked ‘bout four miles,
past
mansions, huge lots, in varying styles.
Landmarks
historical - the harbor and schools,
the
cemetery - New York’s suburban
land
jewels.
55
years, it remained in his head.
Gorgeous
fall leaves in bright orange and red.
A
found wine glass there in the grass,
he
picked up,
remembering
when they forbade him a cup.
Too
tired to walk, so we hitched back to town.
Train to Manhattan. Felt glad what we’d found.
* * *
Took
the Megabus from New York to D.C.
Four
and a half hours,
it
was straight through, easy.
LANA booked us for a week in ARLINGTON,
at
the Garden Inn, Hotel Hilton.
Her
mission, 60 miles, to walk for a cure
for
breast cancer, a tough task for sure.
DAVID flew from LA for the weekend.
Oct.
14th, for his birthday to spend.
A
family gathering, how nice for us four
Plus
the capital city was ours to explore.
The
newest memorial to MLK,
his
sayings, his image emerge in a way
that
out of a rock, we can see
the
man who dreamed for equality.
Next
on the route was FDR,
a
President who tried to raise the bar
for
those who found the economy
in
need of the New Deal - many an agency
established
to get folks out of depression.
Eleanor,
his wife, made the best impression.
The
third memorial on our walk was done
for
President and writer, Thomas Jefferson,
a
proud-standing statue and words that we utter:
“When
in the course of human events . . .”
Democracy,
our biword, still makes good sense.
David
thought we had time just to see ‘em
a
quick run-through of the Holocaust Museum.
Took
our card of a victim to recall
the
horrors of the war, the Nazis et al.
Both
LANA and DAVID flew to their home
and
SALLY and FRANKIE were then
alone.
A
day at the Hirshorn, there Ai Wei Wei,
sculpture
garden - beautiful display,
contemporary
art, some known and some new
and
then Air and Space - exhibits a few,
like
surveillance techniques, rocket ships, planes,
Wright
brothers, Armstrong, flights famous names.
American
Indians on display, too,
Their
own museum, we went through.
Different
tribes, their artifacts explained.
Old
traditions and how they have changed.
Saw
LISA MARTIN in Silver
Spring.
Ate
dinner at Nando’s. A really nice thing.
Outdoor
program, it was a bit cold,
but
the Venezuelan drummers our attention did hold.
I
even won a music CD.
Our
meeting was great, and I was lucky.
* *
* *
The
Library of Congress showed Herblock cartoons.
Obama
and Romney debates, like buffoons.
Times
hardly change so the drawings show.
Environmental degradation &
corruption still grow.
Then
to the highest court in the land,
the
Supreme Court building, justice in their hand.
A
movie, the actual courtroom we saw
where
lawyers and justices argue the law.
The
evening’s program, “Cinderella” in dance,
Mariinsky
Ballet, saw their performance
at
the Kennedy Center, to Prokofiev
Colorful,
well-done, a fairytale of love.
If
family and culture and travel we need,
then a great two weeks we
had, indeed,
* *
LATE FALL
LATE FALL
At
the Jewish Film Festival, I and
ELI
Ushered,
line controlled, did hospitality,
Volunteer
perks - docs, shorts & features
like
going to film school, with films as your teachers.
Not
just I, but FRANK did, too
Used
my vouchers, and he got to view
really good movies; it sure was
fun.
We
loved doing it, like a lottery we’d won.
She
and PHILIP decided not to stay,
so
off to London; they wanted to be
with
Oscar, Ivan, Aneil, and Sophie.
I
said, “Don’t throw that out!”
as
you make this huge shift
So
computer and furniture, they gave as a gift.
And
thus I was forced to organize
my
whole house’s contents, and what a surprise.
I
found things hidden I had forgotten,
so
out came the trash bags - and I put a lot in
but
boxes and boxes of stuff I can’t throw
are
thus in the closets, and the basement they go
I’ve
thrown out old papers;
I’ve
put files in order.
I’ve
cleaned up some spaces
(though
I’m still a hoarder).
As
for retirement, I’ve had some time now
to
reflect on the effects and understand how
a
person who’s worked all her life can just not
do
and go to the very same spot.
It’d
always been the very same thing
Back
to the classroom with students waiting.
This
year is different; my days have changed.
My
life now has been rearranged.
* * *
RILEY, our grandson, LANA ‘n TONY’s
son
Is
10 years old and decided to come
to
San Francisco, city by the bay,
In
August, he flew here, for a one-week stay.
Walked
the Golden Gate Bridge, ‘cross ‘n back together,
Trekked
in Muir Woods,
and
Lombard Street, another.
Chinatown,
the Pacific Ocean, a pool swim.
We
definitely had some good times with him.
One
week later, Tony’s son, MATT,
22,
moved
into our living room, “Oh what to do!?”
It’s
not easy to find an apartment to rent
especially
in S.F. where the rent makes a dent
in
everyone’s paycheck. You just ask
MATT.
Took
three weeks to find a place for his hat.
Our
place was his place,while he started to work,
a
place of refuge and a B & B perk.
Now
he is settled and lives on his own.
Price
Waterhouse accountant,
paying
off his student loan.
* * *
On
the occasion of the 200th birthday
a
wine-tasting and a gallery display
for
the Count who came from Hungary,
the
vintner whose name is Harasthy
who
came to SONOMA, he did
quite fine
with
cuttings from Zinfandel &Tokay, made wine.
Sonoma
and Tokay, a sister cities event -
dancing, singing, music -
Feri and I went.
* * * * * *
With
my friend from high school,
SUE OGLOVE (Merin)
SUE OGLOVE (Merin)
on Highway 5, the driving
sharin’,
like Thelma and Louise, two
gals on the run,
to see our moms and also my
son.
We also had a reunion lunch
treat
with ELLIE B. CLOTHIER on
Larchmont Street.
Memories from over 50 years
ago.
We three played catch-up with
photos to show.
* * *
I did my usual straighten-up stuff
at Mom's place, yet never enough.
Time spent with David. So nice to see him.
We even went to the Getty Museum.
Line drawings by Gustav Klimpt we saw
whose talent for people, was able to draw.
Also saw Dan, who comes to Mom's place.
So we had some time to talk face to face.
* * * * * *
* * *
I did my usual straighten-up stuff
at Mom's place, yet never enough.
Time spent with David. So nice to see him.
We even went to the Getty Museum.
Line drawings by Gustav Klimpt we saw
whose talent for people, was able to draw.
Also saw Dan, who comes to Mom's place.
So we had some time to talk face to face.
* * * * * *
Feri and I drove to L.A.
David
and he were our airport valet.
On
November 1st, both MOM and I
together
the two of us did fly
to
PUERTO VALLARTA in
Mexico
thanks
to ALICE LIPSCOMB,
Mom’s
friend from long ago.
We
stayed in her timeshare called Costa Sur.
It
was a great week, and that’s for sure.
Mom
got a passport, packed clothes for the heat.
Our
apartment was lovely;
the
view, couldn’t be beat.
A
king-sized and a sofa bed, had we
a
view to die for from our balcony.
Sunsets
each night - pink, gold, silver, blue.
Snorkling
with the fishes
and
a warm pool, spa, too.
Wifi
and bingo - a breakfast Mom won.
Speaking
of food - enchiladas and flan,
Mexican
huevos, tortillas, camarones,
salsa,
guacamole, chips y frijoles.
4
to 6 happy hour with Jim and Maureen
vodka
‘n tonic with popcorn, the scene.
GERI and ALICE would be there, too.
The
sun would set, by the pool. What a
view!
Marimba
music, live songs by the sea.
Very
memorable camaraderie.
Arrived
on the Day of the Dead, so was there
for
skeletons, candles, food they prepare
on
altars with pan muerto, drinks, and flowers,
paper
cuttings, biographies. Traditions
have powers.
A
parade at night, costumed dancers in pairs.
The
setting: Los Arcos. I sat on the
stairs.
At
the same time, the ladies were OK
at
an Oktoberfest with beer and buffet.
To
downtown we went, and we did it by bus
and
walked to the mercado.
Yes,
Mom sure did cuss
the
suspension bridge and the cobblestone street,
the
dust, and dirt, the humidity and heat.
But
she got some souvenirs to ease the pain -
a
blouse, some earrings,
painted
plate, and a cane.
We
saw iguanas up in the trees
In
the sun eating their favorite leaves.
Museo
del Cuale, ‘bout West Mexico,
Archaeological
pieces of worth, they did show.
The
malecón is a classy boardwalk.
We
sat, walked, sat, had some time to talk.
The
plaza and church, Guadalupe with crown
where Liz and Dick Burton were,
when in town.
A
super bus trip not to forget
for
breakfast in a restaurant; recall the egret?
‘Twas
MISMALOYA, resort by the
sea.
Hired
a small boat to take us to Los Arcos,
Mom
‘n me.
Turtle
rock, the devil,
fish
black and orangish/yellow,
blue
skies, breeze light
and
the seas calm and mellow.
We
watched the pelicans, fishermen, too,
had
our picture taken as the arches went through.
Mom
stayed with her friends
one
day of this vacation
and
I went to listen to a time-share presentation.
Torture
as it was, got through it OK.
I
ended up, with the money to pay
for
all our expenses. Then wasted some
time
trying
a second one, but greed is like crime.
Nevertheless,
I photographed and found
that
Puerto Vallarta is a very charming town.
We
stayed healthy,
no
problems when all was done.
A week to remember with
Mom. It was fun.
*
* * * *
Every day need not be the
same.
Shoot at the target; stand
there and aim.
Reflect on beauty and nature;
take time
Make a sweet drink out of
lemon or lime.
Take moments to breathe –
take
in some fresh air.
Be curious, amazed, thrilled,
and upbeat.
Don’t look down; get up, get
off your seat.
Make the most of your time
and use your talents.
Keep your head on straight,
and
keep your balance.
Experience wonder. It’ll make you feel grand.
For 2013. Now strike up the band!
We hope you stay healthy; be
happy, too;
keep positive thoughts;
then
“good” will come through.
Together, let’s hope for a
peaceful New Year,
more understanding, and a
whole lot less fear.
Our thoughts are with
you.
We
send hugs and kisses,
bundles of love, and all our
warm wishes.
FRANK and SALLY
