FOTO FRIDAY: THAT TIME OF THE YEAR

 

FOTO FRIDAY It's that time of year for one of my annual traditions where I write my donations all at once before the New Year... 

After collecting all the appeals over the year, I alphabetize them, throw away duplicates and decide who gets how much ... 

As they I gave at the office ...  HAPPY NEW YEAR!

TBT: BEING NEIGHBORLY

What's ironic is I was going to write about this as a midweek musing re: being neighborly and what pops up on Memories from 2020 in the End of the Rainbow Valley:

Do you know what’s wonderful? When you come home to this sight, a plowed driveway since a neighbor down the lane cleared yesterday’s snowfall. Irv was not feeling well yesterday and I really didn’t want him out using today’s energy! Gail Kraus please give Shaun a huge thank you from me too...

There's nothing like good neighbors and I was lucky enough to get good neighbors on this move too.

TUESDAY TUNES: MAKE YOU FEEL MY LOVE

 TUESDAY TUNES this week found me yearning for a softer melody and this young lady knows how to spike it, Meet Hannah Nicholaisen originally from Houston auditioning for American Idol. I think she'll melt your heart as she did mine.

Make You Feel My Love

MONDAY MUSINGS: BAUBLES & BALDWIN

When researching what I would like to do while in the Big Easy alias NOLA/ the Crescent City, the city where Mardi Gras beads abound no matter where one looks ie: up in trees, hung over electrical wires and even donning entryways, the opportunities were many...

What caught my eye was a special exhibit at the African American Museum compiled by Sabrina Nelson whose work took over 7 years to fill a sketchbook of James Baldwin's thoughts and artistry. Shenamed this travelling year-long exhibit Frontline Prophet: James Baldwin. 

The title was the result of a commentary by theologian and author Dr. Cornel West as to the difference between a leader and a prophet. Baldwin's approach was  a Black prophetic approach to white supremacy deconstructing the American Dream.

Personally my education re: Baldwin didn't begin until I was an older adult. Baldwin serves as an inspirational being, tirelessly working to expose and fight the injustices of race, religion and sexuality. 

"The longer I live, the more deeply I learn that love - whether we call it friendship or family or romance is the mirroring or magnifying of each other's light.  Gentle light. Steadfast light. Life-saving work in those moments when life and shame and sorrow occlude our own light from our view but there is still a clear-eyed loving person to beam it back. In our best moments we are that person for another." - James Baldwin

We certainly need more James Baldwins in this world...

FOTO FRIDAY: BIN' THERE

 FOTO FRIDAY: It's that time to box it up until next year. 

How long do you leave your holiday stuff up after the holidays?

Done...

TBT: SWEIJYAU FRIED =JYAUDZ

I thought it would be fun for this TBT to pull up an old blog entry (2014) with one of our inter- national university students, Jie Xian from China and her friend. Read about how one traditional birthday food became another for the holiday of Chanuka! 

Sying nyan kwaile.( Happy Birthday Jie!)

SWEIJYAU FRIED =JYAUDZ

TUESDAY TUNES: TRUMPETS & MORE

There's no betterer place to listen to Dixieland Jazz than the fine ole city of NOLA, New Orleans. 

Here is a sample of some street musicians entertaining passersby in the market district. This was my first time back since 2004.

Take a listen:

and some singing to boot...

FOTO FRIDAY : PUTTING ON THE GLITZ

 FOTO FRIDAY this week finds me enjoying the traditional holiday festivities at the Roosevelt Hotel now a Waldorf Astoria in the Big Easy. Purdy.

Last week 

TBT: CELEBRATING WITH THE HAPPY BOOKERS

TBT: My Wisconsin book group The Happy Bookers know how to celebrate and our plans are in motion for an Arkansas visit in April.  I am anxiously counting the days.  

I have certainly missed our book discussions, mini vacays and holiday get-togethers. 

TUESDAY TUNES: WHAT IT IS

The title is appropriate for  my week... although the lyrics and video are a little racy., it's a great song for exercising at 5:15 am.

It's catchy... 

It Is What It Is

MONDAY MUSINGS: THE TRUTH OF THE INVISIBLE STRING

 It's difficult to believe that it has been a week since my Dad was buried. I feel so blessed by all your kind words and efforts this past year with my three losses...

Yesterday a friend of 30 some years gifted me a children's book titled The Invisible String. It's a sweet story of how a Mom explains to her children we are always connected to those we love by the invisible string of love. So even if we have a disagreement that bond is still there and even when we can't see that person for whatever reason, we still have that connection. 

It's true whether it's a pet, friend/family member, the invisible string of love will always be there... 

FOTO FRIDAY: TIMELESS & AGELESS

 

FOTO FRIDAY: finds Chanuka Harry & Larry celebrating their first night of Chanuka with the Fisher Price family in their timeless abode. 

Hope that family is ready for some mischief!

TBT: THE NEWLYWEDS

 TBT: Those NEWLYWEDS are my parents, z"l. (Dec 53)

MIDWEEK MUSINGS & MENSCHLICHKEIT

We might question the existence of G-d at times of loss / the validity of religion but the gift of good caring family, friends and community who have surrounded us with acts and words of kindness is beyond measure. Menschlichkeit, showing humanity.

My scientific Dad wasn't the religious type but spiritually embodied the tenets of the five books of Moses. He ensured we kids studied and lived our Judaism to leave this world better than we found it by his example through his volunteerism, doing good work, tzedakah (charity), being kind to the earth and working towards the equality of our fellow man. 

Forty members of our Jewish community surrounded us in our family home to pray and share memories at our shiva minyan.  Since we children vary in our religiosity too we will observe the mourning period in our own ways. 

Here is an informative video re the period of mourning :SHIVA

The table was completely covered after guests added goodies...

Since a private funeral was held, a Celebration of Life will be held Sunday, January 7th at 2pm at Temple B'nai Israel. 

In lieu of flowers please consider making donations toward Synagogue Agudath Achim, Temple B'nai Israel, Boy Scouts of America and/or Lions Club International. 

MONDAY MUSINGS: FISHING THE LITTLE RED RIVER FOR LIFE

It was a gorgeous sunny Sunday afternoon as my brothers and I stood watching our father's pine casket being lowered next to our Mom's resting place. It was the kind of day that Dad would have been hankering to be fishing on the Little Red River. In fact, we snuck his tattered lucky fishing feathered cap in with him so he could catch as many fish as possible...

Since we were toddlers the 3 of us grew up being taught by our Dad to savor the joy of fishing and how to bait our hooks, add lures and hooks as he would teach our children as well. In fact, a family trip reunion had us all including a great-granddaughter, gathering in a lodge on the Little Red River a couple years ago 

Dad has fished all over the world and now he will be free to continue to tell his fish stories and fish for the rest of eternity...

TUESDAY TUNES: IT HAD TO BE YOU...

 TUESDAY TUNES is super special today. One of my Dad's nighttime aides gave us all such a gift as she would document messages and their musical endeavors. Here is one of my favorites which I will always treasure.

It Had to Be You...

FOTO FRIDAY:MATCHING PAIR

FOTO FRIDAY gives thanks to my daughter for adding a lot of laughs to the gift-giving season. Don't you just love people who find the unusual gifts? This was the hit of our family Chanuka Party. I think it put new meaning on finding its match...

TBT: BLUSTERY

10 years ago the kids visited us and how could they return to their homes without the vista of the Coulee Region?

 Like the cooler temps that blew into Little Rock this week, this was also an extremely blustery cold day on Granddad's Bluff even for up North.

Those are grimaces, not smiles.' Come on Mom, take the pic already.'

MONDAY MUSINGS:THE QUIET

The frig is emptier, the linens are washed and beds have been remade, dishwasher has been unloaded, the bin of Thanksgiving decorations has gone back to its storage place and the most apparent thing remaining after the holiday weekend is over is the quiet... 

Gone is the noise only grandchildren can bring to a household. The laughter, squeals, the crying, their voices with the best being the kids calling to get my attention- BUBBE.

Apparently, the youngest, that 2 yo, was using my name in the ~ 9 hour car trip home a little too much... driving that carload cuckoo.

But here it's so quiet... you know what I mean.

TUESDAY TUNES::BETTER PLACE

TUESDAY TUNES is one that makes me smile because we all remember that special someone who takes us to a better place and we only want to reciprocate. ENJOY...

BETTER PLACE (NSync & Timberlake)

FOTO FRIDAY: TURKEY GATHERING

FOTO FRIDAY: A Thanksgiving childhood tradition of my son-in-law's was a way to keep the kids busy by playing with clay. So we all participated in creating our own turkey creations for our Thanksgiving dinner tables where 30 extended family members attended Thanksgiving dinner. 

It was quite a flock...

Last week's FOTO FRIDAY was NOT FOR LONG

TBT: TURKEY DAYS PAST

TBT: Six years ago was Ms. H's  First Turkey Day with Pappa (92) and Ms H at 3 months.

MIDWEEK MUSINGS: BEING THANKFUL

 Counting one's blessings comes easier to some than others...

The holiday of Thanksgiving provides us an opportunity to be thankful for our bounty. I am so thankful to not live where a war is raging.

Many family and friends' tables will be laden with traditional foods of the holiday and appreciation for the opportunity to be together no matter what else is on their plates... 

Even if you won't have the day off since you are needed at your job hopefully you will be able to have another day for some free time to reflect on your good fortune.  

Let us be thankful for all we do have...

FOTO FRIDAY: STILL MOWING ? NOT FOR LONG

FOTO FRIDAY this week is about mowing- but not mowing to cut my yard's grass but to collect and mulch all those fallen leaves.

You know how long this scene will last... 

not long. 

There are a lot more leaves yet to fall...

Last week's FOTO FRIDAY was: LES FLEURS

TBT: FREEZE IT

TBT: We kids had a source for dry ice for Halloween as it was part of our Dad's lab supplies. Here is Doc Sherman,  the cryobiologist still playing with dry ice in his eighties. 

Dad "earned international recognition while he was still a  University of Iowa graduate student. A side project, arising out of his job at the medical school freeze-drying specimens for the Department of Urology, led to the first human conceptions using frozen and then thawed semen. In 1949, a group of British scientists reported its success in impregnating chickens using previously frozen semen treated with glycerol as a protectant. Sherman read the article and began his own experiments."

TBC...

MIDWEEK MUSINGS: MOMENTOS

My Mom's birthday was yesterday and she would have been 93. She was an avid reader.  Childhood memories include weekly visits to the old downtown public library after which we all would return with our school bags full of new books.

As many of you know reading has not been high on my desires since Irv's passing. Apparently this is not an uncommon occurence having to do with a wandering mind and short attention span. But yesterday I read an entire book in a sitting titled  Gone from My Sight, The Dying Experience.  

Actually, this is a booklet provided by Hospice and was only 7 pages long. Each page spoke volumes. You see during the last 3 months our 98-year-old Dad who was sharp as a tack began to know his body was betraying him. As an anatomy professor, he knew the story...

Dad's interest in TV waned and he began to want to stay in bed more. We had to learn to give him agency making the few decisions where he could still have control. 

We knew our Dad wasn't the same Dad when he didn't feel like company. This withdrawal and limited conversation placed emphasis on inward conversations with past memories more than with those around him.

Disorientation and physical changes are occurring with closed eyes, lack of appetite with petered strength.  He's been on oxygen going on for ~3 weeks. His color has become sallow and he looks all of his 98 years. 

The last couple of days he had a surge of energy with open clear eyes and conversation but the Hospice nurse warned us that was a rally and as the booklet indicated possibly days or hours left. 

Everybody's path is different. But here's what I would ask of you, my dear friends and readers knowing you to be concerned individuals, PLEASE don't ask me how he is. He's a tough bird as my Mom would attest. Our goal now is to keep him comfortable. 

"Death comes in its own time, in its own way and is as unique as the individual who is experiencing it." 

                                   Time passes like the arrow.

TUESDAY TUNES: USED TO BE YOUNG

Tuesday Tunes this week is by Miley Cyrus and yes, we all remember how young she was when she hit the music scene. She must feel really old reaching the ripe old age of 30...

and now...     Take a listen to :USED TO BE YOUNG

TBT: CELEBRATING HALLOWEEN WITH THE JAZZERBUDDIES...

TBT: Boy do I miss my Jazzerbuddies and our celebrations. This is from more than a couple of moons ago...

FOTO FRIDAY: LES FLEURS

 This FOTO FRIDAY marks my Mom's Yahrzeit the anniversary of her passing on the solar calendar.  my Mom, z"l, loved her flower garden so these flowers will don the Shabbos Kiddush table this evening... 

               May her memory always be for a blessing ...        

May you be blessed as you go on your way...

MIDWEEK MUSINGS: COMPROMISED

In addition to some personnel challenges with my Dad's care, the past 48 hours have been my most difficult mentally in a while as both my credit card and Facebook account were compromised.  Countless hours of frustration have led to regaining access to both in addition to having a new credit card delivered via Priority mail.

I have newfound respect to those of you who have had to go through the countless info checks and notification to various vendors and services. No telling which I have forgotten until those late charges start arriving... Eegads.

Forget about challenging my memory with differing passwords. .. I am just glad to be reconnected to you all.  Oh and yes, I was having jigsaw puzzle withdrawal which I remedied with an extra walk yesterday.

Finally. this email arrived in which I had very little faith...  

"Thank you for confirming your identity. You can click the button below to get back into your account.

You've two-factor authentication turned on. This means you'll be asked to enter an authentication code when you try to access your account from a new computer or a mobile device to make sure it's you. You can learn more about managing your two-factor authentication settings" The other great pick-me-upper is that Fall has finally arrived.

TUESDAY TUNES: BUCKLE BUNNY

 TUESDAY TUNES:  What the heck is a Buckle Bunny? 

Who cares? It's catchy with a great routine! 

Tanner Adell's BUCKLE BUNNY