So long, Bruce - I'm gonna miss you - Poem for Bruce - Happy New Year TV watching

 The couch is no longer a bed. Bruce relaxes while he gets ready for Joanne Fabian to pick him up and take him to his new family in Ambler, PA.

Ambler was formerly the asbestos capital of the world. Cough cough cough. Oy, my left lung is aching.

Bruce will spend New Year's Eve with his new family: Matt, his wife and 3-yo daughter Lorelei.

Me, I'm all alone in the empty house.

To celebrate, I took Scott to the train station at 8 pm, then went to B&N where I was gonna read some Hafez poetry as mentioned tonite on the news

Muhammad Hāfez-e Shīrāzī (Persian: خواجه شمس‌ دین محمد حافظ شیرازی‎), known by his pen name Hāfez (1325/26–1389/1390),^[1] was a Persian poet. His collected works composed of series of Persian literature are to be found in the homes of most people in Iran who learn his poems by heart and use them as proverbs and sayings to this day.

Dick Davis, his British translater, said he is virtually unknown outside Iran. His mission is to expand the reach of Hafez, and lucky for you, my ELEVEN delicious readers, you have now heard of him.

Davis considers Hafez the "Bach" of poets, meaning he uses all the previous forms of poetry but surpasses them. Read about him on the PBS website. When I looked, it said, Be the first to comment. Dyou think I did?

I cooked lentils in my new Hamilton Beach crockpot aka crock of disapptmt. Bought it at the Hatboro thrift shop for about $8, brand new.

No one should buy it. Why? B/c it doesn't have a shut-off valve. If you cook something for four hours you've gotta be around to turn it off.

Defeats the purpose.

Joanne Fabian picked up Bruce but only after the new family's documents were approved, including background checks.

Joanne is the International Residential Coordinator of
www.thecambridgeinstitute.org | www.gphomestay.com.

Since I am now a total toady of Facebook, I "liked" the site and posted a couple photos. 

It shocked me to see the pic which shows how short I am. But gorgeous as Gabor.

What in tarnation?

To console me from not going in to B&N - they didn't even list they'd be closed early tonite! - I went to Bonefish Grill and bought me some thick and creamy clam chowder. I bought it cuz it was the cheapest item on the menu and was healthy and DELICIOUS!

Tell me how YOU'RE spending New Year's.

Oh, look, they never pay attention to me.

I'm gonna watch my new Netflix. I discovered


Meet George Gently and his new partner whose name I haven't memorized yet.

And this one is pretty good


Steve Van Zandt, the singer, plays a gangsta who moved to Norway to stake out a new territory. He's an excellent actor.


TO YUAN “BRUCE” LI
December 31, 2013

The stork delivered you
in a VW Jetta
o Chinese son
mine for
nine holy days
at Christmas time.

I loved your face
and tall slender body
a bamboo
swaying with the wind

We teach each other
Boy and mom
Together we watch
Tank Man at
Tienamen Square
you love his bravery
as we watch his last stand
before he is marched away
and vanishes forever
like last night’s dream

The sound of your laughter
that of a confident
seventeen-year-old
spills from your bedroom
into this empty house
Christmas lights in
the front windows
cheer me from
the departure of
Sarah and Dan

How brave thou art!
Kissing mother and
father goodbye
in Anhui province
by the wide Yangtze River
then flying in three
silver airplanes
across the rippling Pacific
where unseen fishermen
pull in their catch
then across the Midwest
where Asians are
exotic
bound up in stereotypes
then on to Philadelphia
to study at a renowned
Catholic prep school

Religion is not for my boy.
“Science is my god,” you proclaim
sure of yourself
as the morning sun

On wintry mornings
with white clouds
scurrying by
you do your tai chi in
the backyard
the sparrows pause
in flight
the woodpeckers
stop their hammering
charmed by your
Baryshnikov ballet steps
and rhythmic breathing

And proud mother
that I am
watch you from the
kitchen window
underneath the barren maple
and will continue to see you
my Chinese son
Yuan Li
long after you have gone. 

What we saw while walking around the block - Bruce and I do tai chi - Goose poem

After Bruce and I did tai chi in my backyard, below photo from our Xmas party at sister Donna's,



we walked around the block in the beautiful 60-degree weather. Bruce is learning to convert Celsius into Fahrenheit.

When I was in high school, America was threatening to go to the metric system, but fortunately for moi, it never did. Never was much good with numbers, otherwise I'd have gone into medicine.

"You'll make a very good cardiologist," said Mrs Hess, my fifth grade teacher at Mercer Elementary.



Bruce loves cars. Across the street, Bob Masser has a Dodge Challenger. Bruce took a good look at it.


Our neighborhood is very hilly, but b/c I'm in good shape, except for my oversized belly, I had no trouble hiking up Greyhorse.

Then, as we were rounding Cowbell, we saw Bill Adams, my next-door neighbor.

I introduced him to Bruce.

To my shock, Bruce's friend was in the backyard.

Mike had been to an area near Peace Valley Nature Center in Chalfont, PA, and had shot three geese, the maximum you can kill at one time... or perhaps for the whole season.

There are strict rules about killing game.

 Two dead geese lay on the drive.

Mike was cutting out the breast of the third one.

 Feathers were flying as Mike fileted out the breast, a real delicacy.

 He will dispose of the geese in a special place.

I thought he'd leave then in the little woods behind the house so the critters could finish em off. 

 As a hunter, he wore a camouflage shirt.
 Dyou want a breast? asked Mike.

Sure, I said. He gave me two, which are marinating for three days, according to Bill Adams, who does NOT eat them, but does enjoy Mike's venison.

You can't imagine how thrilled I was to see this action.

Now, a day later, the thrill is gone. 




NOR BREAK FOR REVERSALS

The air parts with
the call of flying geese,
a hysteria of syncopated oompahs
wing power that breaks for no reversals along the way
body after body
pumps ‘til
they're done.

Where to? Which pond?
There to feel cool water
over eye and neck bent double
then snap for fish clean.

Coffeeshop Writer's Group - Allan, we missed ye! - Photo of Bruce's Parents - Poem: Yuan Li, my Chinese exchange student

Carly, where art thou?

Ah, there she is, thanks to Martha's iPad. Linda and Beatriz contacted us via email to say they weren't coming.

Carlana wrote an intriguing piece about not sleeping well. I told her I was up until 4 am working on my latest short story, A Thief Comes Calling.

Donna Krause wrote a clever prose piece from the point of view of the New Year's Eve Ball in Times Square, keeping us in suspense until we learned who was speaking.

Justice Sotomayor will press the button for the Ball Drop this Tuesday nite.

The idea for the Ball Drop was that of Adolph Ochs, then owner of the NY Times, in 1907.

My goodness, how much we've learned in the span of two minutes.

"Banned from the Kitchen" was Martha's piece. Her granddaughter Brianna and her friend were making Christmas goodies in the kitchen and wanted no help or guidance from Grammy.



I showed Bruce an Internet photo of a cheese mushroom omelette and asked if he'd like me to make it for him.

At first I started sauteeing the mushrooms in a new Teflon-like pan I bought at the Giant yesterday.

"Terrible smell," said Bruce.

"A burning smell," I told him, and looked on the bottom of the pan.

I'd forgotten to remove the paper.

We enjoyed the 6-egg omelette and he asked if he could make it himself one morning.

Sure, I said.

He won't be here much longer. I think Monday is his last day. 

Who are these Chinese people?

They are Yuan's parents. I spoke to them last nite, Sunday nite. They invited me to China. Who knows?

TO YUAN “BRUCE” LI
December 27, 2013

The stork delivered you
in a VW Jetta
o Chinese son
mine for
nine holy days
at Christmas time.

I loved your face
and tall slender body
a bamboo
swaying with the wind

We teach each other
Boy and mom
Together we watch
Tank Man at
Tienamen Square
you love his bravery
as we watch his last stand
before he is marched away
and vanishes forever
like last night’s dream

The sound of your laughter
that of a confident
seventeen-year-old
spills from your bedroom
into this empty house
Christmas lights in
the front windows
cheer me from
the departure of
Sarah and Dan

How brave thou art!
Kissing mother and
father goodbye
in Anhui province
by the wide Yangtze River
then flying in three
silver airplanes
across the rippling Pacific
where unseen fishermen
pull in their catch
then across the Midwest
where Asians are
exotic
bound up in stereotypes
then on to Philadelphia
to study at a renowned
Catholic prep school

Religion is not for my boy.
“Science is my god,” you proclaim
sure of yourself
as the morning sun

On wintry mornings
with white clouds
scurrying by
you do your tai chi in
the backyard
the sparrows pause
in flight
the woodpeckers
stop their hammering
charmed by your
Baryshnikov ballet steps
and rhythmic breathing

And proud mother
that I am
watch you from the
kitchen window
underneath the barren maple
and will continue to see you
my Chinese son
Yuan Li
long after you have gone.

And the beat goes on...more great experiences for Yuan "Bruce" Li - Why he chose the name "Bruce"

Is there anything you'd like to do today? I asked Yuan as we drove home from the library.

Yes, he said w/o hesitation. Play hockey.

He'd noticed a hockey rink on the way to the Giant Supermarket.

I pulled in and Chris, from New Road, was getting out of his truck. He lent Bruce a hockey stick. He and I took turns running around the rink and pushing the hockey puck, while Chris put on his roller skates - for this is a skating rink - and all his equipment.

Soon his friend Harry arrived and the two of em warmed up. You should've seen how good they were!

As we trotted off the rink, Chris said, Here! I have a present for you and gave Bruce the Flyer's hockey puck.

People are so nice!

What a raucous time we had at my sister Donna's. Below is her grandson Tyler with his new GF Camilia from Ukraine.

 For Xmas, Patrick got a remote control helicopter.  Below are Steve Roche and Nikki Cartagena Roche.

 Patrick - Paddy - played the blues while Yuan watched.

 Yuan correctly described Steve Roche as passionate. Steve kept saying he loves his country and we all sang patriotic songs... God Bless America, Star-Spangled Banner, and O Beautiful for Spacious Skies.

Then Yuan sang the National Anthem of China in a big booming voice!  Everyone applauded and was very impressed.

 Demonstrating tai chi, as Nikki tries it.

Steve Roche with his new buddy Yuan Li. He liked that Yuan invited him to China and said 'he'd take c/o him and his family if they came.'

Yuan enjoyed his hot water. We all remarked that my dad loved to drink hot water. Melissa and husband Rich were also here, but didn't make the photo, as was their friend Laura, who is taking an experimental drug for her cancer.

We all held hands and prayed that the drug works. She's the mother of four children.

People ask Yuan Li why he chose BRUCE for his American name. Does this answer your question?

Our Bruce loves comics and super-heroes.

Other names his Chinese classmates have chosen are:

Charlie - Nicholas - Alice - Elizabeth

Altho Yuan developed a sweet tooth since coming to America, when he's at my house, he eats healthy.

For breakfast, he eats

It's a cinch to make.

Pour your old-fashioned Quaker oats in a sturdy bowl that can withstand the BOILING WATER you're gonna cover it with. Add your fruit of choice.

Boo-hoo! Since I got Diabetes, I can't eat it no mo'. Too many carbs.

Birthday/Xmas Party at the Demings - Bring on the Pix

What's this? Oh, venetian beads from Melissa. Her in-laws are from Italy. Only problem is I can't get the damn bracelet off. Tiny clasp.

H E L P !!!

Scott, Mom, Bruce and I drove to Dan n Nicole's house for Xmas Dinner. Barb Toohey was there too, hey!

 The classic green bean dish with creama mushroom soup. From childhood. Mmm, mmmm, good.

 Mom's blueberry jello. A special favorite with Grace. Don't ask about its spilling all over Mom's lap in the car.

 Who dis?


Ah, that's better. Sarah and I bot it in Paree! Grace told us the stockings were too big.

Bruce enjoyed the glazed ham and everything else.

Desserts that I ate: Stock's pound cake*, Bud's apple pie (next-door neighbor), Ricotta cookies w almond extract, Merlot. Went on bike for half an hour.

Stock's Bakery got an exemption from the city, I suppose, and can continue to use "trans-fats" in their product. Research shows these special fats are responsible for heart attacks. Read about it in this Dec 27, 2013 Times article.

Candid shot of why I need to go on bike.

Scott enjoyed the mac and cheese, a Paula Deen recipe.

Scott n I went to a train show thother month. Bought this wooden choo-choo train for a whole $5.

Mom was in shock when Blank snuggled on her shoulder.

My 68th B'day - We love a good party - Got two short stories published

While talking to Nancy Wolen of Columbus, OH, just now, I prepared these celery stix with cream cheese, an appetizer I'll bring to Dan n Nicole's at 4 pm.

Nancy gave me the ceramic bowl years ago. Grace broke it and Scott glued it back together.

Teamwork, as in Life. We're all related.

It's 25 degrees right now, no snow. I brought my huge salad, complete w pecan halves, into the backseat of the car as well as the celery stix.

Last nite, Scott, Bruce (Yuan Li), my 17-yo exchange student from China went to Scott's parents for delicious food. His mom, Natalie, cooked thin noodles in chicken broth. Very tasty.

When I got home I went on my bike for half an hour.

Bruce asked if he could try it. He pedaled as fast as the wind.

Did I tell you I discovered why I get tired early in the nite?

B/c I'm up for three hours in the middle of the nite. I'm reading two GREAT books:



After I finish each short story - the title story is amazing, a shocking ending - I put the book down to think about what I've just read.



He says our essential fear is of death, the fear of nothingness. He also says if you're fortunate enough to be with someone in hospice, talk to them about things that make them happy. Encourage them to reminisce about happy times.

Nancy Wolen and I were talking about our childhoods in Shaker Heights, our school years at Byron Junior High and Shaker Heights High. Easily, those were the most miserable years of my life. Oh, the cruelty that went on.

I did, however, immerse myself in great books and great music. In fact, I'm waiting, this Xmas Day, to hear Handle's Messiah on WRTI.

I loved books about religion. One book I read was: Quo Vadis ("Whither Goest Thou?"). You never hear of it anymore. Wrin in 1896 by Henryk Sienkiewicz, it was also a movie.

Those were the days when, as kids, we went to the movies every single weekend!



Ah! Handel's Messiah starting right now. First performance in Dublin. "Ladies leave your hoops at home and gentlemen your swords" read the newspaper announcement, so everyone can fit inside the rather small hall.

Bruce and I went shopping at the Giant yesterday. Here he is chatting with the vender of the Chinese food booth. Bruce told me the man is from the province of Canton, hence Cantonese food.

I also introduced Bruce to Ed, the produce man, who taught math at La Salle College. Bruce wondered why a retired individual would want an additional job after retirement.

I told him about "pensions" and about wanting additional money to keep up with ever-rising expenses.

Postage stamps are going up THREE CENTS on Jan. 26.

Bruce loves American food. We just made hot dogs with melted cheese, served on a potato roll with tomatoes, ketchup n mustard.

Delicious, he pronounced.

I learn so much from Bruce. He introduced me to a documentary about a lone man who defied the soldiers in Tianamen Square. We watched the start of it together.

Bruce 'Skypes' his parents every single nite.

He was happy to make the acquaintance of Matt, Scott's talented nephew who is majoring in Fashion Design at the Art Institute in Philadelphia, part of Temple.

"and her iniquity is pardoned" - I know every single line of the Messiah

One of my favorite true stories I've ever wrin is "Bernadette, Pray for Me." It's published in Raphael's Village here.

How do I find out about these websites?

I always jot them down whenever I read where someone has been published.

Ray's Road Review reads things very quickly. "The Psychic" was published here. 

My psychic in the story was visited by Theresa D'Avila. 



I'd wrin a newspaper article about Theresa Roba, above, who was visited by the Virgin Mary and Padre Pio.

As you can see, though I'm Jewish I have a fascination for every single religion. My daughter Sarah - the Divine Sarah - whose kidney is on permanent loan to her Mother - minored in religion at Brown.

Bruce's goal is to attend an Ivy League School.

'Dyou think I can?" he asked.

"For sure," I said.

And had him open the curtains in his room and look at the symbol on the window Sarah had left there



"Behold Your God!....
Arise shine for thy light has come!

- The Messiah

THE AMEN chorus is enough to make you believe in GOD!