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!