Holocaust

Holocaust survivor and Nobel Peace Prize winner Elie Wiesel has been in the news lately because he is once more a victim. This time the victim of one of our worst criminals in recent history, Bernie Madoff.

Madoff cheated Wiesel's foundation, and Wiesel personally, out of multi-millions.

Wiesel has responded with his usual wisdom and compassion.

This has reminded me of so many Holocaust survivors who spent their lives doing good - and continuing to remind us that, yes, the Holocaust actually did happen.

In the late 80s, when we lived in West Palm Beach, we worked with Holocaust survivor Robert Clary. You may remember him as Le beau on Hogan's Heros. He was a professional dancer at age 12 and a prisoner in the concentration camps at age 14. We met him years after his Hogan's Hero days, when he was speaking all over the country about his experiences as a child in the camps. Above is a picture of Robert Clary when he came to see us.

What an inspiration!

I hope when the last of the survivors is gone, that others will continue to remind us that, yes, the Holocaust actually did happen.

I plan to do my part.

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Women

There was a very sick joke going around a few years ago. It was supposed to be what O.J. said when he was frustrated with all of his (original) troubles.

Women! Ya can't live with 'em. You can't cut their heads off!

Yes, I know. I shouldn't have said that. But I've been frustrated of late dealing with a large organization and their reluctance to deal with - or even discuss - an issue that primarily affects women.

Then there was an article in The New Yorker about nursing mothers that got a lot of flack. (It seems that nursing your baby is what you're supposed to do but not in public and especially not in the work place.)

Then my granddaughter asked me for my thoughts about the Women's Movement in the 60s - since I was there. She needed it for a school assignment.

Last night she called to tell me that her presentation went well. Wish I could have seen it. One of her instructors reminded them that one of the fears in the early 60s was that - if women got the birth control pill - we would all run away from home and have affairs.

Here are some of the notes I gave my grand daughter for her presentation:

- My life was greatly affected by the Women's Movement

- The first woman writer who impacted me was Eleanor Roosevelt. She died in 1962. She didn't write about women's issues - she wrote about world issues.

- The big issue in the beginning of the Women's Movement was birth control. I had four babies but I didn't have to have them. I chose to have them.

- Work for women prior to the 60s was mostly in school, office, factory or hospital. And as soon as they discovered you were pregnant - you were done. Yes, Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsberg went to law school but she couldn't get a job when she graduated because she couldn't type.

- My husband and I did not have a traditional marriage. We negotiated (read that "argued about") most everything. We loved, respected and needed each other. He thought I could do anything. And now I'm blessed with another man who "gets" me in a completely different way. How'd I get so lucky?

- One of my favorite Bible verses is Genesis 1:27 "God created human beings in his own image;...male and female he created them."

I just read yesterday that the majority of men who've recently lost their jobs are spending their time watching TV and working out. Women who've lost their jobs are spending time with the kids and cleaning the house.

Guess the pill didn't chase us away from home after all.


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We Can't Go Back to Egypt

When Moses led the Israelites out of slavery they had to spend some time in the dessert. Some of the people were always grumbling.

Why did you bring us out of Egypt to make us die of thirst?

In our family we call these people "The Back to Egypt Committee." Every movement has one. Always grumbling about the progress being made but refusing to offer any real suggestions to help move things along.

Our president made a terrific speech last night. Will this new plan work? I don't know. But it's the plan. Do you have some positive suggestions to help make it work? Let's hear them. Do you have a better plan? Let's hear it.

Otherwise, please try not to grumble when I'm around.


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A Walk in the Woods

As you know, my boyfriend and I walk at least two fast miles every day.

As you know, I'm not a Nature Girl. He is a Nature Boy. He walks with me through malls full of gaudy twinkle lights so I occasionally need to return the favor.

On Friday we drove over to the space coast to hike at the Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge. Located next to the Kennedy Space Center, this pristine area consists of miles of hiking and driving trails.

By the way, my bird watching (Power Ranger) friend loves this place. I like to tease her about it (bird watching) but I'm grateful she encouraged us to go. She gave us a bunch a maps with folksy handwritten notes all over them. Here's a sample:

Great to park behind dunes and walk or fish on beach. Ask which end is for nudists. I try to avoid that end.

We didn't go to the nudist beach either. We took the boardwalk trail. Then the Oak Hammock Trail, about a mile long, but we got lost so it was longer.

Then the two mile Palm Hammock Trail.

We saw two alligators - one small and one humongous - lots of birds and ducks - and a snake. The snake was lying across our path. It was big. I jumped back and yelled: SNAKE! It had just eaten something big because it had an unsightly bulge in it's middle. We threw a couple of sticks at it to make it move but it didn't so we walked (waay) around it.

For the next twenty minutes, whenever there was a vine on the path I yelled SNAKE. But then I finally calmed down.

This place looks like Florida looked a hundred years ago. Dolly Parton once said "There's no such thing as natural beauty." But this is natural Florida at its best. Everything around us was a treat for the eyes.

The cost? It's free. Let's hope it stays free and pristine forever.

When we finished our hiking and a beautiful seven mile drive, we went to a well know Florida Cracker restaurant, famous for rock shrimp, called Dixie Crossroads, and stuffed ourselves.

All in all, a beautiful day.


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The Reader

The Reader was one of the best books I've ever read. I love book clubs. If it weren't for the book club at my condo I wouldn't have read The Reader all those years ago. I'd never heard of it. It was an Oprah pick but I don't watch Oprah.


I wasn't expecting much from the movie. But we saw it last night and it was breathtaking. I hope either The Reader or Slumdog Millionaire wins the Oscar. They're both important, beautiful, heartbreaking movies that make us think about things we don't want to think about.

The book and movie The Reader bring out many issues but I want to zero in on three.

The character, Hanna, played in a terrifyingly vulnerable way by Kate Winslett, is deeply flawed.

When we first see her she seduces a 15 year old boy. He's a child - so it's abuse. We know that children who are abused (especially sexually) sometimes never recover.

So when you're watching the steamy sex scenes (that carry on for the first third of this movie) remember what's happening wounds this boy forever.

Second, there's the 600 people horribly murdered.

Third, and very important, there's her secret. Her secret destroys her.

Dr. Scott Peck in his book, People of the Lie, describes people who do evil. His first example in this book is surprising because it's about a traveling salesman who, all at once, becomes afraid to cross bridges. So he finds ways to avoid them. His behavior finally escalates to terrible proportions.

Is Peck saying that mental illness is evil? No. He's saying that denying who you are and where you are weak - pretending it isn't so - is evil.

Hanna's secret, her denial of her weakness, destroys her and almost everyone else in her path.


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Florida Governors

The cards aren't in yet on our current governor, Charlie Crist. Like almost every other state, Florida is in crisis. This usually brings out the best or the worst in our leaders.


Let's hope for the best.


I've pretty much kept up on all of our governors since the 60s.


I don't remember Ferris Bryant as governor but, later, he attended our church from time to time. He seemed like a fine southern gentleman.


Claude Kirk was a piece of work.


Likewise, Bob Martinez.


Bob Graham, who went on to be our senator, was an excellent governor. I still have several gold "Graham Cracker" lapel pins.


One of my favorites was Lawton Childs. An extremely hard working, down home kind of guy, Lawton Childs was noted for walking all over the state when he was campaigning - and other times as well.


Everybody knew him as "Walkin' Lawton."


Jeb Bush was a good governor and, in my opinion, positively the smartest Bush, including dad. While I didn't agree with many of his decisions, I thought it was sad that he missed out on being considered a presidential candidate because of you know who.


Above is a picture of a very young and idealistic Lawton Childs, along with a couple of other young and idealistic Floridians.




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The Most Loving Thing

Imagine that you are in your early twenties, newly married and out for a romantic Valentine's Day dinner. As you're enjoying a drink and watching the sun set you notice your parents (whom you're crazy about) coming into the restaurant. What do you do? You don't to spoil the dinner for your spouse.

Then imagine that your spouse sees them and graciously insists that they join you for the romantic dinner. And that the four of you end up having a wonderful time.

Last night we were enjoying our drink on the sidewalk when my Oldies ambled up to the hostess looking for a table. My boyfriend immediately went to them and escorted them to our table.

What a guy!

We had a fun time laughing and talking about silly things. Like old cowboy movies.

When Mr. Oldie was the vice president of a major international company, one part of his job was working with entertainers who were engaged to perform for this company.

He did not like this part of the job.

For the most part they were extremely difficult to work with. He has told me hilarious stories. One time they had a bomb scare and they had to evacuate the building but the internationally known singer refused to get off the stage. He finally had to physically take her arm. All the while she was screaming "Will I still get paid?"

Another demanded a luxury limo in a place where there were no limos to be had. Mr. Oldie was preparing to have one flown in when her agent convinced her that she was being unreasonable. She settled for a big Caddy with driver.

My Oldie is the only human being I know who had a little disagreement with Walter Cronkite - at the time when he (Cronkite) was the most trusted (and loved) man in America.

The sad thing is that he no longer remembers any of these things. But last night he was telling us how Gene Autry - The Singing Cowboy - was a really nice guy.

So I was grateful to reminisce at my Valentine's dinner with three people I love.



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Valentine's Day

It's always convenient to have a significant other on V-Day. But if you don't, just carry on with somebody you love - friend, child, grandchild, pet, etc. There's always somebody around to get mushy with if you just pay attention.

40 some years ago when I was engaged and newly married my husband and I had romantic times on V-Day. Later we concentrated on the kids.

But Valentine's Day has taken on new significance since I fell in love three years ago. I feel all romantic. My boyfriend is taking me to "our" valentine restaurant. Our 3rd annual dinner. On my favorite avenue in all the world. We'll sit outside on the sidewalk and watch the world go by.

By the way, we're going tonight because Valentine's Day (tomorrow) is "Rookie's Night Out" in nice restaurants. It'll be crowded with people who never eat out otherwise.

By the way, my Oldies eat at this special restaurant about four times a week.

But you don't have to spend a lot of money to celebrate V-Day. Make a card for somebody you care about. Today I caught my boyfriend looking at expensive, mushy cards at Walgreen's. I said,

"Why would you look for a card the day before V-day? It's too late to send it."

He said, "I'm looking for one for you."

I said, "Great. Find a big expensive one and show it to me right here. Then we'll put it back and spend the money tonight."

So, if you're on the Avenue tonight and you see us sitting outside on the street having dinner, stop by and say hi.

If you want to have V-Day dinner on the avenue, there are lots of choices. Whether you choose someplace really pricey or the coffee shop, you're still on the same sidewalk on my favorite avenue in all the world.

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Homeless Fashion Update

Yesterday we, again, served lunch to the homeless. It's one of the most meaningful things I do these days.

I was again assigned to the drink table. The drink was water. The rules were that a person could have all of the water they wanted - but only one cup. My take on that is that I'm not the drink police. I'm the drink server.

Some people took two cups.

In filling water cup, plus people's dirty plastic water bottles, I tried to touch each person's hand. (If any of my kids are reading this, yes, I was wearing plastic gloves.)

The meal consisted of fruit salad, those big plastic wrapped sandwiches from the convenience store, rolls and soup. If it's your only meal for the day it's a substantial one.

A reminder that the doors open at noon and close at 1:00 P.M. and the saddest thing in the world is seeing the line of people who don't make it in.

So the food gets served VERY FAST!

My boyfriend, who was serving the fruit salad, said that the most interesting person he saw was a guy who was obviously homeless (because of his back pack with all of his possessions inside) who was listening to his I-pod the whole time.

The most interesting person I saw was a very old, very small man, wearing a dirty shirt, pants and socks but very nice new women's shoes.

My guess is that where he shopped, those were the ones that fit him.

If you haven't had the blessing of doing something like this lately I hope you'll seek it out.


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Oldies Update

We're still seeing my Oldies at least a couple of times a week. The memory loss is still acute but their sense of humor and ability to be on the go are as strong as ever.

Mr. Oldie is still ordering his two fried eggs at Panera's. But last Saturday the cook came out and very apologetically told him that it was impossible because the line for breakfast was out the door. Mr. Oldie graciously acquiesced.

And Mrs. Oldie (who weighs about 100 lbs. soaking wet) is still wearing her Chanel suits.

As you know, on Saturday mornings she gets escorted from the restaurant, across the street to have her hair done. When I do it we hold hands for safety.

This past Saturday my boyfriend did it. He held her hand as well. When they entered the salon my boyfriend announced to the hair dresser that he was HER new boyfriend.

Without missing a beat Mrs. Oldie said, "Yes, I think I need a younger man."

Don't tell Mr. Oldie they shared this little joke. It would make him sad. He lives and breathes for her.


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Memories

Recently I received my fall copy of the Emory University/Candler School of Theology magazine.

We attended this school in the late 60s. Well, my husband attended. I took some classes, wrote poetry for the magazine and worked in the development office our last year there.

When I opened the magazine I was happy to see, on the first page, the color picture above of Bishop Mack Stokes, along with Candler Dean, Jan Love. He and his late wife, Rose have given a gift to Candler that will enable the school to establish the Bishop Mack B and Rose Y. Stokes Chair in Theology.

When we were in seminary all those long years ago Mack Stokes was a well loved professor at Emory (Candler.) For our first two years there we served a "Three Point Charge" - that's three small country churches (at the same time) way up in northeast Georgia.

We invited several of these wonderful, prestigious professors to visit us and speak on Sunday mornings to these farmers who, by the way, had no idea who they were nor did they care.

To our constant amazement, the professors came - and many times brought their families. After the services we had "dinner on the grounds." These farm people could put on quite a spread.

The black and white picture is of Professor Mack Stokes and his lovely wife Rose at one of these noon time dinners. I'm on the left. My son is on my lap. He was not feeling well that day - but he liked the dinner.

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Our First Fight

Well, not really. My boyfriend and I are ooey gooey all the time.

However.

We had friends over for dinner last night. I suggested a couple of days before that we have Curried Chicken and Rice with toppings. Twenty years ago I made this fun dish often.

We bought all of the ingredients.

Then, yesterday, he said "Oh no, we forgot the coconut milk."

Coconut milk?

Then he pulled the - "Remember, I was born in Kuala Lumpur and was raised on curried chicken with sambols" - card.

That's what he calls the toppings.

Sambols.

Well, since I learned to make this recipe in Melbourne, Florida in the 80s using a Crock Pot, and, since we had the ingredients for this recipe, this is what we used.

The dinner was a success but today after he and I ate the left overs we Googled "Malaysian Curried Chicken" and decided to change the recipe a bit next time. Maybe even include the coconut milk.

Last night we compromised on the sambols. They were pineapple chunks, peanuts, raisins, mandarin orange slices, boiled egg bits - and coconut.


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Tests and Game Shows

Most people know that one of the themes in "Slumdog Millionaire" is winning the big prize in "Who Wants to be a Millionaire."

The main character, a slum kid, is suspected of cheating because he's - well - a slum kid.

When I used to watch "...Millionaire" I was amazed at times because I knew most of the answers. But then, other times, not much.

I know way too much about pop culture. But I know nothing about sports or music after the 50s.

I know tons about women's literature and American history. I know little about math and science.

I'm up on politics. I know the Bible. I don't know much about Scientology.

There's long been a controversy about SATs and other standardized tests. Some kids are smart and know plenty about their own culture and their own world but don't have the same kind of knowledge as mainstream kids.

If I'm ever on the Millionaire I hope I get questions on poetry, literature, The Brady Bunch and John Wesley.


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I'm A Slumdog

As you know, I love movies and always have.

Last night we paid the big money to see "Slumdog Millionaire."

It's been astoundingly successful both with critical acclaim and with the public despite the fact that it's had a lot of bad press, especially from India.

Indian activists claim that the children of the slums were exploited, the title is demeaning, etc.

The director, Danny Boyle is English, so I guess it is hard to see outsiders come in and present your home in such a sad way. But the movie has earned $100 million dollars world wide and is the front runner for the best picture Oscar.

Newsweek calls the movie part thriller, part romantic comedy, part musical. I disagree.

I was disturbed by it. It gave me nightmares last night. Did I like it? Yes. But in the same way I liked "Schindler's List." By the way, there is a horrible scene in "Slumdogs" that's taken right out of "Schindler's List. "

In a small way I could relate to these kids. No, not the electric shock or the water boarding or the eyes gouged out with a spoon - but I could relate to growing up without a mother, the being on my own at an early age, the inability to protect my brother, the being cold and hungry.

A close friend (one of my Power Rangers) told me recently that it was one of the best movies she's ever seen. I get that. She's traveled all over the world - many times on mission trips where she was helping the poor.

But it was almost too much for me.

I did like the fact that Jamel's brother had the strength to finally do the right thing - because of his faith.

The movie does end joyfully with a typical Bollywood dance. My friend also told me that the dance defines the word "Bollywood."

She's coming for dinner tonight so we'll have more opportunity to discuss "Slumdog Millionaire."

We've having Curried Chicken and Rice.

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Who's Your Favorite James Bond?

I've read that almost half the people in the world have seen a James Bond movie. You can't get away from them. They just keep comin'.

The overwhelmingly favorite Bond was, of course, the sophisticated, beautiful and smarthy Sean Connery. There was always a lot of cool dialogue in beautiful settings. He was always in control. I did have problems with Bond. He routinely made love to women and then killed them. But it was all in fun.


I also liked Roger Moore's Bond. He seemed to think the whole thing was a big joke so that made it even more fun.

I saw the first 14 Bond movies.

The last one (before last night) was "Octopussy" in 1983 with Roger Moore. My son told me this morning that that's the last one he saw as well because I took him to see it.

I apologized.

I don't know about all those other Bonds. My guess is that Pierce Brosnan was pretty good because he has some of those Sean Connery attributes.

But who's George Lazenby?

My favorite Bond songs are Shirley Bassey's "Goldfinger" and Carly Simon's "Nobody Does it Better."


Last night my boyfriend took me to the 75 cent theater to see "Quantum of Solace." We both hated it. It had no humanity, no witty dialogue, no humor and no soul. It had lots of special effects, if you're into that sort of thing. I am not.

The great Judi Dench played "M." I can only say,

"Judi, Judi, Judi. What were you thinking?"


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