Holocaust research can often be compared to exploring what lies beneath a numbing scar - Who was the Grandparent, Uncle, Aunt,Cousin, or family member I never knew, who were ripped away by tragic events in history. I thought this was so sad , that even the angels from heaven cried....

I was in Munich, Germany - and I had a vision for a memorial, where thousands of candles could be lit to memorialize the sparks of all the souls that rose to Heaven.

Has mankind learned his lesson ? Well look at the videos in the NY Times where Nicholas Kristof, brings to the viewers attention the plight of the refuges in the Congo, four million to date
which have died from war, hunger, and disease. Where did all our civilization and technology disappear to ? Are we repeating the 1940's where millions of human souls are lost...once again.
Oh well it's Africa, here we go again - Uganda, Darfur, Somalia, Ruanda.

Hmmm maybe the retiring CEO of Exxon, could spare a plane full of food, or John Chambers could fly down and tell them about all the new developments in internet telecommunications,
and Bill Gates could bring some Vista voip servers, and of course some food and medicine. The Saudi princes could cruise over in their mega yachts from the Mediterranean and hold a feast or two. The Sultan of Brunai could fly a few thousand refuges over to his palaces and hotels for some R&R. Was it Candide who said "This is the best of all possible worlds ? "

What happened to all the missionaries ? Did 4 million people deserve this... ?

=======

Once, in 1989, I was in Marienplatz, one lovely summer evening, there were South American Indians playing native music. The Plaza was lively, but it wasn’t, something was alien, something was wrongful and uncleansed, something was in an unholy spatial temporal distortion, something was forgotten, perhaps even books were burned here, words of hatred were once spoken here, holy men were beaten, families were broken, life was distorted, innocents deported, money extorted, treasures and property stolen, children berated, Temple and Scrolls desecrated.... that wasn’t the sound of a Shofar I heard. That wasn’t Klezmer music playing softly in the background.....

I had a vision of sanctification, of dedication, of purification of prayer and singing and triumph...thousands of candles would be shaped in the form of a Mogen David, purifying

decades of darkness, shame, and repression... celebrating our Survival, celebrating the beauty of our religion, the holiness and warmth of Israel....affirming it can never happen here to us again, it can never be the same, as the holy light exposes and purifies their shame. Let there be song and dances to go with the light, let our souls and spirits spread wings and take flight.

WHEN HEAVENLY ANGELS CRIED

B”H I can not sleep

The souls of my Mishsproche, I hear them crying out in my heart...& I begin to inwardly weep

The blood- mixed ashes, urine, flesh, bone, and seed

Their souls cry out – I have looked from a temporal cyber-distance in their eyes...and felt this imploring need

The Angels hold the souls in glowing ashes of Jewish children in their hand –and even they do not really understand

Looking up as sparkling souls travel up toward the Heavenly sky...even though in His Holy presence they will keep

And still in the ashes, held in their tender hands, the Angels weep

It was time when millions of parts of us died

A time when Heavenly Angels gazed in their hands and cried

What shame had befallen on the Human race?

This Shoah Aveyra SCREAMS out in Cyberspace

The horrors, imaginations, in my dreams

In abandonment, violence, and fright their screams

The little children gathered together en masse

Shrieing out in the rain of lead, in violent clouds of poison gas

The unholy nefesh (souls) of these ersatz ubermensch

In how many lifetimes shall they atone for this vile foul genocidal stench?

What type of wretched knave

Would murder millions of children or use them as a slave?

Let me envision in Marienplatz just this one beauteous summer night

Thousands of Yahrzeit candles formed in Mogen Davids emanating a holy and purifying light

Where we can recite Brochas and Kaddish on this eternal remembrance night

Just this once, to light candle, in lieu of maypole celebrations and a burning yule

Let us join these lights with the sparks of our ancestors in Simchas and in the eternity of Gilgul

Yes with pride and joy this time around, with psalms and brochas we can join our hands and

consecrate this ground

The Soul of our Planet needs this very light

To illume in our consciousness the true meaning of this tearful plight

That this horror does not ever again add more continuity

We must pray, with all good men and women, against any thought of perpetuity

We must merge in everlasting love, unity, and compassion...to heal the suffering torment of our brethren this night

To join hands, celebrate, dance, sing, and purify our planet of any more plight

Please Oh Glorious Heavenly King within and up above

Shower us all, your children, throughout your planet, with your Grace, Blessing, Peace, and Love

As we enter this new Millennium, escaping from a time of war, hatred, and violence from which we disengage

Let the souls of our Misproche be healed as we welcome them back with a joyous, peaceful age

Perhaps by the new Reichstag in Berlin, there could be a monument, where Heavenly Angels would hold an urn or perhaps a handful of ashes to remind us not to ever commit such a sin against Heaven, G-d, or eachother on this Planet ever again, that mankind learn it’s lesson to be kinder, more compassionate, and loving towards eachother. so that we may one day soon overcome our imperfections. We can each start with ourselves.

I wondered the other night as I was looking at Holocaust photos on the web, was I looking

unbeknownst to me, at the faces of my family, my relatives I never had met or knew?

In truth they were all my family, we are all eachother’s family.

Whether it be Cambodia, Mogadishu, Bosnia, Uganda, Kurdish Iraq, Armenia, Siberia, Ethiopia, Lebanon, Algeria ...let it end, let it be no more.

NEVER BE IN A HORA

I'm asking myself - "Why am I doing this ?????" when I was a little kid at Haugan elementary school, where Sadie K. Kalman was principal, she was a dynamic educator with presence and character, that loved her kids ( I wanted to bring back her memory from the 1950's in Chicago)
I used to stand up before class and read my compositions , and my classmates really enjoyed them...so I like to share.)

[2008 Note: I received a call recently from a former Haugan student, that told me our principal had a dark side to her personality as well, as a overzealous disciplinarian. We have to add 'over romanticizing hora' to the list of horas. There's always more than one side to a story, but I stand corrected. Those who have passed on can hardly defend their memory. Thanks for the call. Amazing how long unpleasant memories tend to stay with us. Better to have avoided these things.

The question then becomes, how do we heal ourselves within, aside from the passage of time ? Today the next question becomes how as parents do we prevent untold overzealous behavior towards elementary school children ? We want quality teachers and administration in our school systems. A first step is to be very involved and vigilant with your kids in their schooling.]

Loshen Hara is a very flavorful Hebrew/Yiddish term. Basically it's has to do with bad speech, the evil tongue, malicious gossip, where the deep philosophical message is about overcoming anger and resentment. Loshen Tov is good speech. Anger is not generally healthy, especially as we get older. Resentment perhaps melts away when we remember to be thankful to G-d for everything we have including the basis of our consciousness and being.

Don't be in such a hurry and watch your horas.


Here's the poem:

Never be in a hora –

Other than dancing the hora….

Sprechen hora can lead to Loshen hora

Essen hora can lead to Fressen hora, but cuisine can be easily rationalized.

Kishen hera , or a kishen hima can be the start of an emotional or chemical Hora-cane where you might think to try the right Brocha first , before trying … whatever with whomever…..don’t even engage in thinkin hora

Lechen hora , got to be careful here, so the sechel doesn’t liegt , which might lead to a Steht where there is a mutual temptation toward

(This could even lead to an occasional fortuitous Simchas ) if inertial transcendence is besherdt. Then don’t be in such a hora and take your sweet time, indulge in the loss of reason , and in a sweetness sublime in betwixt the occasional rhyme)

Stechen hora, which might lead to microbal, or viral hora, and then you might get a get, or a new briss in a hora…or a trip to the hupa in front of a shotgun, in a hora …a serious quvetchin hora, or a medical bill hora.

All the while, you’re much safer with Kosher style, so you’ll always be in the right position, and enjoy a most heavenly nutrition …………..of poetic erudition….all the while.

But then if it’s beshert that you don’t try, don’t be mislead by hertz-verbrechen hora. You never know what you might have been spared, or how you would have fared.

Be sure you know the right end from the wrong end of things to assure a happy ending.

Shel Stein Copyright 2007

I believe we need a glossary for the non initiated -

Simchas - Joy and happiness
Brocha - Blessing or benediction
Sprechen - to Speak
Essen - to eat
Fressen - to really chow down, eat like an animal, could be eating without proper etiquette or good manners
Kishen - Kissing, a most pleasant oral interface, that can take place between faces or other select anatomical locations
Lechen- To lick, as in an ice cream cone, otherwise requires mutual approval at best
Briss - Circumcision
Hupa - Wedding Canopy
Quvetchen - Complaining or never ending speech
Hertz- Heart
Verbrechen - Broken
Besherdt - Meant to be, also you need to have faith that G-d knows what He's doing
Get - A Jewish divorce
Sechel - Common Sense, Wisdom if you're lucky
Liegt - Lies as in a prostrate position . For instance when a person commits an impulsive act or behavior , sans thinking, it is said the Sechel lieght in Dreht ( Ground) - literally common sense is buried in the grave.

INTERNET VERISIMILITUDE AND CATHEXIS

How familiar can we get online or in front of a monitor ? I wrote this poem to elaborate on the draw of consciousness that Internet has over us - a gateway of thought and communication, as close and as intimate as a few inches from our eyes...can ever be. How well can we ever know another person ? How easily can you ever get to know a screen. We often project and get caught up in this cyber world. We have too many attacks, mostly because too few people have discovered Macs. ( Even though I am writing this on a PC , you see). My first PC was an Osborne. Here I am going Orthogonal in this poem. Is not life and existence multi vectored ?
You'll also notice an interspersal of Yiddish and Sanskrit. Here I issue my own poetic licence.

Draft- Please do not read and catch cold

Internet verisimilitude and cathexis

Can take you hopping and popping throughout the global online nexus

Multimedia, video a search engine query

Transfers vibration with little tarry

Friendship at first can be temporarily although ersatz effective

Interactions can invoke several of the 10 commandments, let alone the prime directive

The true Self may be omniscient, omnipresent, through the light of the Lord

But can the same be said of the monitor and keyboard ?

Use Sechel and avoid the invective

Consciousness can travel orthogonally, in simultaneous multi vector

Geographically diverse images, webcams, videos, almost instantly over to any Terran sector

Imagination may easily disperse

To the far regions of the local universe

Cyber communication, oh so speedy

Can traverse defense mechanisms of beings oh so needy

For expression and communication, love and caring

Sometimes our hearts bleed for sharing

Problem is it may be all the rage

Not only does the cyber surfer need to be aware of age, but really act their age

Be ethically and morally responsible before in any conversation you engage

Health and lifestyle may be nutritious

But bloggery and gossip is often delicious

We need to go from a little darkness to a bit more light

In the current internet reiteration night or day

Nothing these days is that hidden or secret, wrong or right

Try not to slip on slime, or get soiled with schmootz – do this sans delay

Otherwise there might be a bit of karma to pay

So many people to be in touch with you see

How well I can know you if even you hardly know me

No matter how your mind and societal defenses may be affected

Ultimately through the divine spark know it or nor we’re connected

I knew you once do you remember me

Content and interrelationships can be rather sophisticated, at least…they seem to be

The numbers may make you pale

If one considers the number of people we connect to via IM and e-mail

Spatial temporal scintillation, our insatiable imaginations seek, knowledge, news, entertainment and thrills without resting

As well as projective desires less reality testing

There’s all this drama, but it’s a one way Samyama

Are you now ready to share your thoughts and experiences with your papa or mama ?

E-mail and the chat room

These days it’s a more evolved verbal/texting gaming form of doom

Your mind may be in a cyberspatial stew

But in a sense the sense object can communicate subtly back to you

Be careful of your wishes, and these you should carefully edit

So as not to give free ranging wings to your cards of bondage by credit

Don’t feel how can I live without this, and seem bereft

Watch out for viruses and spyware, that can lead to identity theft

Those scammers and phishers

Are really little pishers

Set up mail rules and filters, delete those attachments, graphics…and kaboom

Let all the cyber goniffs gay cocken auf in yum

Infatuation and attraction, verisimilitudinal projection oh heavenly distraction…in alienation and loneliness such things sweetly come back to you

In the cosmic dance, divine play of Lila, our vritti’s create such a brew

Mind is far from the here and now

So many Samskaras and new seeds it needs to sow

It’s often quite fun to dream and fantasize, to be in denial and rationalization for a while

And even after your cyber session and physical removal

Your monitor beckons and offers that tempting tacit approval

Not just love, but these days friendship is such a proposition so tenuous

You kind have got to watch out for intentions and acts that turn out disingenuous

In the mid 90’s I could say with glee

E-mailing a stranger could result in such a nice camaraderie

Then with increasing popularity the firewalls, filters, voicemail evolved to their present level and came up, and presented new challenges for interrelationships and sales…cold calling often is masochistic frustration in every pore

But if you use the phone and e-mail as a tool, there’s occasional elation

Of such rewards, I often wish there were more

While artistic endeavors are inspiring

Coldness, rejection is still a bit frustrating if not tiring

Challenges, however fuel ones creative fire

Nuances in language and marketing never fail to inspire

We all like to play till the proverbial end of the day

Even for the distant and aloof

Existence in our physical form along with all the knowledge goes poof!

But a little wisdom and divine knowledge, gracefully acquired along life’s path may show you a way

In this conundrum of joy and travail, called life’s game

Whether one seeks, fame, fortune, recognition, power, knowledge, in the end it’s really not the same

Health needs to balance wealth, caring, warmth, and sharing are fine

Try not to be the type that buries the elderly before their time, and if the same happens to you, you may have made your own bed and be the one to blame

True friendship, camaraderie, and love are sadly enough exceedingly rare, since defense mechanisms are more common shown if not already known

Here’s a hint, it will help overcome reticence and fear

When you’re with a kindred spirit, real friend, and most luckily your love…time will disappear

Clarity will over take delusion

Eternity will overtake time, which in itself is, in the right context and setting of course, an illusion

( Hadn’t love better be singular at the time ? If it’s Cingular we might really be in trouble ) J)

Cathexis is after all a vibration

Mutually it can overcome alienation

No matter how the unrestrained team of horses present in our mind may engage in their daily trots

Beware that unrequited desires, food, drinking, substances, or over indulgences can cause one to Plotz.

Latinos have a solution that has a rather far reach

After dancing, partying , feasting all weekend

Monday morning retire, recuperate, and go read my poetry on the nearest beach.

It’s not that I’m trying to be literary or flaunting my talent as a poet

If you have read this far you might have an inkling or you might already even know it J

Do I take myself seriously in my poetry or art

It may set us a little less further apart

After all good intellectual interaction, and discussion is what we truly seek

I am pleased to have shared my thoughts and given my reader a little peek.

Copyright Shel Stein 2006

Notes:

From Yiddish -

Sechel= wisdom, common sense

Schmootz – various and sundry qualities or gradations of dirt – humorous schmootz can make for a good joke

Plotz= explode figuratively, can refer to ether embarrassment or overeating

pishers=pissers; goniffs=thieves;yum=body of water as in lake , ocean, or river

From Sanskrit -

Samyama = Deep and intense concentration and focus. Leading to knowledge intuition and understanding from Sanskrit

Vritti refers to the thought process and modification of mind; Samaskara’s are residual seeds in the mind from past actions, even lives; Lila- perhaps the cosmic macro chasm of human interaction and existence.

VALUE JET - SWAMPED WITH PROBLEMS

I wrote this poem just ten years ago - It seems people not only have delays, and extensive security checks, they get stuck on the runway for 5 to 8 hours at a time, and who knows what may overflow down the isle during a flight.

A friend of ours lives in a condo overlooking the intercoastal waterway in Miami Beach, with a view of Miami looking toward Downtown and Miami International Airport. When the large jets would be taking off months after September 11, one would get an anxious feeling and connotation. In this poem there was mention of only one accident where an older plane crashed into the everglades.

This was a creative way of dealing with frustration, and a nice exercise in people watching...

VALUE JET - SWAMPED WITH PROBLEMS

This poem was composed on the 24 of May, after 2 flights were canceled , resulting in almost a 24 hour delay in returning home from Dulles Airport via Atlanta, over the beginning of the Memorial Day weekend in 1996. While some of the humor may be cynical and a bit on the morbid or black side, it is only for the purpose of poetic license, and not meant to offend any individuals or groups. When you lose both time and a day of business, one must take a humorous attitude toward life.

Perhaps the Value Jet disaster was a reflection of the cost cutting, downsized, over efficient, depersonalized , bottom line oriented productivity of the 90's. Perhaps the tragedy bespoke a backlash to the long term effects of contemporary managerial paradigms affecting government and private industry. When one of the two new stretch DC 9's landed in Atlanta, there were numerous grounded jets on the tarmac. It was amazing that so many "defective" planes escaped the government inspectors. And if there is a shortage, how safe is it to fly other airlines. Either way the flights were packed. Perhaps Value Jet was the safest airline to fly that weekend.

I have no penchant to be insulting or rude

Nor it is fun to be frustrated or brood

When I awoke this morning in Reston at 5

It was a bit of an early joy to be alive

I stayed over that night at a splendid hotel

Stoically, I rationalized last night's canceled VJ flight ,

rather than Qvell

At Dulles, after another 60 min. delay, avoiding a dose mylanta

My VJ flight swooped down like a wounded phoenix on Atlanta

Thinking of flying into Ft Lauderdale , closer to the Equator

I really hoped my flight would leave at 11:30, just an hour later

Things just did not go well

This wasn't purgatory, it was another descent into VJ hell

The regulatory system related to this mashuganah delay

Was either a witch hunt, or a superb job by an election year FAA

I heard we're going to eventually get a plane, but don't hold your breath

On a holiday , flying a crowded discount airline beset by age, tragedy, & death

One might imagine that a 29 year old DC9, might be reasonably sound

Until you heard that day,inspectors kept over 10 on the ground

In comparative terms, if I were to rate flying this airline

VJ 's crews and probably underpaid staff were superlatively fine

Consider equipment age and maintenance cost -cuts may affect the bottom line

While my wife was waiting for me in Ft. Lauderdale on a day that was hot and clammy

My second canceled flight got superseded by a standby fare to Miami

Thus for a business day that got blown and turned out crappy

At least I got home in one piece and was semi happy

In retrospective mood rather pensive

There's the old adage that cheap fares often end up expensive

Rumors, confusion, angry words --- human clash and clutter

Then there's the black-humored joke about what one everglades alligator

said to another - Now get clued

The answer: Not bad for Airline food

While I was not the author of a riddle so offensive and rude

Denial and fear of death are in these words imbued

Then there was the in-flight humor that could be swept out with a broom

Today's contest winner got back her wallet lost in the bathroom

In a crowded, only decade old, DC9 stretch 80, an imaginary mile high club

Would only be an impractical flub

The only possible answer rhymes with the brand name elantra

This could only be described in a future poem entitled restroom cabin tantra

To pull this off in the 90's would be recklessly neat

First hint , the protected male would have to sit, without losing his wallet

down the wrong hole, on the seat

Ah, with such an abundance of wisdom and pearls

Alas we can thank VJ for bringing back handsome guys and pretty girls

VJ's planes are packed and the aisles are difficult through which to pass

Occasionally one's shoulders can get rubbed by a preferential lass

Ah Yes, on VJ it's great to land alive

Even if your delay is an hour, or two, or three, or more than five

Value-Crock, Carrajo-Jet, Schlock-Jet, any name implying detriment

Having got through this day, I'll doff my hat and salute VJ's management

With modest words, hardly professorial

May G-d bless those doomed swamped souls on this weekend memorial

So while I had my chance to shoot my verbal wad

It must have been for some reason that on takeoff and landing,

did the passengers cheer and applaud

In actuality the flight to Miami was a splendid ride

I'll further salute VJ's staff for their positive outlook, professionalism,

chutzpah, and pride

Would I ever take VJ another time and another day ?

Hopefully VJ will survive the lawyers, insurance premiums, bad press , and the FAA

The poetic words & frustrated venting, with which I love to play

For lost business, time, meals, and hotel room, Value Jet will never pay

It was the journey and the people I loved to watch that were the most fun

I conclude now as the wheels of my flight touch the runway ,

in this city of never ending tourists, humidity, I-95 , and high UV sun.

Delayed timetables one should never berate

While waiting on the taxiway for an open gate

With delays like these, beepers, cell phones, the virtual office, are of little or no avail

All I can do is ponder, pass gas under the cover of jet engine noise,

while planning tonight's e-mail

Shel Stein

6-1-96

SWAMI NARANDA - A REMEMBERANCE

Swami Naranda - A Rememberance

Swami Naranda Devi had the devotion

To float us in style through the tribulations of life’s ocean

For our tsouris she had that mystically sacred loving potion

She was always, a Mitzvah in motion....

Most glorious Cosmic Jewish Mother divine...

A heartfelt magnanimous cornucopia of vegetarian feasts sublime

Boundless generosity, a perpetual banquet of Prasad

Hearts content, stomachs so full, all expressing a joyous, Oh my G-d

Not only that her creations were so intensely delicious

Never forget, her food balanced and nutritious

Soups, salads, appetizers, bounteous vegetarian main courses, breads, cakes, deserts, mangoes, and exotic herbal tea

Then one could rest and kibitz, or kibitz and rest, what better than Naranda's heavenly hug and cosmic kiss there could never be…

While our hearts sought comfort and sustenance in the presence of her sacred company

Most devoted and beloved of all, was that night

When after satsang, her Guru, Sri Brahmananda Sarasvati, beheld her sumptuous banquet in his sight

In preparation were three planetary revolutions of creative passion, karma yoga, and culinary fire…

More than 75 delectable dishes were presented by Swami Naranda to satisfy all our heart’s desire…

Whether it was food for the stomach, or sustenance for the spirit…

The end of Swami Naranda’s praise, you'll never hear of it...

Let it be remembered that night, for all eternity

When Guruji deeply bowed to Narandaji to salute her sublime divinity

That eve there was heavenly Prasad for all in attendance and beings in the planes above

Who witnessed her purest heart and example of untold boundless love

Dog Cat, Bird, or wild Creature

All sought to reside in the purest vibration of this loving teacher

Homeopathy, fasting, cleansing, papaya enzymes, acupuncture, herbs, or propilis from the bee

Swami Naranda could always come up with the best remedy

Should there be an instance of contrary belief

There was always Aloe Vera and the purified water of the sacred Life Leaf

What could be equal to the joyous special feeling

When Naranda chanted over the sacred Agnihotra fire during crystal healing

When this was your moment of perfect relaxation, inner corn fields, clouds, and Blue Sky

Our hearts so free, our spirits on the fly

A bliss of meditative grace

Her ashram was certainly that ever special place

She adored her family, yet to her students and devotes, most kindred were we all

Hangin’ out with Naranda was always a ball

No weekend was ever so complete

Unless you went out with Naranda for your special bagel treat.

Those that knew her know, how we honor her in this pensive recitation of reminiscence and blissful thought

A more loving giving soul there never was, so only a little taste to you we have brought

To those who are believers in the Dharma

Know that to have feasted at Swami Naranda's banquet, was the result of many lifetimes of good Karma

Remember mind controls the body, and breath the mind

A greater Master of Hatha Yoga and Pranayama, one could n’er ever find

Hashem had wanted in Paradise, the most wondrous heavenly feast.

So, He called to Swami Naranda, and her Soul was released

Often we mythologize those who have passed on from this treasure of life and living

But not for Swami Naranda, she was already an Icon of love, sharing, and giving

Remember for those with still mind, and heart blissful and pure ..

Meditate on the life and countenance of Swami Naranda, and you will find your cure.

by Sheldon Stein - 11.16.1994 Commemorating the Mahasamadhi of Swami Naranda Devi on 11.09.1994

Comments: I felt in many ways Naranda made up for the Grandmother I never knew. She was always very special. I use the term Jewish Mother, but she would be a wonderful mother in any religion. She taught yoga for over 40 years, and was special to all her students.

I wrote this poem just after her passing, I wanted her to be remembered in a beautiful way.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SPptpUGX22k   You can watch her in this video clip and experience her favorite relaxation

The picture of her on the swing was one of her favorite photos, I took it at www.anandaashram.org. during the late 1980's. She is also pictured next to Guruji, Sri Brahmananda Saraswati, Rammurti S. Mishra, M.D.

BLOG MIR BIST DU SHANE

Blog Mir Bist Du Shane
Please let me explain...




Poetry can be pleasure and indulgence, a flavorful one.

I thought I would post some poetry and seek out my 15 minutes of anonymity

You can talk about anything under the sun

One's Muse basking in free flowing serendipity


Today Sean and Vicky had too much mishigas with their boat

So over this prolonged Summer Solstice day I'm loathe to celebrate and gloat

Before this day shall dissipate and fade

Let's remember it's Mercury Retrograde

Around the world there's been a bit of revelry

But in Iraq there still prevails uncivilized deviltry

This conflict with unconscionable loss and duration

Is this to be a millennium of backwards civilization ?

Will I did not dabble today in Rhymes

I did manage to have a blog comment posted from the NY times

I got a call from Alan today

To Las Vegas on vacation he and his wife finally got away

While It's not all that terribly far

Chuck and the family will soon be going to Rome and the Isle of Hvar

Joe, the other day called me back

He finally got a new iMac

Sylvan is feeling a little freer at last

He went for his appointment today, and after an hour and a half delay, off came his cast

Mom is recovering from her abscessed tooth removal, and a rather nasty infection

Thank G-d she is in a healing and recovery direction

Henry is coming out of a couple of weeks of remodeling and redecoration, not too much fun

When the work is limited that can be actually done

Like Luis they let go of Manuel

Looking for a new job, spontaneously sure is swell

For the Olsen sisters I must confess,

They need to develop a healthy appetite for chicken soup and knedlach and learn how to fress

For George and Daryl even with life's Maya and mystic fog

Here you are mentioned in my blog

Bill and Sharon are away on a delightful cruise and will return with a nice tale

Only to catch up on their legendary neighborhood dinner parties and voluminous e-mail

For Rudy Giuliani, Bloomberg's announcement was a bit shockin

It's a matter of time till one tells the other to gay cocken

Of Patience I can say in it's defense

John,Moe and Paul must be having a little suspense

Hippie fashion is again back in vogue

Savory thoughts overwhelmingly flow to remind me when I was a bit of young romantic rogue

To my readers, may you be blessed from above

And enjoy happiness , liberation, and love.

Photo by Shel "Central Park 1970"