Friendship Part Three

I just finished listening to an audiobook, A Vintage Friendship, by Cathy Hopkins. It was a wonderful story about high school friends who lose track and are reunited many years later.

It made me think a lot about friends, and especially two I lost recently, Denise and Donna. Denise and I met in high school, many years ago, in the 1970s. We stayed friends all this time, and she always had my back.

I miss her so much, but hadn’t talked to her for awhile, so I was devastated. She loved Barry Manilow, so we went to some of his concerts. We had terrible seats. Every time I see the episode of “Gilmore Girls,” when Sookie and Lorelai have terrible seats for a Bangles concert, I think of us at that show.

She also loved the Beach Boys, and we went to some of their concerts, too.

We had better seats.

She was always there for me. When my husband passed away, she was there. She took me to see the first Harry Potter movie and invited me and my parents to Thanksgiving dinner for several years after my husband was gone.

She and her husband, Bill, had four-legged as well as feathered friends for children. When Bill turned fifty, we were invited to his 50th celebration.

Some of their friends brought dogs dressed in costume.

When my parents had to go into a nursing home, she took me to visit them and even brought her therapy dogs to come and see my parents.

She was one of the nicest people I’ve ever known and I feel lucky to have had her for a friend.

I met Donna my first year of college. She was a friend of my best friend. She was funny and things I remember most is that she liked to sing as well as dress up and decorate her home for Halloween.

I went to several fun parties at her home, and she came to some of my parties. After she moved out of town, she still kept in touch.

As the new year begins, I think my friend’s who are still hear and I want to stay in contact. My friend’s who passed away are always in my heart and their memories live on.

The coffee pot

They took my coffee pot. I’m not allowed to have one in the new assisted living facility that I moved to. Apparently it’s a fire hazard. I know. You’re thinking that there are so many more important things going on in the world than whether or not I get my cup of Joe.

But coffee is a whole thing for me. I’ve been in love with coffee since someone introduced me to my first Starbuck’s Frappucino.

Before that, my mom and dad would try to get me to drink coffee. The closest I came was cafe au lait (lots of milk and sugar). The smell of coffee brings back memories of my mom and dad driving me to school in the morning and making a stop at the local bakery for coffee and donuts. We’d listen to Barry Manilow on the car radio.

Then later after my husband passed away, I bought a Keurig to save money on those trips to Starbucks. I’d invite my parents over for dinner and fix them coffee. We’d talk and share stories over our favorite flavors. When that coffee maker died and I had to move to a new apartment, I was so thrilled with the new one. It was turquoise. My friend, Greg, took me shopping for it and lugged it up the steps. I drank an awful lot of coffee in that apartment.

Now it’s gone and I miss it and all the memories.

And when I finally admitted that I couldn’t keep up the apartment on my own (my parents and husband were gone), I moved to a new place and took the turquoise coffee maker with me.

My New Year’s Eve playlist 2019

I’m counting down to the end of 2019 and looking forward to 2020. A friend has been helping me move to a senior living facility that’s more accessible to me. My old apartment had steps among other problems.

When we got to my new place, I played Guy Lombardo’s Auld Lang Syne on YouTube. She thought it was kind of depressing and said I should something more cheery. So her pick was Happy by Pharell Williams. It does make you happy.

Some other songs I’m playing tonight are Chubby Checkers The Twist and Let’s Twist Again. The Twist was the first dance I ever learned. My neighbor from across the street taught it to me.

Accentuate the Positive by Bing Crosby and the Andrews sisters. I’m trying to get rid of the negative (mostly the behavior of three people who disappointed me in 2019 who I thought I could trust). So I’m playing this song to think of my new beginning. Also the theme from “Who’s the Boss,” Brand New Life.

The Name Game by Shirley Ellis. It’s just fun to sing and I’m using the names of people who really went above and beyond for me in 2019 and before. Everybody sing it with me…Crissy Crissy Bo Brissy, Banana Fanna Fo…Karla Karla

etc…Then there’s Lady Gaga singing New York New York. My mom loved it when I played this for and it reminds of her and my dad and my husband’s excellent adventures in New York. Not to mention my new neighbor’s New York accent.

But at the end of 2019, when the ball drops in Times Square, I’ll still be listening to Auld Lang Syne. But it’ll be the version from the end of “When Harry Met Sally.” What could be more cheery than a happy ending?

What songs do you listen to that make you feel happy?

Remembering my mom, Marian L. Goldberg 9/29/1925-7/4/2018

My mother passed away on July 4 at the age of 92. I would have posted this much sooner, but I broke my ankle on Friday, July 13th and was in the hospital and rehab for seven weeks.

My mom had been sick since April 13th (also a Friday), got better for a short time, and then got much worse. I was with her on this journey, but I miss her so much. Right before she passed away, I was about to move into a new apartment and I got to tell her about it. She waited to make sure I would be all right and I’m happy about that. I’m glad she’s not in pain anymore because it hurt to see her suffering.

She was a Libra, so she liked to see both sides of an issue. She often said that her favorite expression was “Well, that all depends.” Here are some other things she used to say:

“Fine.”

“How’d you know I was here?”

Me: “It’s Greg’s birthday.”

MG: “Well, I’m not sending him anything.”

“There is a destiny that makes us brothers

None goes his way alone

all that we send into the lives of others

comes back into our own”

Quoting Edward Markham, American Poet

“The world’s a goose, and them that don’t pick don’t get no feathers”

Quoting cleaning person from Kentucky who worked for my grandmother

“Don’t expect too much and you won’t be disappointed.” (I should have taken her advice more than I did because nine times out of ten, she was right)

Her motto in her senior class yearbook (Newport High School, Class of 1943) was “Good things come in small packages” which fit her to a T.

While I was going through her things after her death, I found something tucked away between two pictures she had painted. It was a poem I wrote in 1974 and she always liked it. She must have switched it around to different purses, wallets, etc. and she had held onto it all that time!

That’s all for this blog, but keep reading for more memories of my mom.

A week late Happy Anniversary, Jon! Snippet Sunday 6/24

Here’s the snippet I was going to share last week on my anniversary weekend. It’s from my WIP, “Short, Broke…& Homeless,” and I’m not exactly sure where this is going to fit into the story. My heroine, Cheryl (Cher) Sylvester, is ten years younger than me, but she’s going through a lot of the same things I am at the moment. Instead of an unsuccessful published author, she’s an unsuccessful folk singer who, like me, suffers from major depressive disorder, complex bereavement disorder, anxiety, etc. In this snippet, she’s remembering her wedding to the love of her life, Jon Sylvester. It’s raw, and probably over the ten lines, but any comments are appreciated.

Everything that can possibly go wrong at our wedding, and on our honeymoon, does. When my parents and I arrive at Shuller’s Wigwam, where the wedding and reception are to take place, the marquee outside says “Live Lobster $6.95” instead of “Congratulations Cheryl and Jon.”

Once inside, I see that the flowers haven’t arrived yet, which makes me a nervous wreck. Once I see Jon, everything will be all right. I repeat the mantra over and over in my head.

I hear my best friend, Jess, his deep voice resonating through the room, singing Longer Than. I walk down the aisle with my mom and dad on either side and I see Jon, with his wavy black hair and intense brown eyes. He looks at me and smiles and everything is all right.

Snippet Sunday 6/3 – I didn’t see you poem

Here’s a poem I wrote (or I’m writing–don’t know if it’s finished yet. I haven’t written a poem in a long time. so bear with me. I’m thinking of including it in my book, “Short, Broke…& Homeless” about a folk singer/songwriter who’s suffering from depression and lost her home and her cat, her mom’s dying  and things just keep getting worse. So, in the book, it might turn into a song. My best friend and I wrote a song together (I wrote the poem and she wrote the music). I read the poem the night I met my husband–after I read it, he came up and started talking to me. Maybe that could happen in the book, who knows?

 

I didn’t see you. Afraid to open my eyes

I don’t want to see what’s right in front of me.

I didn’t see you. Scared for my heart to ache

I don’t want to see the bleak future before me.

I didn’t see you. Frightened to look at the truth.

I don’t want to see the losses facing me.

I didn’t see you. Lives and friendships ending.

Hurts too much to face all of my mistakes.

What do you think? Should I give up poetry? Give up this book? Give up altogether?

 

 

My playlist Part 2

Okay, so now things aren’t going so well. I’m suffering from severe depression due to a number of things including the fact that my mom is dying. She’s not eating, and sometimes she doesn’t recognize me. Sometimes she does. It’s a giant roller coaster and it’s making me freeze at the idea of doing things I have to do which has gotten me into some trouble and right now, I can’t even…well, I can’t handle it. I still like listening to music and have played some videos for my mom and most of the time, she’s responded to them.

So here’s the second playlist to deal with my fears and anxiety. Sometimes it works and sometimes it doesn’t. This is also the playlist for the book I’m writing, “Short, Broke…& Homeless” (and the movie–lol). I still don’t think anybody’d want to read it, let alone watch a movie, but while I’m dreaming…

I’ll ask the question now…what songs do you listen to to help with depression, fears, anxiety, etc.?

1. “I Won’t Back Down” — Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers — It’s a good song and most of the time, it makes me feel better except that sometimes I do back down. Someday, I hope to get back to “normal” and be more like the song.
2. “It’s My Life” — Bon Jovi — same as above.
3. “Laugh at Me” by Sonny Bono — Why don’t I remember hearing this song on the radio in 1968 when I was being bullied by my whole sixth grade class? And today, fifty years later, sometimes I still feel like that scared sixth-grader. This is a great song for people who have been or are being bullied.
4. “Boulevard of Broken Dreams” by Green Day — This is supposed to be about depression and it describes me sometimes when it talks about walking alone. And the title is my life right now.
5. “If I Could Turn Back Time” by Cher — I’d do everything differently. Things would be better now. I wouldn’t keep making all these stupid mistakes that keep getting me in trouble. Of course, Tess (running joke between me and my friends. Tess is my other personality (I stole her name from Jessica/Tess from my favorite old soap opera “One Life to Live.” She sneaks in when I’m asleep and ruins my life). Tess is the one messing up, not me. Right? Wrong. There isn’t really a Tess. It’s all me.
6.  “Where You Lead” by Carole King (“Gilmore Girls” theme song — my mom and I are the Jewish “Gilmore Girls.” We even had Friday night dinners, and my mom kind of looks like Kelly Bishop (Emily Gilmore). And she’s still feisty sometimes like Emily. Example: Me: It’s Greg’s birthday. Mom: Well, I’m not sending him anything! Greg: (After he had a meltdown because he thought we were listening to his personal conversations) (We weren’t, Greg!).  See you guys next time Mom: We’ll see about that. (LOL!) (Oh, by the way, for those of you who don’t already know, Greg’s my pretend brother so I guess we’re the Goldberg Girls and Guys. So we’re stealing their theme song.
7. “She Drives Me Crazy” by Fine Young Cannibals — I’m sure I do drive some people crazy, (especially my late husband–he used to sing this sometimes. Not to mention my aforementioned pretend brother (just remember the “I didn’t see you” incident, Greg (like he’d ever forget. I know I won’t because he won’t let me). It’s a catchy tune, too.
8. “19th Nervous Breakdown” by the Rolling Stones. Gee, is it only the 19th? Lately, it seems like I have one at least once a week. Here it comes…
9. “Put on a Happy Face” by Jason Alexander and “Rosie” by Jason Alexander and Vanessa Williams (from the 1995 version of “Bye Bye Birdie.” — Sure, I loved the Ann-Margaret/Dick Van Dyke version, but it’s just fun to watch and listen to Jason Alexander sing and dance–he’s “the opposite” of his “Seinfeld” character, George Costanza. He’s a really good singer and dancer. I don’t know where the song “Rosie” would fit in with my movie, though, unless I can come up with a character named Rosie. I probably can. Or not.
10. “The Times they are a changin'” by Bob Dylan — They are, and for me, not for the better, but I like the idea that one of these days, it might turn around for me again. I sure hope so. They can turn around for the heroine of this book/movie, too.

Snippet Sunday, Short, Broke…& homeless 3/25/18

This is a snippet from the WIP (Short, Broke…& Homeless) I’m starting. I don’t know how far I’ll get with it but something happened last week that made me want to write this scene. This is the third in a series of stories about three generations of women, one based on my grandmother, one based on my mom, and one on me. This is based on me and some of this really happened unfortunately. This is very raw–I’m trying to write this in a hurry because I only get thirty minutes on the computer.

 

I hate bullies. I hate bullying. I’m also loyal to my friends, whether I’ve known them forty years or four months. So when my roommate, Kenyatta, comes into the room very upset because she’s being harassed by some of the “ladies” who stay here, I’m not happy.

I try to talk to her, but she’s a Scorpio, like my late husband. She says she’s scared they’re going to come after her. I don’t know why, and neither does she. She’s supposed to be getting her new apartment next week, so they’re probably jealous. So I do what I always do in a crisis. Since I’m a singer/songwriter (not very successful, or I wouldn’t be here), I get out my guitar and start playing and singing “Laugh at Me” by Sonny Bono. It’s a great song about bullying, and I try to adapt it for a woman singer. I get my roommate to smile a little. She has been nice to me from the very beginning. I’m going to miss her when she leaves and since I’ve been bullied, I understand how she feels.

“I’m going to do something and I don’t want you to freak out,” she says.

Snippet Sunday 3/11/18, I say tomato…

This is from a book I was working on before all the things happened to me–there will be three books in the series, one about my grandmother coming to America from Lithuania, the second about my mom and dad and how they met and the third is about me, and may be a chick lit story if I add what’s happened to me lately. This is from the second book, which has no title, and I can’t remember the name of the heroine, so I picked another name because the files are on a flash drive in storage right now. I was watching a video of Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers last night and thought of my mom and dad–they were very good dancers. So this is a scene from one of their dates.

Goldie sighed as she looked up and into Sy’s brown eyes. He reminded her of Tyrone Power, only much more handsome. His hand was warm on hers as he led her into the Club Royal, a music and dance spot in Newport. The streets and the Suspension Bridge were filled with light and noise. Inside, a singer stood at the microphone and crooned while a piano player tickled the ivories with “Let’s Call the Whole Thing Off.” Goldie was sure that Sy said “tomato” and “potato” and not “tomoto” and “potato.”

“Goldie…” Sy’s voice was as soft as a kiss. He leaned toward her and she inhaled his manly scent. “Goldie, may I kiss you?”

She stood on tiptoe so he could reach her. He was a full head taller at six feet. She took a deep breath and waiting, her attraction growing with each second that passed.

 

What did you think? Any suggestions will be appreciated. It might be a while before I get to Book Three. First I have to re-write Book One from a version I wrote in high school, then finish this. Or should I call the whole thing off?

Short, Broke…& Homeless slated to win best picture

I know this blog has been more serious lately, so this week since the Oscars are tonight, here are my choices for the 2018 Nutsie Nan Awards. It’s been quite a year, to say the least… And the Nutsie Nan Award goes to…

Best supporting actress in a Comedy/Drama — Jessica Chastain as Vanessa (Van) Brown (Karla), “Short, Dark…& Homeless”\

Best supporting actor in a Comedy/Drama — John Travolta as Frank Finney (Dan–RIP), “Short, Dark…& Homeless”

Best actor in a Comedy/Drama — George Clooney as Jay Galloway (Greg), “Short, Dark…& Homeless”

Best Actress in a Comedy/Drama — Cher as Tess T. Rosenthal (Nutsie Nan’s other personality) and Lauren Graham as Nutsie Nan, (moi), “Short, Dark…& Homeless”

Best costume design — Jay Galloway’s Sono Bono disguise in the 2017 Greg Appreciation Day Parade (7/19/2017)

Best Soundtrack and Original Song

Soundtrack, “Short, Dark…& Homeless” Original Song, “Laugh at Me” by Sonny Bono

Best set design

“Short, Dark…& Homeless”

Best Food

The Four Roses Boardinghouse, “Short, Dark…& Homeless”

Best Picture

“Short, Dark…& Homeless”

Seriously, I’d like to thank the (Nutsie Nan) Academy and everyone who is supporting me through this difficult time. You all deserve awards for everything you do!