This Weeks Very Short Story: Chapter 28

Over one year ago we went to my youngest son’s wedding. After the wedding in Pittsburgh, we decided to vacation in New York City. We stayed in Times Square. Not realizing when we booked it that we would be there the night of the Presidential Election of 2016. I was out in Times Square until 3:30am that night. I was expecting a big party atmosphere with the name of the winner flashing on the big screen. None of that happened. What did happen was that the big screens changed during the night from election results back to ads for Broadway plays. The TV news company that set up in Times Square went dark, they never went live to the crowd. I have likened it to a funeral, except I think people are happier at a funeral. 

During the winter when I was in high school, I remember going to Kensington Park to go tobogganing. Many a good time was had doing this. The Kensington toboggan runs were great. I loved guiding the toboggan down the run and purposely making it turn over at the end of the run. 

To keep warm when we went tobogganing or ice skating, most would go get some hot chocolate. I still don’t drink hot drinks including coffee, tea and hot chocolate. Then there was me with my Coke. I would have a cup of chicken soup, if there was a vending machine that had it. In high school, I do remember one friend bringing some Southern Comfort. 

I remember in high school going to sleep having not solved a math equation and then waking up in the middle of the night or morning with the answer. I know, I was weird. Occasionally, it even happens with patient problems. 

We were coming home from dinner out after work and a day of local fires here in California. It was cold and the winds were still blowing. As my wife ran into the house complaining of the cold, I asked her; how is it going to be when we move back to Michigan? Her answer without hesitation was, I probably will be wearing warmer clothes. 

This Weeks Very Short Story: Chapter 27

I don’ like hospital, can’t remember when I did. I think this goes back to the time my grandfather’ spend at Sinai Hospital before he passed. I was very young. Even today when I have to work in the hospital, I usually get in and out as quick as possible. 

In those days when my grandfather was in the hospital, they did not let children upstairs. I remember running around and probably misbehaving in the lobby at Sinai Hospital with my brother and two cousins. I am sure were told many times to behave by the adult that was supposed to be watching us. 

I remember when my grandfather passed. I remember them telling me about it. I did not understand. I remember that they gave me an ice cream cone. I remember it melting as I was crying as I walked down the street on Ithaca. I was seven. 

When the funeral came for my grandfather happened, they dressed us up in our dress clothes. I remember going to the funeral. They did not let us go in. It did not mean anything to me at the time. Years later when I was working in Los Angeles and my father asked me to go to the funeral of one of his cousins. It was in a part of Los Angeles, that I did not know. I got my maps together and eventually made it to the funeral. It was outside. My aunt, actually cousin whose brother had passed, said to me that she was glad that I came, but if the funeral was inside, they would not have let me inside. 

Years later after my experience with funerals, I had a patient who was a Rabbi. One time I remembered about the funerals and asked him why I wouldn’t I be allow in. This was something no one had ever explained to me. Well, it turns out we are Kohan according to our Jewish history and that is what they do. They keep the Kohanim in a separate room during the funeral. Most funerals that I have attended since that time have not made that distinction and everyone sits together. 

This Weeks Very Short Story: Chapter 26

At Lincoln Jr. High School, they started with language class in 7^th grade. I took Spanish as a language. When we moved and I attended Clinton Jr. High School, they didn’t start language class until 8^th grade. What were they to do about this as they used the same books that I already finished in 7^th grade? I ended up being put in a 9^th grade class. In that class was my later to become sister-in-law. 

I took Spanish class in 7^th, 8^th, 9^th, 10^th, 11^th and 12^th grade. Taking Spanish in Michigan in those days was interesting because the only people you could speak Spanish with were the few teachers in the school and some waiters at a Spanish restaurant (El Nibble Nook) that we went to on a field trip. 

One of my Spanish teachers in high school was this very cute short woman. She drove a Volkswagen hatchback that we referred to as a pregnant roller skate. I don’t remember how it happened, but we ended up going to a rally at Wayne State University. The speaker was Ralph Nader. I am not sure if this about the environment and cars or was an antiwar rally. There was another male friend that also went. Unlike the stories that you hear about students and teachers today, the only thing that happened was in my imagination. 

At Lincoln Jr. High School, they didn’t have Shop class until 8^th grade. I left after 7^th grade and at Clinton Jr. High School; they started Shop class in 7^th grade. I did not want to take a class with 7^th graders. I not sure I remember why. I never did take Shop class, maybe I should have taken Home-Ec. 

When it came to naming my second son, it was a limited choice as there were not many people to name after that had not been used by other family members. He ended up being named after one of my aunts and my mother’s father.

I have only one wish that if I am ever blessed to have grandchildren, that they are not named after me.

I remember the mimeograph paper smell. I couldn’t wait for the teacher to pass out the freshly printed paper. This was the original crack. Don't try to tell me you didn't sniff it. 

This Weeks Very Short Story: Chapter 25

When I was 12 and 13, I went to a Jewish Community Center Day Camp Safari. We would go to different places everyday by bus. Some places like the zoo and Boblo island, anywhere that we could go and return in one day. At the end of the day, if we had time and we behaved we would get to go to Dairy Queen. They would give us about 50 cents to a dollar to spend on anything we wanted. Some of us started buying the largest ice cream for that money, maybe a quart. They soon changed the rule to: you could only buy what you could eat as I guess some didn’t finish what they bought. I’m betting I finished mine. 

At Boblo Island Amusement Park with Camp Safari campers, we had a great time. My favorite was the bumper cars. My last ride that day was to go on a ride; I think was called the Himalaya? It was a ride that started out slow, getting faster as it was going around in circles clockwise with hills and valleys while playing loud music. Half way through the ride they would ask if you wanted to go backwards, of course you had no choice. Well you got it, motion sickness. Not the best when you have to take a boat ride home. The only positive thing was the attention from a number of the girls on the ride home. 

At Paul L. Best elementary school, I started to play the drums. I even marched in the Memorial Day Parade in Ferndale. I even remember taking a class in music theory at Ferndale High School. Ferndale High School had a great marching band. After seventh grade at Lincoln Jr. High School, we moved to the other side of Oak Park. I attended Clinton Jr. High School. The band teacher and I did not hit it off. This is as close as I ever came to telling a teacher what I thought he should do. That was the end of my playing career. 

This Weeks Very Short Story: Chapter 24

I was out shopping and the sales person had an English sounding accent. I said to him that I hear that you are not from around here, probably from Chicago. He says yes, south side. I told him that he is probably from where my daughter in law was from. Then I thought again and said Australia because I was not sure. He said no, real far from there. I asked him where he was from, and he said Manchester, England. I told him that is where my daughter in law is from. 

On Sunday July 23, 1967, my parents gathered up all three children into the car for a ride to Belle Isle in Detroit for a day of fun. It was closed that day as we would later find out to put prisoners from the rioting. I never have been back there. 

Behind our house on Greenbriar in Oak Park was an easement between the homes and West Side Drive In. This was not far from the Detroit Artillery Armory used by the Michigan National Guard. During the riots of 1967, they would patrol behind our house. I guess we felt safer. 

I hate live TV shows that we watch on the west coast that have been previously recorded like Saturday Night Live. Even more I hate shows recorded live in California that we can only watch as previously recorded. Imagine if they tried that with the Super Bowl. 

When I go to pay for my car wash at this one place, they have been charging me less than the stated charge and it is not on a day that there is a discount. Well I finally looked at the receipt; senior discount. I didn’t even know to ask for one. 

This Weeks Very Short Story: Chapter 23

In 1972 my choice was to get a car and go to Wayne State University or go Michigan State University, no car. The car I wanted was a small Toyota. A girl in my high school class got one. I don’t know where she went to college. So there we were; my mother and I going to look at a Toyota just outside of Detroit in 1972. 

I did not get that Toyota in 1972. It wasn’t until 1981 when I finished all my schooling and we were living in California. I finally got my Toyota, a 1981 Toyota Tercel, 5 speed, rack and pinion steering. It was great for driving over Laurel Canyon daily to work. 

A few years after I got my Toyota Tercel, I went back to the same dealer and wanted to get a Toyota Cressida, the top of their line. They sort of laughed me off the lot, not wanting to deal with me. I then went to Nissan and bought their top of the line, a Maxima. I have owned 3 Nissan’s, still have one. Automotive salesmen take note. 

It wasn’t until 2015, that I even looked at a Toyota product. FINALLY after 35 years, I bought one. No disrespect this time. 

Not to say that we did not have much when we were growing up but sometimes the large box that a washing machine or refrigerator came in was as much fun to play with as getting a present. 

When I was 13, I got my first radio that had AM and FM. I even think it had shortwave, though I don’t think that I listened to it. Having FM eventually opened up a new world to me, album oriented rock and alternative rock radio. Stations like WABX, CJOM out of Canada and WRIF baby. Many a night would I fall asleep listening to what we now refer as classic rock. 

Sometime during high school, I went to a bingo to raise money for the Jewish War Veterans group that my parents belonged to. This was a time when it was illegal to hold a bingo, but they let charitable group do this. Well that night, they had a fill the whole card bingo and win a stereo… complete with AM/FM, turntable, speakers. Well, I won it. I left right after winning. That night I couldn’t sleep, kept getting up to look at the stereo unit to see if it was real. 

This Weeks Very Short Story: Chapter 22

I never really talked to my son’s about girls, dating, marriage. My younger son, Seth had been going out with a young lady for some time and I noticed that she had been running in a number of races, 5K, 10K, etc. So I sent a text to him stating that Allison had been running a number of races and that he should catch her before she runs away. I did not expect and did not get one right away. Sometime later, he said do you remember that text that you sent me. I played like I did not and then said yes. His only comment was that was the idea. Well he officially caught her. 

My first roommate in the Fraternity house was not a Fraternity member. He happened to be a saved Christian. He had this car with a large engine. One day as we were driving down some of the small streets in East Lansing he decides to show me how fast his car can go. As I sat glued to the back of my seat, I told him that I understand that he knows where he is going after this life, but I am not in any hurry to find out. 

One movie that I had a hard time watching was ‘Philadelphia’. Another movie, ‘Rent’, I just could not make it through. 

To make things much simpler in my life when it comes to what to celebrate or not, I have decided to follow this rule. IF they are serving food, celebrate it. This works for Thanksgiving, Christmas, Chanukah, New Years, Birthdays, Anniversaries, Reunions and Everyday Life. 

A medical school classmate of mine retired and grew his beard. He became Santa Claus. Now when I think of Santa Claus, I think of him. I was thinking that when I retire, I would become Harry Hannukah, but I think my older son beat me to it. 

My father was a very progressive thinking man; he foresaw the migration of people out of Detroit into the suburbs. When he bought his first house, he looked to Oak Park; or was it just cheaper there.