tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2371564886177149212024-03-13T12:27:06.496-07:00Life Begins at Ninety!Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02391895261812155903noreply@blogger.comBlogger33125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-237156488617714921.post-67495294975461254582015-08-09T12:34:00.004-07:002015-08-09T12:34:37.797-07:00#35 Visit from Jakub the cellist<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 14pt;">Blog #35 Visit by Jakub
Omsky Trawkowski and his friend Delmar
Uqualla<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 14pt;">Every morning since
I came in June to Wellfleet I think nothing will happen, no one will visit
me and I will just rest and inhale the lovely whiff from
the ocean, watch sun sets- that is enough.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 14pt;">This morning I prepared coffee and
croissants with good stuff inside and Jakub (cellist we met in Sedona who
moved to Vermont recently) met me after his outside shower ready for adventure
of Shabbat, 8.8.15. Nothing special in this. We
left Delmar sleeping and off to the marina to have our breakfast. Early
in the morning Jakub walks with me around the marina- such
delight for me- no one else is up at this hour.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 14pt;">It was beshert that
I spill coffee coming down the steps and we drank water instead.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 14pt;">We had our walk and
then a lady sat down near us with a well-behaved dog. We talked about
all kinds of things. She lives year round in Wellfleet.
When leaving Victoria Pecoraro looked at me and
remembered meeting me in a nursery in Orleans buying flowers years
ago. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 14pt;">On the way home I asked
Jakub to stop in a place I have never been to - Flying Fish - to get
him the coffee I spilled this morning.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 14pt;">We sat down on
the large terrace full of people and next to me came
a little girl holding a big bag followed by her grandfather –beautiful,
bearded and mustachioed man. Then came her
mamusia and grandmamma. Birds were jumping around us eating
spilled crumbs, and Jakub had after enjoying second breakfast talked
to these people and I heard them speaking French to the little girl-well,
that started everything.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 14pt;">Aliska,you are the only
one who will believe this- 2 professors teaching
and working in Paris come every year to Wellfleet. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 14pt;">Their
daughter Tracy lives in London with her family.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 14pt;">Linda Brimm teaches
psychology interviewing survivors of the Holocaust. I told her it
was beshert that I spill coffee this morning so we can find each
other in Flying Fish._ Jakub remembered that his
grandmother and grandfather were in the underground … His Grandfather
never stopped talking about the war and his imprisonment (He was not
Jewish, but many were imprisoned for any kind of logical thinking against the
regime).<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 14pt;">Now the real
day begins and I am ready for my rest- so many
impressions,too much for my small brain. Calusy (kisses) M.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVRg8khHhpjHUVc5IgSq-61JUa5DpOZ_glszt2Mchug1Xlwr65qLcAEImNI1oR4fa6dfkn2W9SDY9wZoa2ET_cCeWqDJRX_bmdUuHeq56992eq0N5aDHUclYsZT8_PLy6ecxeMbe1EV762/s1600/Jakub+playing+cello.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVRg8khHhpjHUVc5IgSq-61JUa5DpOZ_glszt2Mchug1Xlwr65qLcAEImNI1oR4fa6dfkn2W9SDY9wZoa2ET_cCeWqDJRX_bmdUuHeq56992eq0N5aDHUclYsZT8_PLy6ecxeMbe1EV762/s320/Jakub+playing+cello.jpg" width="320" /></a><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">Later,
Jakub entertained us with romantic music in Glen and Maria’s gallery- we danced and
enjoyed an impromptu evening- that is the best kind.</span></div>
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<o:p></o:p><br />
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<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">Great
visit!</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14pt;">- Nika Fleissig <br />
<br />
Please Read My Blog Here:<br />
http://www.lifebeginsat90.blogspot.com/<br />
<br />
Order our book, From Miracle To Miracle: A Story of Survival (via PayPal):<br />
http://www.FromMiracleToMiracle.com<br />
<br />
Please view my art here:<br />
http://www.flickr.com/photos/nikafleissig/<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02391895261812155903noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-237156488617714921.post-81808003744849342452015-07-26T14:35:00.001-07:002015-07-26T14:35:32.185-07:00Life Begins at 90 #34 Scooter!<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;">Today’s adventure is the
best ever. It was a gloomy day so after eating, reading and
playing bridge I went to the marina for a walk as usual. Then I
thought to try to find a pink top for my nice pants and found
it in Eccentricity, the unusual store behind the Off Center store in town.</span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;">As
I walk out I see a beautiful scooter parked next to my car and
a nice young lady approaching it. I said, “This was always my
dream and it is too late now. Can you take a photo so I can
show it to my family?” </span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;">Jessica
made nice pictures-- then bought our book and I found out
that her parents live on Briar Lane where we rented a
cottage for 16 years before buying our Mill Hill Rd dream
place. Had I left the store one minute later I
never would have met this nice young teacher - speaking of
“beshert”!!!!!!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;">Hope
Jessica will find time to bring her husband to my place. I am blessed. I see you all smiling!
<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;">Calusy (Kisses
in Polish) Mamusia</span><b><span style="font-size: 16pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02391895261812155903noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-237156488617714921.post-42560569359121944442015-07-23T19:03:00.002-07:002015-07-23T19:03:31.804-07:00Blog #32 Everyday - ADVENTURES!!<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-size: 13.5pt;">Blog 32: ADVENTURES, YES,
EVERY DAY – ADVENTURES!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><i><span style="font-size: 14pt;">Daughter Alicia writes: </span></i></b><i><span style="font-size: 14pt;">Each day without fail I get an email
from my mother Nika about her adventures… She adores spending 4 months at her
cottage on Cape Cod in the village of Wellfleet. Amazing how many people she meets - maybe
walking around the marina, perhaps swimming at one of the ponds, sometimes at
the Senior Center. This week in mid-July
my brother Will Fleissig, his wife Wendy and their daughters Ariel and Mia are
staying nearby in Wellfleet. What joy for my mother to see them each day, hear
their stories, watch the girls dance and sing, and just feel like close
family. It is hard for us all being so
spread out from coast to coast. <o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<i><span style="font-size: 14pt;">Unfortunately
because my husband Itzhak was in the hospital earlier this month, we had to
cancel our trip. I was able to lead the
baby naming ceremony of our daughter Tali and son-in-law Craig’s twin baby
girls Gabriella and Amalia by Skype, but missed seeing our son Amir who flew in
for the family gathering as well. Itzhak
is healing quite well at home, getting a lot of good care, has lost weight, and
will continue to follow a well-defined nutrition program for diabetes. <o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<i><span style="font-size: 14pt;">Here are
a few excerpts from emails I received this past week alone! Pretty much
unedited, so you get the flavor: <o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14pt;">Subject: Fun Time<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14pt;">Hi Such a nice time
- being together with 4 of my Darlings-performing, singing
just having fun- how long it does not matter.</span><span style="font-size: 16pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14pt;">Hope you had a good workout and please
do something every day- even for 15 minutes. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14pt;">Much love calusy <i>(kisses in Polish, pronounced tzawusi)</i> Mamusia</span><span style="font-size: 16pt;"> <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 13.5pt;">Marina, Wellfleet, Massachusetts</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt; text-align: center;">Uncle Tim’s Bridge, Wellfleet</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14pt;">Good morning Monday July 20. Wellfleet Cape Cod<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14pt;">Tried to swim together with my children but our
timing was wrong. So they went wave catching in the ocean and I
went to Great Pond all alone . <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14pt;">I knew someone will help me,
and so it happened I met a nice lady who <br />
recognize me - She had read the book and listened to our talk. She
got me down to the lake safely.<br />
<br />
In the water met Joan and Ed Weaving<br />
Had a beautiful swim and walk in the water to exercise and
then Ed offered to get me back to my car. <br />
I found our book- dedicated it to Weavings and hope <br />
they will visit me soon in my studio.<br />
Perfect morning - Hope you are enjoying whatever you are doing and
we see each other later to “Show and tell”.<br />
Bless you and thank you for making “life begins at 90” real fun.
<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14pt;">Smiling Baci Nika<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-size: 14pt;">Nika at marina, Wellfleet next to plaque in memory of Alfred Fleissig<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-size: 14pt;">Plaque reads:<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-size: 14pt;">Alfred Fleissig 1906-1984<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-size: 14pt;">His love of Wellfleet and this harbor<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-size: 14pt;">has been passed down to the fourth generation.</span></b></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14pt;">Beautiful day. just perfect- Children catching
waves I went for my usual walk around the marina. Wearing cheerful
pants I had bought with you in Oregon. A lady came to me and said “Hi
Nika, my husband read your book, is sitting in the car (fell
off the ladder has a broken hand and fingers) and told me to talk to you.
.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14pt;">I remember falling off a ladder picking up a yellow shawl
from the attic for a gallery opening many years ago. Fred was holding the
ladder to help. Ended in the hospital with a broken wrist
which was never properly put together by a butcher-doctor. We all do dumb things and have
to pay for them dearly.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14pt;">This lady used to have catering business in
Connecticut and told me her daughter delivers a chocolate
bomb desert to Wicked Oyster. We
should try it tonight.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14pt;">I showed her Fredziu’s plaque and we
really connected.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14pt;">Now waiting for the children to see what the day will
bring. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14pt;">Afternoon after 5:30 dinner at Wicked Oyster---
elegant gallery opening across from Glenn…. then maybe
dancing at the pier if not too windy. Wow-Love
Wellfleet!!!!!!!! Calusy Mamusia<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfZHPSR39LUo8l5MR-ejbiXwlWEvQ99uyT9CuNcLpIRt5UfGU996Uhsd2WnXWXMAeS7AJ2ZZqDOuWPhyphenhyphenCXa0krPAJBZokIbUg32tNh1L_VAQKsQOI66MgDuZSKfJzKC-yiLc9KGkiUVsM_/s1600/family+photo+Will%252C+Wendy%252C+girls%252C+Nika.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfZHPSR39LUo8l5MR-ejbiXwlWEvQ99uyT9CuNcLpIRt5UfGU996Uhsd2WnXWXMAeS7AJ2ZZqDOuWPhyphenhyphenCXa0krPAJBZokIbUg32tNh1L_VAQKsQOI66MgDuZSKfJzKC-yiLc9KGkiUVsM_/s400/family+photo+Will%252C+Wendy%252C+girls%252C+Nika.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<b><span style="font-size: 14pt;">Nika’s
son Will, his wife Wendy, their daughters Ariel, Mia, and Matriarch Nika<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14pt;">I miss you - talked about
you at the opening of the new gallery across from Glen.
Bettina and her husband. They promised to visit
me. Saturday new play opening. Joanna will
pick me up. Life is interesting
if you do not close your doors! </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14pt;">Much love M</span><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><i><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 14pt;">Alicia adds: Please reread that last sentence. Worth embroidering or making into a
banner! <o:p></o:p></span></i></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 14pt;">“LIFE IS INTERESTING IF YOU DO NOT CLOSE YOUR DOORS!!”<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 14pt;">-<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt;">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><b><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 14pt;">Nika Kohn Fleissig<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14pt;">- Nika Fleissig <br />
<br />
Please Read My Blog Here:<br />
http://www.lifebeginsat90.blogspot.com/<br />
<br />
Order our book, From Miracle To Miracle: A Story of Survival (via PayPal):<br />
http://www.FromMiracleToMiracle.com<br />
<br />
Please view my art here:<br />
http://www.flickr.com/photos/nikafleissig/<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02391895261812155903noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-237156488617714921.post-11640314053640189752015-07-23T18:47:00.003-07:002015-07-23T18:47:42.173-07:00<div>
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<b><span style="font-size: 16pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Life Begins at 90: Blog
#33 Hamburger and a Beer…..<!--?xml:namespace prefix
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<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;">It
all started with a Hamburger. When we
had dinner in Winslow Tavern yesterday my son Willy ordered a hamburger.
Today, after swimming with the girls and Wendy and Willy helping me go up and
down, <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;">I
changed and suddenly felt a colossal yen to get a hamburger of my own. While my
family went to have ice cream in town I walked and remembered the Lighthouse
Restaurant right on Main Street in town.</span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;">Nobody
was inside… I peeked – asked the nice waitress if she could persuade the cook
to make me a double hamburger without anything artificial added to the purest
beef. Sat down, asked for Heineken light beer and waited. It came as promised- and really, it tasted
divine after all these years. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;">My
son Willy came over to share the beer with me and suddenly the waitress brought
1 more beer that a gentleman sitting with his son sent to me. What a kind thing
to do.</span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;">Wendy
and the girls came over and took a nice photo with the kind man – Jonathan
McPartland - and started a conversation - a most pleasant
encounter.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;">Then
walked with Willy to the car and a gentleman passed in the most unusual hat with
red flower and cane - very different from any such cane I ever saw. Wendy came
over, took our photo together and Mr. Sander Stern promised to send me the same
cane when he returns home. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHf7ICUh9__kOqtqW1akYpqd5NocL8n7V0hvco1DMThgyCzoGTNEVRNSxGYhz3kfNVnvr_SGX0tMxC42hfaZ0v0BIm7qRwUc6CnRXc7EtEBxUL3u40KD67FJAmkoYybFuU0QYS6EDwmr3W/s1600/Sander+Stern+in+fun+hat+with+cane.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHf7ICUh9__kOqtqW1akYpqd5NocL8n7V0hvco1DMThgyCzoGTNEVRNSxGYhz3kfNVnvr_SGX0tMxC42hfaZ0v0BIm7qRwUc6CnRXc7EtEBxUL3u40KD67FJAmkoYybFuU0QYS6EDwmr3W/s320/Sander+Stern+in+fun+hat+with+cane.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">for some reason this came upside down and I cannot turn it around... so stand on your head!</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;">Similar things
happen to me almost every day, but this time my family witnessed it – which made
it so much more believable.</span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;">Finally drove
to pick up Ariel and Mia sitting on a bench and wondering what happened to all
of us.</span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;">Tomorrow
Will’s family leaves for Martha’s Vineyard and then home to San Francisco, and I
will be left with delightful memories of their visit.</span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;">Maybe
Wendy and Willy will add their story… I wonder how it all looked to them….
</span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span family="SCRIPT" lang="0" ptsize="18" style="color: purple; font-family: Papyrus; font-size: large;"><b>Rabbi Alicia Magal</b></span><b><span family="SANSSERIF" lang="0" ptsize="14" style="color: blue; font-family: Arial; font-size: medium;"></span></b><span family="SANSSERIF" lang="0" ptsize="14" style="color: blue; font-family: Arial; font-size: medium;"><a href="http://www.jcsvv.org/">
www.jcsvv.org</a></span><span family="SANSSERIF" lang="0" ptsize="14" style="color: purple; font-family: Arial; font-size: medium;"><br /><br />928 204-1286<br />blog: </span><span family="SANSSERIF" lang="0" ptsize="12" style="color: blue; font-family: Verdana; font-size: small;"><b><a href="http://www.redrockrabbi.blogspot.com/">http://www.redrockrabbi.blogspot.com</a></b></span><span family="SANSSERIF" lang="0" ptsize="14" style="color: purple; font-family: Arial; font-size: medium;"><br /><br /><br />"A Jewel of a Shul"</span><span family="SERIF" lang="0" ptsize="14" style="color: purple; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: medium;"><br /><br />Mission
Statement:<br />The Jewish Community of Sedona and the Verde Valley is a
welcoming, egalitarian, inclusive congregation dedicated to building a link from
the past to the future by providing religious, educational, social and cultural
experiences. We choose to remain unaffiliated in order to respect and serve the
rich diversity of our members and visitors. </span></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02391895261812155903noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-237156488617714921.post-55089958890390342222015-07-12T18:30:00.000-07:002015-07-12T18:30:36.281-07:00Blog 31: Family Gathering on Cape Cod, July 2015<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 14pt;">Blog 31: Family
Gathering, July 2015<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 14pt;">Here we all are in
Wellfleet in 2015, where our daughter Alicia got married to Itzhak Magal in
1974, and our granddaughter Tali and her husband Craig Fleishman had their
wedding in 2010. So many memories of
family gatherings over decades, since Alicia and Willy were babies, and now we
have grown to such a large family!
We have a family reunion of 4 generations created by me with
Fred’s help. Tali and Craig’s six-month
old twins, Gabriella and Amalia, will get their Hebrew names, and traditional
blessings, and we will celebrate all our birthdays together. My 95<sup>th</sup> was in May, but since we
are all together now in the summer, we will combine all these happy occasions. My
son Will Fleissig, with his wife Wendy and their two daughters, Ariel -12- and
Mia -10- are driving up for the day from Falmouth on the Cape. My grandson Amir is flying in to be part of
the celebration as well. We will all meet at the house nearby that Tali and
Craig rented for this week. Alicia and
Itzhak cannot be here as planned, since Itzhak was taken to the hospital … they
had to cancel their vacation.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 14pt;">On Thursday, July 9, I drove to
the Bistro in South Wellfleet for a delicious breakfast (where Tali and
Craig had their wedding reception in 2010), kissed Phillipe, the owner, and
met his French Mama and Italian Papa visiting from France. I got a special present – his Mama had
just made fresh raspberry jam - a treasure. Also met Eliza and daughter 2 years
old who dances around the kitchen entertaining the help.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 14pt;">An hour later my
son Willy - who had just flown with his family from San Francisco - left
Falmouth, their summer place, and joined Tali and me for breakfast. I
love such impromptu unplanned adventures. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 14pt;"> --<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 14pt;">It is a warm day,
Friday, July 10. I was counting the days
until my whole family will be together to celebrate 4
generations Fred and I started 70 years ago. Unfortunately our
beloved Rabbi Alicia - new grandmother - could not bless the 6
month old twins Amalia and Gabriella and give them their
Hebrew names in person.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 14pt;">Still it was lovely, and will
be never forgotten, such a happy afternoon. My son Will with his
beautiful three ladies: wife Wendy, and daughters Ariel and Mia came
around 2pm. Grandson Amir had arrived one day earlier. We talked and had some nice things
to eat, and then decided to go swimming in Great Pond, which we love.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 14pt;">It is so much fun to see
the little babies just trying the water. Tali and Craig are great
parents. I walked and swam and
loved to be surrounded by my growing family - a dream come true.
<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Nika, Tali, Amalia</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdiQ9w4iCbLlNSqJDTXXQFiWiYfQrv7i7PGf_vFSvJUm08-sy9ss6q9Y7iOhHFn4s1um6mP0DXRzdQRQzYN8680rnh6KjBsN8f1bh1JSeVhNMfwZo9mfeIIBHpuuee0e9fnIRmdiV87Fnn/s1600/Gabriella%252C+Tali%252C+Nika.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdiQ9w4iCbLlNSqJDTXXQFiWiYfQrv7i7PGf_vFSvJUm08-sy9ss6q9Y7iOhHFn4s1um6mP0DXRzdQRQzYN8680rnh6KjBsN8f1bh1JSeVhNMfwZo9mfeIIBHpuuee0e9fnIRmdiV87Fnn/s320/Gabriella%252C+Tali%252C+Nika.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Gabriella, Tali, Nika</span></td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBrdXaJWt99oMgMEi0brcfcl48H6xd7JrCvll14MbMV3WfMH4ywBZSfI-yL0VRkrJ5xeVYKwMPxI5HhVMSEs0YRI9sKelagWEo-TjY01XKeSK0jl97If5fAHH5l4RCGx_p4dWNCgq17i6V/s1600/Tali+and+Craig+with+babies++-+Long+Pond%252C+Wellfleet%252C+MA.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBrdXaJWt99oMgMEi0brcfcl48H6xd7JrCvll14MbMV3WfMH4ywBZSfI-yL0VRkrJ5xeVYKwMPxI5HhVMSEs0YRI9sKelagWEo-TjY01XKeSK0jl97If5fAHH5l4RCGx_p4dWNCgq17i6V/s320/Tali+and+Craig+with+babies++-+Long+Pond%252C+Wellfleet%252C+MA.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Tali and Craig introduce the babies to Long Pond in Wellfleet</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWgqYaPZJqySiIsgdqRKNZYGnyyyRVlkDkXktnlFrMU2Jm49DfE9vMnT-OZ1zfAuhIA2d7vpG4Sl0vB8dBoCd5hH003KgPFP1iCtV4N0b3cU4ULe0AIP1ml_ObupELxmkTzvbpFTlDwbEA/s1600/Gabriella+and+Amalia+6+months.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWgqYaPZJqySiIsgdqRKNZYGnyyyRVlkDkXktnlFrMU2Jm49DfE9vMnT-OZ1zfAuhIA2d7vpG4Sl0vB8dBoCd5hH003KgPFP1iCtV4N0b3cU4ULe0AIP1ml_ObupELxmkTzvbpFTlDwbEA/s400/Gabriella+and+Amalia+6+months.jpeg" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Gabriella and Amalia nearly 6 months old</span></td></tr>
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<i><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 14pt;">Alicia adds: yes, this was
a big disappointment not to be there in person, but I was able to participate
in the baby naming by skype. Hard not to
be holding the babies in person, but at least we could all see and hear each
other. So the babies are Gabriella Roux
and Amalia Belle – and their Hebrew names are Gabriella Lea, and Amalia Bracha.
Tali explained the meaning and lineage of their names, and I blessed them as their
Savta (grandmother in Hebrew)-Rabbi. As
I write this now on July 12, Itzhak is much better and about to be discharged from
the hospital. <o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJFBj42gfbWPsr0wGd3GnfVGvfbBQT-MVYqAY7p6Qn8onfqZABPbcIyP4jmfWG7quEwpDruQBtfHhBeLiltRgu6Y8eTMCR2CAmomQIQAI9QdY46r3CeXlDBjZOJsPOWgv6x4kPO9uF7UZJ/s1600/skype+baby+naming.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJFBj42gfbWPsr0wGd3GnfVGvfbBQT-MVYqAY7p6Qn8onfqZABPbcIyP4jmfWG7quEwpDruQBtfHhBeLiltRgu6Y8eTMCR2CAmomQIQAI9QdY46r3CeXlDBjZOJsPOWgv6x4kPO9uF7UZJ/s640/skype+baby+naming.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Skype screenshot of family gathered for baby naming<br />Alicia at bottom right taking picture of the computer screen;<br />from left - Amir, Will, Craig holding Gabriella, Tali holding Amalia, Mia, Wendy, Nika, Ariel</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 14pt;">When we returned, everybody
helped to prepare a dinner - what a happy
time of joking and telling stories.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 14pt;">Finally we all sat
around the table, singing Hebrew songs and Friday evening Shabbat prayers.
Food was delicious and then I thanked them and thought of leaving the
happy group. Willy said “We are not through with you. Please
sit.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 14pt;">Surprise of my
life when Willy pulled out a big envelope and announced – this was
supposed to reach you in Sedona for your 95th birthday.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 14pt;">Somehow it traveled back
and forth several time and got returned to Willy. He
kept it for this special evening - what a delight. I
thought it was lost, and now Ariel and Mia were reading to me their lovely
wishes. Willy and Wendy have outdone themselves- real works of
art.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 14pt;">Everyone there could
write about this reunion and baby naming from their own perspective. I invite them to read this and add their own
memories about what was important and memorable… Then I can add them in a
future updated blog. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 14pt;">But truly this was a
highlight for us all, a point of touching each other’s lives with joy. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 14pt;">- Nika Fleissig <br />
<br />
Please Read My Blog Here:<br />
http://www.lifebeginsat90.blogspot.com/<br />
<br />
Order our book, From Miracle To Miracle: A Story of Survival (via PayPal):<br />
http://www.FromMiracleToMiracle.com<br />
<br />
Please view my art here:<br />
http://www.flickr.com/photos/nikafleissig/<o:p></o:p></span></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02391895261812155903noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-237156488617714921.post-51176060404329074612015-05-17T20:30:00.003-07:002015-05-18T09:58:57.458-07:00Blog #30 Life is Always an Adventure<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 14pt;">In previous blogs I
covered all kinds of happy and sad memories which were triggered
by some happening at the moment. I now had a few days that made me feel
like staying home, so I went across the street to Verizon to ask some help from
the friendly manager </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 19px;">Brenda</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 19px;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 14pt;">to teach me a few more things I can
find in my new smart phone. Also, my daughter Alicia showed me new
possibilities such as actually reading books on my phone! Advantages -- much lighter to hold than a heavy book, and I can adjust the size of the letters. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 14pt;">Well, I could not
play bridge all day online, and painting requires too much
concentration. I just felt like reading a book without going to the
library.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 14pt;">All of us widows have
one thing in common - too much time. Most friends if you live past
90 have left this world. “Never
give up,” I said to myself.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 14pt;">So I clicked the Amazon Kindle icon, and tried to find
something cheerful to read. I found a funny title: “Old Girls in Low Cotton,” </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 14pt;">written by Helen
Childress. I laughed all the time and admired her style.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 14pt;"> <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 14pt;">The second book, “The Girl
in room 14” by Carol Drinkwater, made me think of a good few
years ago when I became a widow at 65. </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 14pt;">Once upon a time in my
grandmother’s time 65 was really old, but not anymore. For me 65 was
a new beginning.</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 14pt;"> </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 14pt;">The advantage of that age:
we are independent. Our children are grown up, on their own, busy with their
children. So we then ask ourselves what
to do with the rest of our life.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 14pt;">My husband, Alfred
Fleissig and I had enjoyed 10 winter seasons in San Miguel de Allende, Mexico. </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 19px;">San Miguel de Allende is, and was, a paradise for painters. I never learned more or did better work than during those 10 years taking classes at Bellas Artes. </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 19px;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 19px;">I learned enough Spanish to survive in Mexico, and loved every minute we spent there, with good friends we made.</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 19px;"> <table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdSp5Rceti5EZWhteqRTItL8R9ZmAIZKEEK7V9vPBZJ-NZS2Co3pgH6vd2NW2vNyKHUfJkWaviOOv4TQRSbf8B3vA3QVSAeUcq3XQMdzTvVrpCkf9tbnUhDM163aY4d20R8xEAAnyJj1AV/s1600/Nika,+Fred+with+friends+in+San+Miguel+1981.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="247" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdSp5Rceti5EZWhteqRTItL8R9ZmAIZKEEK7V9vPBZJ-NZS2Co3pgH6vd2NW2vNyKHUfJkWaviOOv4TQRSbf8B3vA3QVSAeUcq3XQMdzTvVrpCkf9tbnUhDM163aY4d20R8xEAAnyJj1AV/s320/Nika,+Fred+with+friends+in+San+Miguel+1981.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /><span style="font-size: small;">San Miguel de Allende, Mexico, 1981.<br />Alfred is standing, 4th from the left. Nika is standing on right, in green dress.<br />Alicia is kneeling in center.</span></td></tr>
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</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 19px;">Unfortunately, there is no hospital. </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 19px;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 19px;">Americans who retired there had to be flown to Houston, Texas, if they got sick. </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 19px;"> </span><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif; font-size: medium;">A great </span><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: 19px;">disadvantage</span></span><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif; font-size: medium;"> of the village for anyone with a heart condition is that it sits at an altitude of 8000
ft. Fred, at 77 years of age, could no longer breathe well at that altitude,
and I realized that we had to get out quickly.</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 14pt;">
</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 14pt;">I managed to swap our townhouse with an apartment in West Palm Beach,
Florida, at sea level, where my husband would be healthier.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 14pt;"> <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 14pt;">I hated the change and
cried my eyes out, walking along the ocean so that nobody can see me. But for
Fred it was a good change moving to Florida. He was happy there and could
breathe more easily, and enjoyed the balmy weather.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 14pt;">After only eight
months my husband of 38 years died at the age of 78, and I
thought the “tunnel closed up” -
no future for me.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 14pt;">I ran away for 3 weeks,
and cried all over Europe. It was raining everywhere I went, so I traveled to
Israel hoping for better weather. I had a year of mourning… and truly mourned - not
only him, but also my own family who had all been killed in the War - for the
first time. I never had had time before
when I was busy adjusting to a new life in America and bringing up
children. But after my husband died, I
suddenly felt alone. I just walked, and
thought, and wondered, what next?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 14pt;">You have to believe that
there are miracles and surprises.
It happened to me. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 14pt;">Upon my return home, I
became friends with a Polish man, Andrew Kaspzrak, whom my husband and I had
met briefly before. He lived in the same apartment complex in West Palm Beach. We were on the 21<sup>st</sup> floor, and his
apartment was on the 15<sup>th</sup> floor. Andrew had offered to pick up my mail, and
delivered it to me when I returned home. He was the same age as I, 65. He had left Poland a few years earlier, escaped
from the Communist system in Poland, was granted asylum, and started a new life in US. He had
a genius for manufacturing and marketing clothes, furs, and other items, and
was somehow able to make money and have a fancy car, even under the Communist
restrictive economy. But he hated the
restrictions, and found a way to leave Poland. Andrew was separated from his
wife, and living on his own. His son
followed him, supposedly taking part of the boat races, brought with him a
new Mercedes car his father had left behind, and also settled in West Palm
Beach. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEBHEFYSvk0HwyhdtvRYKKlnQVl8v-B3fx2wCs_LwHbhLiFalOEaHNFioXji8WiNkLVg1K7KmBvz9I0s3ku2ZG7UEadDzdqOMGG98SkRTZhK-uMQRGedQXVM7O4Q1OfgzOMPX9xewIB2pJ/s1600/Nika+and+Andrew,+kiss+on+the+beach.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEBHEFYSvk0HwyhdtvRYKKlnQVl8v-B3fx2wCs_LwHbhLiFalOEaHNFioXji8WiNkLVg1K7KmBvz9I0s3ku2ZG7UEadDzdqOMGG98SkRTZhK-uMQRGedQXVM7O4Q1OfgzOMPX9xewIB2pJ/s320/Nika+and+Andrew,+kiss+on+the+beach.jpg" width="237" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 14pt;">Slowly Andrew and I helped each
other to start a new life at 65. I had to learn to play tennis
since Andrew loved the sport. Since my right arm has no strength I learned to play "vicious tennis" with my left arm! We started traveling all over the world to all
the places we had missed because of the Second World War. Our teenage and young adult years had been
taken from us, and now, in our mid- 60’s, 70’s, and
into our 80’s, we were free to enjoy life like kids. We went on cruises,
traveled in trains across Europe, and even found our way to the North Pole for
my 80<sup>th</sup> birthday in May of 2000! <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMzGiZh5_pJmEwLK_sFT2DjvfPgii5qajoevw-fGNb8U0CEJRxXYq7YdfD7DUvdvwSmgss6ZAHJps8i3VnOmyORBGQ3G9WYBZkct2W5y6Y6RVquB9q30rn2a6_fXUVYkqLds-e86Qj3hnr/s1600/Andrew+and+Nika+toast.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="203" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMzGiZh5_pJmEwLK_sFT2DjvfPgii5qajoevw-fGNb8U0CEJRxXYq7YdfD7DUvdvwSmgss6ZAHJps8i3VnOmyORBGQ3G9WYBZkct2W5y6Y6RVquB9q30rn2a6_fXUVYkqLds-e86Qj3hnr/s320/Andrew+and+Nika+toast.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBnL6Rqm56wpSxkkApQTXBUEl2026CE3-_xL40BpE1shTHi8jc8zpQWbZ54DmW_P2z65_XeeupgwnakAK05f4D6HxN4g6_if2qrYdQEpmsS3CqYLS5PFT8sQ6PqGiHRvL70Wj3W-gDTNEY/s1600/NIka+and+Andrew+Iquito,+Peru+(1).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBnL6Rqm56wpSxkkApQTXBUEl2026CE3-_xL40BpE1shTHi8jc8zpQWbZ54DmW_P2z65_XeeupgwnakAK05f4D6HxN4g6_if2qrYdQEpmsS3CqYLS5PFT8sQ6PqGiHRvL70Wj3W-gDTNEY/s320/NIka+and+Andrew+Iquito,+Peru+(1).jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Andrew and Nika in Iquitos, Peru</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5HPdXNG74tlHbsYqstZ__pwDm7h6ktbxY07jMlSALVPyvoteaqci2jC-I4C4V7l1UY4xHtEiQEj239e5CQJaVPIup2gwFa0IYLjJsMl3R0Z_bkwjX1H1Psc2F20wIRxAP_mTp63CF-Iqg/s1600/Nika+in+Ixquito,+Peru,+with+broken+arm+(1).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5HPdXNG74tlHbsYqstZ__pwDm7h6ktbxY07jMlSALVPyvoteaqci2jC-I4C4V7l1UY4xHtEiQEj239e5CQJaVPIup2gwFa0IYLjJsMl3R0Z_bkwjX1H1Psc2F20wIRxAP_mTp63CF-Iqg/s320/Nika+in+Ixquito,+Peru,+with+broken+arm+(1).jpg" width="180" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"> <span style="font-size: x-small; text-align: start;">Nika traveled to Peru despite a broken arm. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small; text-align: start;">See the cast on her right arm</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnkxvQfLZFNGGnpaixZkwv9EJ1k48_AkvoB9J1pmuHOViAHxzaZE5_kHlCEOu_zYYG1ohfMWy5i6J3d4Mxd6lYJ06ozZIpqKeCJVkdNBMv9K_KkC_GCZNdTXqr1HgcyjBKA5VzzByRSk7B/s1600/NIka+and+Andrew+Iquito,+Peru+(2).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnkxvQfLZFNGGnpaixZkwv9EJ1k48_AkvoB9J1pmuHOViAHxzaZE5_kHlCEOu_zYYG1ohfMWy5i6J3d4Mxd6lYJ06ozZIpqKeCJVkdNBMv9K_KkC_GCZNdTXqr1HgcyjBKA5VzzByRSk7B/s320/NIka+and+Andrew+Iquito,+Peru+(2).jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgw0-ayrYj_r2RQ1brwKGmuNHDU_rADD8JkbvE_MzKTKXKily_7anUGmj0FtgE6Ag7idN_ryCVpdc0SNjAiok6iSzAbpbE2INq5xLA2L7FS63E64h4wC2LNJ7FfRCHe1qmSIszxmi7lhWXY/s1600/Andrew+and+Nika.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="145" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgw0-ayrYj_r2RQ1brwKGmuNHDU_rADD8JkbvE_MzKTKXKily_7anUGmj0FtgE6Ag7idN_ryCVpdc0SNjAiok6iSzAbpbE2INq5xLA2L7FS63E64h4wC2LNJ7FfRCHe1qmSIszxmi7lhWXY/s200/Andrew+and+Nika.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnkxvQfLZFNGGnpaixZkwv9EJ1k48_AkvoB9J1pmuHOViAHxzaZE5_kHlCEOu_zYYG1ohfMWy5i6J3d4Mxd6lYJ06ozZIpqKeCJVkdNBMv9K_KkC_GCZNdTXqr1HgcyjBKA5VzzByRSk7B/s1600/NIka+and+Andrew+Iquito,+Peru+(2).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuNTjA08dlbl4Nx2V7Pn08PiIOj3dyjF49MzJg0ur4poHDtPiZKmUAcaDUoeNitnUc-ldAC8CiaAsB-lkghQdRCCCSH52QFtwjZriM9WxF2X_agvKptz0xmEAR1CiAzG1scpQ9U-9H8ekW/s1600/NIka+and+Andrew+at+the+north+pole.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuNTjA08dlbl4Nx2V7Pn08PiIOj3dyjF49MzJg0ur4poHDtPiZKmUAcaDUoeNitnUc-ldAC8CiaAsB-lkghQdRCCCSH52QFtwjZriM9WxF2X_agvKptz0xmEAR1CiAzG1scpQ9U-9H8ekW/s320/NIka+and+Andrew+at+the+north+pole.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Nika and Andrew at the Ice Palace Igloo Hotel <br />at the North Pole, 2000</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 14pt;">Now, in 2015, after
being alone for 10 years, (Andrew died at age 85) I am reading a book about the
French Riviera. I recall being on a
train to Cannes in France, and across from us a nice lady listening
to our plans said, “Why don’t you try something new…not as busy and full
of tourists as Cannes or the rest of Riviera: the name is Menton.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 14pt;">We
had never heard of it but we did it. Everything
was delightful in that place. Always stay
open to try new adventures - why not? I never forgot the great
new part of the Riviera to enjoy. Carol Drinkwater describes in her
book all the places I remember, and so I am smiling as I read her book.</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 14pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 14pt;">Why
did I feel that I would like to tell my friends about it? Because I want to say
strongly <b><u>never to think
life is over</u>!!</b> Surprises are
waiting around the corner if you are willing </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 14pt;">to take a chance! Now past
90 it is so pleasant to have such fond memories!!!!! <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 14pt;">Now I have adventures
with my daughter here in Sedona, meeting new friends, younger people, and being
invited to places I never thought to be able to see before. I’m
looking forward to seeing the rest of my family, including my baby great-daughters,
just now 4 months old, this summer on Cape Cod.
A real family celebration! <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 14pt;">Good luck to all of you
reading! Take a chance and have an
adventure!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 14pt;">- Nika Fleissig <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 14pt;"><br />
Please Read all the past postings of my Blog Here:<br />
http://www.lifebeginsat90.blogspot.com/<br />
<br />
Order our book, From Miracle To Miracle: A Story of Survival (via PayPal):<br />
http://www.FromMiracleToMiracle.com<br />
<br />
Please view my art here:<br />
http://www.flickr.com/photos/nikafleissig/<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02391895261812155903noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-237156488617714921.post-2014034584929543982015-05-10T16:42:00.000-07:002015-05-10T16:42:12.769-07:00#29 MOTHER'S WEEK in Oregon<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<b><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 14pt;">Life Begins at Ninety Blog #29, Mother’s WEEK in Oregon!<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 14pt;">It all happened because
I was late returning my book to the library branch near my home in the Village
of Oak Creek near Sedona. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 14pt;">Suddenly I see dangling
feet... A man was sitting on the back of a truck in the parking lot taking
pictures. So I asked him if he could
take a picture of me from my own phone camera.
As he did that, his adorable wife Zoe showed up... They went with me to
return my book and then walked back to my place to see my paintings.
After seeing the paintings and my book lying on the table, he said, “I am Bill
Willetts from Oregon. When I return home I will swap my book for yours,
and send you the book my mother wrote when she was 95, like you are about to be.” I learned that she came as the youngest
daughter of a large family from Italy through Ellis Island, and was interviewed
about her immigrant experience as part of the Ellis Island museum. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 14pt;">In a week we got a lovely
package containing a book, a chocolate bar and a mug with a picture and logo of
Five Pines on them, as well as printed information about the lodge he had built. We thanked him, and received an unexpected
surprise: an invitation to be their guest for 3 days. Monday – Wednesday May
4-6, checking out on Thursday morning, May 7.
The cabins are fully booked Thursday – Sunday, so the beginning of the
week was good for them and good for us too. Never did I dream that I could ask Alicia
to skip a Friday evening service, but she agreed that we would go, and not rush
back. There would be a lay-led service
on Friday at the Sedona synagogue, and we would take our time with an extra day
to come home. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 14pt;">Alicia began to read the
book, and loved it. The print was too small for me, so Alicia read parts out
loud to me about the fascinating story of Bill’s mother’s life.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 14pt;">So we planned Mother’s
Week... Why just one day? Like a Polish
wedding or birthday… lasts all week!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;">We had to take two small
planes from Phoenix via San Francisco to reach this small airport at Redmond,
Oregon. </span><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiN6UlUgGKfulHdAY0eUyF9P4cpvZHKCHJADDLUQePLqnrLGePLFCcsMkSZ0odINgi5f-M0q3u4NtfzKkik2me1-CdmLEKOPrlAHp5aX0JxjlLtao6uKJM-3IIYFQyQWnsp_kd3jvPt6Voh/s1600/Nika+reading+a+book+on+her+android+phone+in+the+plane+to+Sisters,+Oregon.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiN6UlUgGKfulHdAY0eUyF9P4cpvZHKCHJADDLUQePLqnrLGePLFCcsMkSZ0odINgi5f-M0q3u4NtfzKkik2me1-CdmLEKOPrlAHp5aX0JxjlLtao6uKJM-3IIYFQyQWnsp_kd3jvPt6Voh/s200/Nika+reading+a+book+on+her+android+phone+in+the+plane+to+Sisters,+Oregon.jpg" width="112" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Nika on the plane reading a book downloaded into her android phone</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: medium;">Then Alicia rented a fiery red Dodge Journey, perfect name for
this trip. Just couldn’t find any place to plug in the GPS so she had to
navigate the old fashioned way – with a little, inaccurate tourist map, and asking
directions. We arrived at what looked like an enchanted pine forest…vertical lines
of hundreds of tree trunks reaching to the sky. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: medium;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRn1rECr4ordWrGBFAHonHhN1I6oA5sobhyphenhyphenvw2RF1FFGx7gi72DWOkU_bTWlta1dMpWf2rSyOACpjvAXFist_ME66Ax2UBSpcqqMWn5SieYnpVEcSDQ9EijcyCZYHxQ9FttpOVNJI1BFcQ/s1600/rented+hot+red+Dodge+Journey.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRn1rECr4ordWrGBFAHonHhN1I6oA5sobhyphenhyphenvw2RF1FFGx7gi72DWOkU_bTWlta1dMpWf2rSyOACpjvAXFist_ME66Ax2UBSpcqqMWn5SieYnpVEcSDQ9EijcyCZYHxQ9FttpOVNJI1BFcQ/s320/rented+hot+red+Dodge+Journey.jpg" width="320" /></a></span></div>
<span style="font-size: medium;"> <o:p></o:p></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 14pt;">There is a lodge, and a
conference center, a spa called Shibui, run by Bill’s wife Zoe, and many
cabins with different designs..ours was the Caboose Cabin, with an extra alcove
for Alicia’s bed. </span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6Q60FB9ox1jhDGlxgEFDla4IJsAZoPQYh2SglIhMM56afy575YZL08KbN-bQdGZ7zfRoY4xj7FRFHppsZYL8QnpMWz7yFKizYMkCw5TGqkfYkjbhQqqEo4Tw_rdZ6WxFirUn1xye-wcZu/s1600/Nika+outside+cabin+at+Five+Pines,+Oregon.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6Q60FB9ox1jhDGlxgEFDla4IJsAZoPQYh2SglIhMM56afy575YZL08KbN-bQdGZ7zfRoY4xj7FRFHppsZYL8QnpMWz7yFKizYMkCw5TGqkfYkjbhQqqEo4Tw_rdZ6WxFirUn1xye-wcZu/s320/Nika+outside+cabin+at+Five+Pines,+Oregon.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAmeSmdk8YyNkdU48q__fPeqwNdpur3zqJepOUsCGdKOehhQzGSCOiRWd1CAAFFv30DbBqlbbsD-O-8WC07MauxbgGXKVrxGmivvSf7MbFihVYHUs1kmUc_tD-h0BnlW0wpgzfrdCZvibV/s1600/Pine+cones+under+pine+trees.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAmeSmdk8YyNkdU48q__fPeqwNdpur3zqJepOUsCGdKOehhQzGSCOiRWd1CAAFFv30DbBqlbbsD-O-8WC07MauxbgGXKVrxGmivvSf7MbFihVYHUs1kmUc_tD-h0BnlW0wpgzfrdCZvibV/s320/Pine+cones+under+pine+trees.jpg" width="320" /></a><i><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 14pt;">Alicia adds: Nika couldn’t understand what animal was leaving all
those thousands of droppings under the trees…. I laughed and told her they were
pine cones!!!<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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nearby town of Sisters, all of several blocks long, with cute little houses
turned into galleries, stores, and restaurants. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 14pt;">In the Conference Center, everything was dedicated to Bill‘s mother Elda, with inspiring quotes about forgiveness from his mother written on large wooden plaques. The family pictures were framed and displayed in the central entryway, making this public space homey and </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 19px;">personal.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 14pt;">Zoe and Bill have been
married for many years, since she was 16 and he 18... Their parents had
been against their getting married so early, but she got pregnant and against
everyone’s advice they did get married and kept the child, and created a life
and large family together. Now they have grandchildren already in
college! What a strong, loving, family life they created! <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 14pt;">This Five Pines Lodge
was built only 8 years ago after many years of Bill’s having businesses in
sales and design. Read the book to find out more... </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 14pt;">It is called
“The Sugar’s at the Bottom of the Cup.” The lodge is located in Sisters,
Oregon, named after the Three Sisters Mountains nearby. If you want to smell
the best, cleanest air ever, we highly recommend you go there and enjoy this
fairy tale spot. People return year
after year… We read some of their reflections in a journal in the cottage with
entries from families who visited again and again.. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 14pt;">Alicia: On Wednesday, our
second full day at the Five Pines Lodge, Nika decided to rest in the cabin so I
went exploring to find the Head of the Metolius River, suggested as a
remarkable destination for anyone visiting the area. I drove among miles of pine trees, parked –
the only car in the whole parking lot – and started walking down the path. The only companion I had was a lively
chipmunk. I did reach the spot where one has a view of the flowing river, but
the air was very cold, and the sky was grey, so I turned around and quickly
headed back.</span></i></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 14pt;">The highlight of our
trip, however, was not the meanderings downtown, nor the exploration of the
Head of the Metolius River, </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 14pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 14pt;">but the
dinner at the Open Door Restaurant inside the Clearwater Gallery in Sisters. In
the evening, they put tables into the gallery space and instantly it becomes a restaurant. </span></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 14pt;">Alicia: Bill knew of my mother’s love of art, and so picked this
fine dining venue in the midst of paintings and sculptures for a family
gathering to which we were invited.<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihrntnraqg3CPXPFSVAeP-zVY_VPBkZQLBEqd6mDls3kgdv5hf2aP_dgVxW-UutsfjsTTtoj1Dmuqn2f4hhl49Hsw66vN1bTy8PW9qIZQvZrofmeWF2jHiQdATVJpLgvPVhoPQadH8OFPX/s1600/Open+Door+restaurant+inside+gallery+(1).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihrntnraqg3CPXPFSVAeP-zVY_VPBkZQLBEqd6mDls3kgdv5hf2aP_dgVxW-UutsfjsTTtoj1Dmuqn2f4hhl49Hsw66vN1bTy8PW9qIZQvZrofmeWF2jHiQdATVJpLgvPVhoPQadH8OFPX/s320/Open+Door+restaurant+inside+gallery+(1).jpg" width="320" /></a><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 14pt;">We hugged Bill and Zoe,
and then were introduced to their son Greg, and his sons Sean and
Gabriel. We also got up and walked around the small gallery, and met all
the other diners. At one large table were
people who hold a regular Italian conversation group, so we practiced speaking
Italian with them. Other diners exchanged email addresses with us.
Very friendly, warm atmosphere!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 14pt;">We exchanged gifts with
Bill and Zoe, and felt like extended family. We hope to meet the rest of the
family in the future.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 14pt;">After our three days in
this fairy tale like place, we made a detour to Bend, Oregon, on Thursday
morning, where Alicia found (after a few stops to ask) the Old Mill District,
which in our minds would be a kind of promenade along the Dechutes River with
tables and cafes and cute local shops.... No such thing. It was indeed an
old brick mill with smokestacks turned into an outdoor mall with Chico’s and all
the usual franchise shops... And... it was bitter cold and windy. So, never
mind, we just went, much earlier than expected, back to the Redmond Airport to
drop off the car, and wait for the shuttle from the Comfort Suites Inn to pick
us up. We had both agreed that it would be too rushed to return back home after
those 3 days... Rather we decided to stay at a hotel for one more night before
flying back to Sedona the next morning, Friday. Kind of time to decompress.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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expecting nothing but a clean room. We open the window curtains, and Oh My
God...there was a rushing, turbulent, torrent of water right under our
window. Alicia yelled out, “Mom, the river, finally!!!” Actually it
is an irrigation channel for watering fields downstream, but for us, hey, this
was The River!!!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 14pt;">After shuttling us to a
quaint restaurant nearby with tasty sandwiches, we rested, and then decided to
utilize the pool. Had a swim, and then didn’t want to dress again or go out for
dinner. </span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrJIBK0EN0sYTTzvwWynAaP69WfOq81MefR9fbLHRe8XgRt9IsJjeUi86d3H15WNQNECwFVXTmRELmSJHBvaDECslMPFWYhFODSsxj5NWsXeOBqI02mW6yqlnFwTYaUz616hTpabPsH30z/s1600/going+swimming,+hotel+pool,+Redomond+(1).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrJIBK0EN0sYTTzvwWynAaP69WfOq81MefR9fbLHRe8XgRt9IsJjeUi86d3H15WNQNECwFVXTmRELmSJHBvaDECslMPFWYhFODSsxj5NWsXeOBqI02mW6yqlnFwTYaUz616hTpabPsH30z/s320/going+swimming,+hotel+pool,+Redomond+(1).jpg" width="320" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJ0m2YYV1WaDLkqL9ot6AXeUkUaVtkuaAfFTAmxHZCMxUgt51MWoPFX39N3GnlscRHys5R-WBpWa_QL9mWmc_QTy1Upb9k8d3uKOiN_hu3PGJt94kO1Zc1DYVuR1ONAxXk2LfBqfz8yMrB/s1600/going+swimming,+hotel+pool,+Redomond+(2).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJ0m2YYV1WaDLkqL9ot6AXeUkUaVtkuaAfFTAmxHZCMxUgt51MWoPFX39N3GnlscRHys5R-WBpWa_QL9mWmc_QTy1Upb9k8d3uKOiN_hu3PGJt94kO1Zc1DYVuR1ONAxXk2LfBqfz8yMrB/s320/going+swimming,+hotel+pool,+Redomond+(2).jpg" width="180" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUl0kXkLqj_tzpAXW7LJH310uNJDudq52YJqSwuqnq7p7KYC0plKx_6tn4yutdUa9BrgdypW6pu5kQIGOCHVbiUPYKoRYkr_jsc5bByUnQpdhiSpDEwkbpbCxSEMVPFs9mNQkdeetKYnLE/s1600/feast+in+hotel+room.+champagne+and+mango+juice,+chicken+pot+pies.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUl0kXkLqj_tzpAXW7LJH310uNJDudq52YJqSwuqnq7p7KYC0plKx_6tn4yutdUa9BrgdypW6pu5kQIGOCHVbiUPYKoRYkr_jsc5bByUnQpdhiSpDEwkbpbCxSEMVPFs9mNQkdeetKYnLE/s320/feast+in+hotel+room.+champagne+and+mango+juice,+chicken+pot+pies.jpg" width="320" /></a><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 14pt;">So… had a picnic feast in our
room: Champagne and mango juice (try it!), and microwaved chicken pot pies from
the choices at the front desk kiosk. </span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDZ3CQbzs8thfIQLj3e-zsFhdXdCvT8146RI11ffqalQKQO9pTmOtdr-BAbGB5JVdDjDFCHi1GvT-XmtDKwChUAw5HS9qnxKuqDSTqlU-KvKZzHMApzZBJ2DVUzA0Fb9vzsczUcly5AIiP/s1600/empty+Redomond+airport+9+a.m.+Friday+May+8,+2015.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDZ3CQbzs8thfIQLj3e-zsFhdXdCvT8146RI11ffqalQKQO9pTmOtdr-BAbGB5JVdDjDFCHi1GvT-XmtDKwChUAw5HS9qnxKuqDSTqlU-KvKZzHMApzZBJ2DVUzA0Fb9vzsczUcly5AIiP/s320/empty+Redomond+airport+9+a.m.+Friday+May+8,+2015.jpg" width="320" /></a><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 14pt;">Great, restful sleep, and then after breakfast
provided by the hotel, they took us in their shuttle to the local Redmond
Airport. and... believe it or not, there was NO ONE THERE... I mean
empty!!! I guess the rest of the locals knew to come only 10 minutes before the
flight. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 14pt;">The whole of Friday, May
8, it took us 12 hours to return to Sedona... two short flights, but a lot of
waiting in between, and the two hour long shuttle ride back to Sedona, made
comfortable by Ed of Red Rock Transportation.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 14pt;">Today, Sunday, May 10,
is Mother's Day, and Alicia brought daisies (you know I hate roses), and we sat
down together to write this blog about our Mother’s Week. I dictate,
and she types and ads her own comments. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 14pt;">I always need to have
something to look forward to…. and now that this Oregon adventure is passed,
I’m looking forward to my 95th birthday on May 27, and then going to Cape Cod
by June 1 for my 70th summer in Wellfleet, where our children and grandchildren
spent part of their vacation… and now also our great-grandchildren will join
the fun. We will celebrate my birthday,
and the naming of Tali and Craig’s babies, whose American names are Gabriella
Roux and Amalia Belle, this summer in July. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 14pt;">Alicia: It is a custom to give babies their Hebrew name with a
ceremony in which the parents and other relatives welcome the babies into the Covenant
of Judaism through their significant Hebrew lineage names, linking them to
earlier generations. As both a rabbi and a grandmother, I’m looking forward to
both roles in this moving Baby Naming and blessing ceremony!<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 14pt;">I wish for every mother
in the world to experience such fun with her own children and create
adventures... So start walking to your local library!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 13.5pt;">To read the rest of the blogs go to<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 13.5pt;"><a href="http://www.lifebeginsat90.blogspot.com/">www.lifebeginsat90.blogspot.com</a><o:p></o:p></span></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02391895261812155903noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-237156488617714921.post-31759770604440003802015-05-02T20:14:00.000-07:002015-05-02T20:14:12.307-07:00LIfe Begins at 90 #28 Perfumes<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: rgb(245, 245, 245); margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
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<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 14pt;">Every
now and then I asked my Darling Daughter Alicia to order my
favorite cologne, Cabochard by Gres. As I thought about
how I learned about this particular perfume, I started remembering my
beginnings as a married lady in Westchester, an elegant suburb of NY.
One day my cousin Salo Wolf (born in Vienna and escaped in time before
WWII to Israel to become one of the most prominent lawyers in 7 languages in
Tel Aviv) visited us after not seeing each other since I was 15, in
1935, when had I lived for a year in his parents’ palatial home, as
I was recuperating from surgery for a broken hip.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 14pt;">As
we were reminiscing about all the surviving family members and where
they were now living, suddenly Salo told me that I have to meet our cousin who
lived in Scarsdale, very close to our home in White Plains. He was Ernest Shiftan, a
famous perfumer. Well, it did not take me long to connect with
my Berlin-born talented cousin, and my life was never the same since.</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 16pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 14pt;"> <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 14pt;">I
studied painting in the Art Students League in New York City, commuting from
White Plains to NYC, dragging all my paints, brushes, and canvases. Imagine me as a 30+ year-old married woman
with 2 children, while most of the other students were 18 years old. I was the old lady!</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 16pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 14pt;">A whole
new world opened up for me. I had originally decided
to be a fashion designer. Xavier Gonzalez, a great painter and
teacher whom I met in Wellfleet, our summer vacation place on
Cape Cod, Massachusetts, had asked me, “Do you need money?” I answered
“No, I am a kept woman… I am married.”</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 16pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 14pt;">He
laughed and decided, “You should become a painter. “ Xavier had a fine
school for studying painting right there in Wellfleet, a town of many art galleries.
</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 16pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 14pt;">Just
for fun to find out if I ever had a chance as a designer, I took my portfolio to
Madison Ave. in NY to a very prestigious agency to show my
designs, and got some good advice. The man in charge looked carefully, and said,
“You will be very successful, I think, but it is a cut-throat business. With a husband who works long hours in the
City, and your two little children you will
need a nanny to take care of them, is it worth it to you?”</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 16pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 14pt;">I
called next day and thanked him for saving my marriage and enabling
me to be a mother to my adorable Alicia and Willy, and decided to
become a painter, which can be done in my home.</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 16pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 14pt;">When
my daughter arrived once in school with green hair, the 4<sup>th</sup> grade
art teacher guessed, “Your mom is painting?” My paints were right next
to Alicia's hair brush </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 19px;">on my bedroom bureau</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 19px;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 14pt;">where I fixed her hair every morning.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 14pt;">That is when Fredziu decided it was time to build a
studio in the back of our home, so now most children of the
neighborhood came to admire the freedom of creating
anything they like without worry. I
also got a kiln when my husband’s friends heard that I also do
small sculptures and ceramics. That was my birthday present: I could
fire my creations at home and not wait for weeks to get it in a
professional kiln.</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 16pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 14pt;">Once
in a while when I was already in the city, I met my cousin Ernest on
57<sup>th</sup> St. in NY, at the Russian Tea Room which was very close to
the IFF International Flavor and Fragrances Corp. on 57<sup>th</sup>
St. where he was Senior Vice President. Once I was invited to see
how perfume of the world is created by him.
It was fascinating watching big bins of all kinds of smelly
substances, excuse me, <i>fragrances</i>, from all over the world assembled on the bottom
floor of the IFF building.</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 16pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 14pt;">The next three floors were
to manufacture the products ordered by different firms of
the world, and the top floor looked to me like an insane asylum --men in
white passing each other quietly on the long corridor holding strips
of paper like a fan and sniffing each fragrance separately. To my
amazement I learned that most of the well-known perfumes and colognes were
created there at their factory on 57<sup>th</sup> St, and then sent to
France to get a stamp, and voila: French perfume!</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 16pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 14pt;">From
then on I got at Christmas samples of all known new colognes, among
them one about which my cousin said, “This is you: Cabochard.”</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 16pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 14pt;">I
still use it now. However, young
people like new things all the time, so Alicia had to search the internet and
order several bottles for me, as it is no longer sold in stores. </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 16pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 16pt;"> <table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYHZi_WYBLwWZqnql7N91FE_dTqcBthcvFP76cVC9MkHyqL4ZOlUU78pfrBV67OOOlCVDuejxxoK0MOSy_MiZtl9v1khnrj-Cd_OBLoMKWRtkbNhyphenhyphen92o22PtxDiv3RsAcqxj7SposLpKIM/s1600/Ernest+Shiftan.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYHZi_WYBLwWZqnql7N91FE_dTqcBthcvFP76cVC9MkHyqL4ZOlUU78pfrBV67OOOlCVDuejxxoK0MOSy_MiZtl9v1khnrj-Cd_OBLoMKWRtkbNhyphenhyphen92o22PtxDiv3RsAcqxj7SposLpKIM/s1600/Ernest+Shiftan.jpg" height="400" width="276" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Ernest Shiftan, known as "The Nose" <br />- a developer of perfume for IFF</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 14pt;">The Russian
Tea Room was filled at the time with artists and all kinds of well-known business
people and I was sitting in the best round red loge. </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 16pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 14pt;">My
cousin gave waitresses cologne as gifts so they always found the best seat </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 19px;">for him</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 14pt;">. Ernest sat like
a king receiving underlings, and introduced me as his cousin - which was the
truth.</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 16pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 14pt;">I saw men winking
one eye - you know how it looks - they did not believe it. They thought
maybe I am a girlfriend. His wife
heard about it and distrusted me ever since. Ouch! I was so innocent
then. Old stories make me laugh today. What fun my beginning as a
young wife and mother and budding artist was, tasting the delights of freedom so
appreciated and valued after surviving such a horrible war. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 14pt;">I THANK every day for my good
luck. </span></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 14pt;">PS. Daughter Alicia adds, Because there are so
many people who are sensitive to perfumes and scent, it is a rule at the synagogue
and many places in Sedona that one should NOT wear scented products. I have to remind my mother NOT to put on her
favorite Cabochard when she comes to services and events, although I have to
admit it is a delightful scent on her.</span></i><i><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 16pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02391895261812155903noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-237156488617714921.post-1919076040881589512015-04-12T20:10:00.002-07:002015-04-12T20:10:54.236-07:00April 12, A Day to Celebrate<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: 13.5pt;">A Day to Celebrate<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<i><span style="font-size: 14pt;">Daughter Alicia writes:<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<i><span style="font-size: 14pt;">I try to find enjoyable adventures and events for my mother… but
this time, she was the one who told me about an upcoming fundraiser for a local
orchestra that puts on wonderful musical programs during the year: Sinfonietta.
So I arranged for us to get tickets, put on
afternoon-in-the-garden-tea-party attire, and go on a Sunday afternoon. Across the globe another event was happening
on this day: a commemoration of the date
of liberation of the camp where my mother, along with 2000 women who had
surrendered to the Germans after the fall of the Warsaw Uprising in October
1944, in Oberlangen, Germany. Such a
trip to that commemoration ceremony would have been just too much to undertake,
although we did send a short video of my mother speaking about her experiences in
that camp to the organizers and the mayor of the town. We were told that they would screen the clip
for the 200 or so people who would be attending the ceremony. I was delighted to have something far more
entertaining and uplifting for us to attend on this day. My mother describes it below:<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 14pt;">Nika
writes:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 14pt;">April
12 is a very important date in our lives: On April
12, in 1945, I was liberated by Polish and Canadian forces from the
Prisoner of War camp in Oberlangen, Germany, the very day that President Roosevelt died. We heard that sad news of the American
President’s death just as we were happy and relieved to be liberated and free. On April 12, 1976, my granddaughter Tali was
born in Israel. Now she is the mother of baby twins. To me, a miracle of survival and continuity.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 14pt;">Not
long ago I went a little too early to our library branch, and next to me was
sitting a pleasant lady also waiting, and we started talking. This is how I found out that there would
be a garden tea party at a lovely home in the Village of Oak
Creek very near where I live, to support the local Sinfonietta. </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 16pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 14pt;">Both
Alicia and I enjoyed it very much - meeting old and
new friends - in such breathtaking surroundings, listening
to two ladies playing the violin and cello. All the decoration, the preparation of scones
with clotted cream and lemon curd, tiny sandwiches, and array of desserts, served
on elegant china, even the serving of tea into our beautiful, dainty tea cups -
all the work was done by volunteers! A
fashion show of hats and beautiful clothes added to the festive
atmosphere. And of course everyone dressed in some kind of “garden party”
attire. I wore a turquoise handmade
jacket with Native American motif that I had acquired at the famous La Posada
Inn in Winslow, and wore a matching turquoise cowboy hat.</span></div>
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<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 14pt;">All
this we would have missed had I not been too early before our library
opened.</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 16pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 14pt;">Speaking
of “bashert” (meant-to-be), one seat next to me was vacant, and
suddenly Joella Mahoney sat down there. She is the woman painter I most admire in
Sedona. We talked and laughed and enjoyed each other’s company! <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-ejV_WK6jGvDfSnYQbT15B6MFr3lP7tb7TZXhDLbhAevm41m-EWUOPIGEIFxJDQjNgmAWHfw8Xg96B6FIEox9MwtwpY5OGkzmbnI3Snab_N8Esd3knVpaV7k04lPSZ8Y_0kzcfo-0mtjI/s1600/Nika+and+Joella+Mahoney+at+Sinfonietta+tea.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-ejV_WK6jGvDfSnYQbT15B6MFr3lP7tb7TZXhDLbhAevm41m-EWUOPIGEIFxJDQjNgmAWHfw8Xg96B6FIEox9MwtwpY5OGkzmbnI3Snab_N8Esd3knVpaV7k04lPSZ8Y_0kzcfo-0mtjI/s1600/Nika+and+Joella+Mahoney+at+Sinfonietta+tea.jpg" height="320" width="266" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 14pt;">Wow
- how can I be so lucky?!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02391895261812155903noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-237156488617714921.post-7816871791239127012015-04-02T15:19:00.002-07:002015-04-02T15:19:33.183-07:00<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: large;"> Blog #26 – Treasured Memories<!--?xml:namespace prefix = "o" ns =
"urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" /--><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: large;">Where
have the years and decades flown? I know I am getting old because I
started finding things from long ago, as I was cleaning out drawers full
of memories, pictures, letters, and cards.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: large;">Pounds
of paper got discarded, and still there is enough left for my children to throw
away piles later!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: large;">One
item in particular grabbed my eye: a note written on an envelope 70 years
ago by Diana, a lady from the British army who visited our prisoner of war camp
in Oberlangen, Germany, after liberation in April of 1945. I had to go to the
Polish Embassy in Belgium to get my original name back after I had been living
under a false name with bought documents to save my life. Only at the Polish embassy there could I get
my original name of Bronislawa Felicja Kohn back so that I could then get a
passport to go to the United States. But
where to stay when in Brussels? This kind lady, Diana, gave me the address of
her aunt in Brussels who would offer me a place to stay.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEji26bITqC0hFwn17ae62nhxVNYlPslzikrbMb69ZOxJPO5KbdklP3dCQ853Aen8bJ_QHowDM-k3H1yxzh7SaGA54TdgZvqt672QUA5ziWkW8j5fVL_-0QbNCicHQn_EcpOGBwnx9m7Ab0e/s1600/Mme+Witouck's%2Baddress.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEji26bITqC0hFwn17ae62nhxVNYlPslzikrbMb69ZOxJPO5KbdklP3dCQ853Aen8bJ_QHowDM-k3H1yxzh7SaGA54TdgZvqt672QUA5ziWkW8j5fVL_-0QbNCicHQn_EcpOGBwnx9m7Ab0e/s1600/Mme+Witouck's%2Baddress.jpg" height="320" width="223" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Mme Witouk's address</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: large;">Major
Mersch, a Belgian liaison officer to Canadian and Polish forces who found us at
that camp and liberated us </span><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: large;">gave me the
address of his wife in Boisfort, a suburb of Brussels, just in case I needed
it.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: large;"> <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: large;">So
there I arrived in Brussels, soon after leaving the camp where just a few days before I had
been sleeping on a straw mattress with a thin blanket. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: large;">I came to Madame Helene Witouck’s palace in Brussels where I was given a lovely room, and slept
in the most luxurious bed with a very fluffy, warm comforter, and took a bath in
a golden bathtub, the old-fashioned kind with animal legs, which stood in the
middle of a big room. Unfortunately, the old caretaker of the household was
the only staff left since all the others had to join the army, and he had to go
to sleep at 9 pm. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: large;">So I was given a curfew of having to be home before 9
p.m. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: large;">My first taste of freedom, and I
couldn’t go out in the evening?! </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: large;">I wanted to go out with Eric Langford Brook,
a British Major who followed me from British Headquarters and wanted to show me
the lovely city, and take me out to dinner after all these years living in fear
and danger. So I had to
leave elegant Madame and go to find the other address out in the suburb. What a
delightful surprise: Simone Mersch, whom I called “my Belgian Mommy” received
me like a loving relative. I remember
her saving a white roll for me for breakfast and telling her son, “Give that to
Maria. She hasn’t had good food for a long time.” <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: large;">It
is a long story but now I am reliving everything as I look through these
old letters and photos. Who will care for all this or know who these people are
in the photos when I’m gone? Well, it
gives me pleasure now to look at them and remember. Others will have to deal with all this stuff
in the future. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02391895261812155903noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-237156488617714921.post-42058471817837101502015-03-25T12:39:00.001-07:002015-03-25T12:43:21.526-07:00Life Begins at 90 #25 Daily Adventures<br />
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<div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><i>Daughter Alicia writes:</i></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><i>Nearly every single day I get an email from my mother Nika telling of an adventure. On the way to the library, in the pool, at lunch, or at the store shopping, she meets people. They help her with groceries, or give her a ride, or engage in a long conversation.... and usually they end up visiting her at her home in the Village of Oak Creek near Sedona. They look at and admire all of her paintings in her colorful, bright apartment. Intrigued by her and her accent, they ask, "Where are you from?" and there starts her story... but after a very brief introduction, she says, "You'll have to read the book." </i></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><i>By then, there is no choice.... they buy the book "From Miracle to Miracle, A Story of Survival" that I wrote based on her amazing and miraculous survival during World War II. she makes new friends and touches people by her vibrant zest for living. At 94, she truly is young in spirit.</i></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><i><br /></i></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><i>Here is but one example of the delighted emails I receive almost daily - no edits - just in her own voice:</i></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">All I did walked this morning to return films to our
library- and see a man sitting on the back of the truck-asked him to take my
picture on his cell phone-and have now beautiful 2 new friends his lovely wife Zoe and Bill. I
will get from Bill the book his mother has written when she was 90 - came over
from Italy.They walked me home to see my paintings and will send me from Oregon when they return home a book Bills mother has written - arrived from Italy as a young woman - the book she has written at 90. Should be interesting to compare notes!</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">I told you- the minute I leave home adventure is waiting – how lucky. Baci and pl write your adventures . Nika smiling </span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-size: large;">I am sure it was “bashert” meant to be. I am so
lucky- </span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-size: large;">Baci, Mamusia</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlj1yR2fr1zZMWOadky1913upowaBMQMlzZ6VM8BtgiSI-oe0yztogNldyjqCYjFbarkhsvI1yEPECKhFw2CgOflB_t2QnDixqoBMQkcms-rgDk5xt7vfVnefvObIW2wk0lnsUCXWzMne6/s1600/2044310243539C03C1.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlj1yR2fr1zZMWOadky1913upowaBMQMlzZ6VM8BtgiSI-oe0yztogNldyjqCYjFbarkhsvI1yEPECKhFw2CgOflB_t2QnDixqoBMQkcms-rgDk5xt7vfVnefvObIW2wk0lnsUCXWzMne6/s1600/2044310243539C03C1.png" /></a></div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02391895261812155903noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-237156488617714921.post-82387765168580447742015-03-14T15:56:00.005-07:002015-03-14T15:56:47.210-07:00#24 Life Begins at 90 BITING<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 14pt;">Blog 24 – BITING<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 14pt;">This time I have
written about a problem - only to be read by people
who do not complain ….<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif; font-size: medium;">Nothing in our body
was </span><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: 19px;">programmed</span></span><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif; font-size: medium;"> for so long, to live past 90?! We have artificially, through brilliant inventions, managed to repair most anything.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 14pt;">I have had a new hip and
both knees replaced, a face lift 20 years ago to look younger; we
concoct all kinds of ugly green drinks to swallow to clean up
our liver and stomach (sort of a roto-rooter for our clogged veins) thus permitting our heart to beat much
longer then it was designed for.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 14pt;">What I am concerned about is my teeth
- <u>biting</u> in particular. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 14pt;">Remember biting into
an apple when we were young? No problem, just fun! <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 14pt;">Well, do not try it now
please. Also, a nice bagel with cream cheese and lox? Rather ask the nice man to cut it for you
into smaller pieces and just pop it in.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 14pt;">I just returned from
my very capable dentist (many diplomas hanging around for
reassurance) and found out that I grind my teeth in my sleep, and therefore my teeth break in
places or get slowly worn down. By the way do not try to shop around
for a cheaper dentist - there is no such person around.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 14pt;">They have in the
office a list of repair prices.
So pick one you like who is an interesting person, with
sense of humor, and knows his business.
Why settle for less if the price is the same?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 14pt;"> <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 14pt;">In Summer I have my
teeth cleaned by a modest dentist working alone in Cape Cod
without a big office or assistants to help, yet the prices are almost
the same..<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 14pt;">This awareness of the
dangers of biting into something hard continued for many years until last
summer when I forgot my own advice and have bitten too many times
into hard food.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 14pt;">I lost half of my front
tooth which had to be fixed with a hot special bonding tool and compound. Had to go to the dentist at the Cape who
usually only cleans my teeth, (not my regular genius dentist in
Winter). “No problem,” he said. “I can fix it.” He did-- and we hoped it
will last to the end of my life.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 14pt;">Always the optimist, I
ate happily, biting away on harder foods.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 14pt;">One sunny day recently
in Sedona I felt something moving between my front teeth, so I visit
my talented regular “problem fixer.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 14pt;">“Am I imagining doctor
something jumping around in my mouth?” <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 14pt;">“No-- you are not
imagining it” the dentist replied.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 14pt;">The whole filling put
in a year ago did not last and had to be redone.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 14pt;">Now there were three
people around me, giving an injection to feel comfortable and each one
with all kinds of tools just invented. One hour later and 300 dollars
poorer out I go with a stiff upper lip and trying to smile. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 14pt;">Some repairs I have
needed for my teeth are over 1000 dollars (and these are just small repairs). My daughter promised to talk to our
bookkeeper about deducting this from my taxes- not to worry.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 14pt;">As usual I started
thinking of my home in Krakow Poland where my brother and I ate
dinner with our parents at 2 pm each day. I remember always seeing
next to my father’s dish cut up pieces of bread and I
wondered why. Now I understand -no
biting!!!!!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 14pt;">All the same problems
come to the one who managed to live past 90- just hope the money will
last – or maybe finally to get false teeth put into a glass cheerfully at night? Why bother with such trifles? One should be grateful to have gifted, good-looking, kind
children and grandchildren. I can walk, read, drive a car (during the day
and not far), see friends, listen to music….so much to be
grateful for.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 14pt;">Just remember - no
biting into a hard bagel!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKFL4SPq044Gg2IDs4kFm_QA5ZYo4sdGrdii-AFSBJiUCakK4N_Eu1gMjAYCXUiik8FYCD3SlFg5FKd-0vPYbqcvDxm_1Nx_3Pe47z546SFNTDRkUruydT8NlmYnG9v1bTQp-kX09tFddK/s1600/photo%5B3%5D.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKFL4SPq044Gg2IDs4kFm_QA5ZYo4sdGrdii-AFSBJiUCakK4N_Eu1gMjAYCXUiik8FYCD3SlFg5FKd-0vPYbqcvDxm_1Nx_3Pe47z546SFNTDRkUruydT8NlmYnG9v1bTQp-kX09tFddK/s1600/photo%5B3%5D.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 14pt;"> <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 14pt;">- Nika Fleissig <br />
<!--[if !supportLineBreakNewLine]--><br />
<!--[endif]--><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 14pt;"><br />
Please Read My Blog Here:<br />
http://www.lifebeginsat90.blogspot.com/<br />
<br />
Order our book, From Miracle To Miracle: A Story of Survival (via PayPal):<br />
http://www.FromMiracleToMiracle.com<br />
<br />
Please view my art here:<br />
http://www.flickr.com/photos/nikafleissig/<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02391895261812155903noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-237156488617714921.post-73018205688915516552015-03-08T17:54:00.003-07:002015-03-08T17:54:57.708-07:00blog 23 Cooking<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 14pt;">Life Begins at 90, Blog
by Nika Fleissig<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 14pt;">Sunday, March 8, 2015<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 14pt;">All previous blogs
were written triggered by some event that reminded me of the past. Today
is no exception. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 14pt;">Yesterday I had lunch with
two friends in an elegant hotel with a magnificent view, and the conversation
turned to cooking and enjoying food.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 14pt;">The two educated,
successful, retired ladies both said in unison, “We never cook!”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 14pt;">Here goes what I
remember vividly about arriving in the U.S. never having made a meal in my
life, as I had had no opportunity to cook while growing up in my parents’ home…
there was a maid who cooked.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 14pt;">And…during WWII there
was not much to cook!! So here
comes the end of the war and I arrive as
a total greenhorn in America, the Land of Plenty.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 14pt;">In Poland, a
chicken was bought live and the maid, a peasant girl from the country
usually, had to kill it and clean it – a big job.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 14pt;">Here I saw for the first
time a chicken in the supermarket (there was no such thing in Krakow,
Poland when I was a young girl…only small neighborhood little stores run by the
families who knew what every customer ate and liked).<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 14pt;">I see a clean,
appetizing chicken wrapped in plastic ready for the oven. I could not believe
my eyes.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 14pt;"> <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 14pt;">Back to my married
life as a young refugee after years of war and deprivation.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 14pt;">All was here in
front of me and yet I had no idea what to do with it or how it
is called by name - the appetizing meat I saw.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 14pt;">Ladies in the neighborhood
tried to teach me- and it usually ended in disaster. My husband, a metallurgical
engineer who came to buy machinery in the U.S. before the War, had gotten stuck
in the States with other people who had come to America in 1939 for the Worlds Fair and could
never return to their homes in Europe.
They all lost their families. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 14pt;">Today I marvel at his
patience. I once wanted to make him a
delicacy… I thought I was buying brains which cook up in a short time, and I
bought lung instead which takes hours and hours of cooking and
tenderizing. To you this might sound
like an awful dish, but truly it was a treat in Poland. However, since I bought the wrong cut it had
the consistency of rubber. The poor man said “not so bad” as he valiantly chewed
this impossibly tough piece of organ meat. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 14pt;">Ah, but rescue came!
Fred had three assistants in the Loewy firm of heavy industry. One of them was Howard Libby, in truth, not a
great engineer but a marvelous cook - this was a hobby he had acquired
while living in Paris before the war and taking rich ladies to the
best restaurants. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 14pt;">One day Howard said
to me, “I love and respect your husband, and this cannot continue. I offer to
come every week end and teach you to become a gourmet cook.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 14pt;">And so it was. We started at the beginning. When I was
very good he invited me to NY apartment (no worry, he was gay), and
prepared a feast which I thoroughly enjoyed and asked for the recipe. The
sauce alone took 3 days to make - “Poulet
en Cocotte” by name.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 14pt;">One day when I felt I learned
enough to dare inviting a senior vice president of General Electric and
his wife who had been introduced to us to dinner, I decided I was going to cook
the elegant and tasty chicken dish I had just learned how to make. Every other person at the table ate it with great
pleasure, but Mr.Young's plate had all the chicken still untouched. He kind of pushed it around, but I could tell
he had not really eaten any.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 14pt;">Usually I had something
small prepared in case someone did not like what I made-but <u>this</u> time I was
so very sure of my offering that I had nothing else prepared.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 14pt;">The story goes, Mr.
Young told us that as a young employee of General Electric he had had
to travel a lot. There was the inevitable undercooked chicken served with
blood showing, and since then he had vowed that anything F.O.W.L. he would not
touch. Forget it. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 14pt;">When my children Alicia
and Willy were more grown up, every time something especially
good tasting was served and they oohed and aahed and complimented me, I looked
to heaven (as Howard had passed away) and said to myself, “Thank you
Howard!” <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 14pt;">When I got stuck painting something very
frustrating and difficult, and needed to accomplish something, I looked
in my Gourmet Magazine to find a delicious sounding recipe. I made it and then worried who to invite
to eat it with us. In America at the time the normal dinner was steak
and potatoes, but I wanted something with more taste, sauce, spices, finesse.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 14pt;">Cooking enriched my
life. Now as an old woman I rarely cook any more… my daughter
took over. I am left with
memories and funny stories. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 14pt;">I thought this will
amuse you on this day of the Purim spiel where everyone in the synagogue
dressed up in costume and had a great time, as a cast of members retold the
story of Esther with a British updated twist and songs adapted from Beatles and
other British songwriters. I am sure
each one of you has a similar story to tell about the beginnings as a housewife. I would appreciate your
comments. Shalom!!!!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02391895261812155903noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-237156488617714921.post-756334661143404742015-02-20T08:20:00.002-08:002015-02-20T08:20:42.079-08:00Life Begins at Ninety #22 Courage<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;">Nika’s Blog Life Begins
at Ninety #22 COURAGE<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;">As we know, the Wizard
of Oz doesn’t exist and cannot give us courage, a heart, or a brain. In
that case, when we grow up we have to find out where the quality of courage is
and how to acquire it. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;">When you are very young
you have no power. When you become a
teenager or young adult suddenly situations arise where you have to fight for something.
Nothing comes by itself. Or, you have the choice just to let things go as they
are, and then either complain or accept it. To find out who you really are only
happens through adversity, I think. When you see injustice, do you look the
other way or object to it, or fight for what you believe in? I believe this
courage and strength to fight and challenge and object for what you believe is
right stays with you the rest of your life... this strength. That also fits
when you are married; fighting for your children. e.g. In Europe and
Switzerland, punishments are pretty old fashioned. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;">Here is a small example
from our family life. When my son and daughter were in Gstaad, Switzerland, in a
kinderheim (“children’s home” boarding school or summer camp) as young
children, the supervisor punished my son, then 6 years old, by putting him to
bed during the day. These mademoiselles took care of children for many years,
as this was a very established boarding school year round. I asked myself if I had the courage to tell
them they are wrong. I decided to fight for my son. I said, <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;">“I do not want to teach
you your business, but there are many ways to correct a child. I love my
bed, and I don’t want him to hate his bed forever. Could you find a
different punishment?” So here is what came of it – my son was put to
clean the mud from 30 pairs of hiking boots. I must congratulate the lady
in charge. Instead of being angry she said, “I never thought about it that way.
Thank you.” <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">Daughter Alicia
adds: “I’ll never forget that morning at
the kinderheim coming to breakfast and not seeing my little brother in the
dining room. I searched, and finally found him down in the cellar where they
kept all the hiking boots lined up, caked with mud from the last
excursion. There was Willy, a tiny 6
year-old in a bathrobe, with a brush and cloth, cleaning off the hard mud from rows
of heavy boots. He looked up at me with
a pitiful expression, and my heart melted. But he finished his task, and came
up to breakfast, proclaiming that he now knew how to shine boots the very best
way. I was proud of how he handled it. I
never knew that our mother had talked to the mademoiselle in charge (she was a
bit frightening, at least to us) to alter the punishment. We did have fun there most of the time,
learned some French, took incredible hikes in the surrounding mountains, and
adjusted to what we thought were odd customs, like how to hold one’s fork and
knife; keeping the same cloth napkin in a ring for several days, taking naps
every day outside after lunch…. By the
way, I was always careful to scrape mud as much as possible off of my boots when
returning from a hike after that, although Willy never had to shine them up
again. <o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;">During their growing up
years these situations came up often in the children’s regular school, and you
have to pick your battles….not complain about everything. But I found
that I had fought injustice since I was little. Now... does one learn this or is
it an innate quality? I am convinced that everything we have is in us;
only the situation calls for action and then you find out who you are... brave
or afraid. I have a feeling this also applies in business and in every
relationship. To stand up for what you believe in takes courage... and yet you also
have to know when to bend and have a sense of humor... what is important and
what is not. It is easy to blame other circumstances
and people when one doesn’t succeed in some effort... it could be because you
lacked courage. Never blame other people. Rather, look inside of
yourself.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;">When the Yom Kippur War broke
out in 1973 in Israel, my husband Fred wanted to send a ticket for Alicia to
return home, as she was living and working in Jerusalem at that time. I
said, “We shouldn’t interrupt her decision-making as an adult. She has to
experience real life. I forbad him from sending the ticket.
Remember he had lost a wife and child in WWII. My daughter as an adult had the
right to make a decision. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">Daughter Alicia
adds: If you can believe this, I felt
almost a sense of relief when that war broke out. Now, I was much <u>much </u>safer in Israel
than my mother had been in Poland during the Second World War, but it was a war
nevertheless. In some unconscious way I
had been paralleling my mother’s life in my mind. When I was 18, I went off to college, but
somewhere in my mind I was aware that these were the years my mother was in the
shadow of war. When I was 25 and already
a teacher of French in an upscale Connecticut high school, I asked myself, “At
this age, my mother was liberated, came to the US, started a new life after
losing her whole family, and here I am teaching rich kids French. What am I doing for my own people?” A few months after that, I made arrangements
to spend six months on a kibbutz, learning Hebrew and exploring what life is
like in Israel. At the end of the ulpan
work-study program in Israel, I moved to Jerusalem, signed up for the
government tour guide course, and began work at the one Israeli television
station that existed at that time. When
war broke out in October of 1973, I telexed my father at his office that I was
staying. I cut my hair short, took over
several jobs at the TV station since most of the men were called to the front,
helped the mothers with their children in the apartment building where I lived,
cleared and prepared the safe area under the stairwell in case of air raids,
and felt that finally I was proving myself. After that I felt I was an adult,
and ready to marry. In 1974 I did marry
Itzhak Magal who left the kibbutz and worked in TV and film. We had two children in Jerusalem before moving
to Los Angeles in late 1978. I showed a different kind of courage from my
mother, and am still learning on which occasions to stand up for justice, in
our family, congregation, community, and larger world issues. <o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;">- Nika Fleissig <br />
<br />
Please Read My Blog Here:<br />
http://www.lifebeginsat90.blogspot.com/<br />
<br />
Order our book, From Miracle To Miracle: A Story of Survival (via PayPal):<br />
http://www.FromMiracleToMiracle.com<br />
<br />
Please view my art here:<br />
http://www.flickr.com/photos/nikafleissig/<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02391895261812155903noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-237156488617714921.post-36176618318522395812015-02-12T13:32:00.001-08:002015-02-12T13:32:43.598-08:00#21 Trusting Your Own Instinct: Two Stories - Skiing during the School Year, and Coal during the War<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;">Nika’s Blog #21 Life Begins at 90: Trusting Your Own Instinct<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Every blog posting I have written is triggered by some
event close to home. My memories are buzzing in my head
---- looked at now from the perspective of advanced age.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">In the world in which I grew up, the father was the head of the family;
mothers did not work but had enough to keep
them busy training help and supervising the upbringing of children.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">To question authority was unthinkable.
A little child had to be quiet and obey.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;">Here I come, a born fighter,
but had to keep what I think to myself most of the
time.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;">As a married woman with
2 children I had to relearn how to
behave and fit into this new society. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;">In winter in Poland we used
to skate and ski. Poland has a strong, long winter. It was our
custom during the winter even indoors to wear sweaters. Here in America I
found the schools overheated, and the
children half asleep in mid-winter instead of going
outside and enjoying winter sports. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;">I cannot help
it that there is seldom snow on Christmas during the winter
vacation, but there is usually a lot of good skiing in February, with
warmer spring skiing conditions. So when
our children were in elementary and junior high school, I went to the principal
of our children’s public school in White Plains, Westchester,
NY, and asked to have them set free for 10 days during the
2 presidents’ birthdays. This was before there was a
Presidents’ weekend in February. Dr. Noyce, the principal, asked “What if all children would leave?”
I said, looking at these lethargic students in overheated school
rooms, “I wish they could all go to enjoy Winter. Each year we had the same exchange. After four years when I came again
to get permission to take our children out of school, </span><span style="font-size: large;">Dr. Noyce said “I wish you could
take them all with you.” Finally he understood. </span><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;">All these children would have come back
invigorated and full of new energy, but the system did not allow it. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;">Now thinking of Valentine’s
Day, existing only in UK and US, <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;">I admire the lovely custom
of sending cards, flowers and candy and showing love. Slowly the
rest of the world is doing it. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;"> <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;">I found that we only
enjoy a new environment and criticize things that make
no sense when one is dislocated from the familiar.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;">Americans take many things for
granted that only refugees from more dictatorial places admire and
take advantage of. The freedom to protest
and to change things - what a luxury in this world!
I am grateful watching my grandchildren feel to speak and not to
be afraid. Happy Valentine !!!!!!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;"> <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;">---<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;"><i>(Daughter-in-law Wendy responded to the
above story with admiration, saying I had “balls”!)</i><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;">Somehow, while we were on
the subject of courage (balls as Wendy calls it) suddenly I remembered a day during the war in Lwow, where I was working in an
office under an assumed name. My boss
called me, and handed me a paper asking the German
officials for a heating coal allotment, which in the very cold winter
is a necessity.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;"> <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;">Without any thought in my
head I went to the given address, where I saw people shivering
and standing in a long line around the block. I had no idea why they were there. I just climbed up the empty staircase on
the left, and in a few minutes found myself looking at a German official sitting behind the
desk. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;">“Why are you here?” <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;">“I came to get a coal allotment
for my office.” <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;">You never heard such
laughter from a serious looking gentleman and his entourage, as if I
just told them a good joke. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;">He replied in German, “Why do you
think all these people are standing and waiting in line?” I
answered, “Well, in that case they will never get it. I am already here. Why not give me the permit
now?” </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;">--Yes, I got it! When I arrived back in my office I handed the
precious permit to my boss. He said, “I
knew you would get it!” <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;">Story of my life -- never follow the
rules if possible. Amen. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;">But…how can you tell this to your children?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;"><i>(A draft of the above blog led daughter-in-law Wendy Kohn to
respond:)</i><i><o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">That's exactly what I mean. I don't think Alicia or I would
have done that and sometimes it worries me that we follow rules so closely. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">How did you get so brazen, Nika?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Wendy</span><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i><span style="font-size: large;">(to which Nika replied)<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;">My Darling, you will never know
-- <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;">nor could any normal
person in our usual life ever know – <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;">how you would behave. Let’s hope this kind of
war and sick people will not be a challenge to our grandchildren. The Holocaust will be studied for centuries by psychiatrists all
over the world, and they will find no answer.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;">Genghis Khan is still studied today
- how a wild horde of people showed up on
their ponies from Asia and conquered everything in their
path. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;">We are experiencing now global
changes that no one ever expected.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;">Justice and
lack of prejudices is a pure utopia- although every
church teaches kind and compassionate behavior as a
vision to attain. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;">Enough for one day
- I rarely am so serious. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;">Smile and do the best
you can with what you've got. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;">Good luck from Mamusia
Nika. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;">Valentine 2015, Sedona<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;">PS When we least expect a miracle it
might happen? <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14pt;"> </span><span style="font-size: 14pt;"> </span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14pt;">- Nika Fleissig <br />
<br />
Please Read My Blog Here:<br />
http://www.lifebeginsat90.blogspot.com/<br />
<br />
Order our book, From Miracle To Miracle: A Story of Survival (via PayPal):<br />
http://www.FromMiracleToMiracle.com<br />
<br />
Please view my art here:<br />
http://www.flickr.com/photos/nikafleissig/<o:p></o:p></span></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02391895261812155903noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-237156488617714921.post-78103662877898360282015-01-18T19:42:00.002-08:002015-01-18T19:42:31.863-08:00Life Begins at 90 Blog #19 Keeping Fit; <div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: medium;">Thursday, January 15, 2015 has changed my
life. My granddaughter Tali Magal delivered twin baby girls.
This makes me so happy… the 4th generation since the Holocaust! I am now a great grandmother Prababcia (</span><span style="font-size: 19px;">pronounced <i>Prababcha</i>)</span><span style="font-size: medium;"> in Polish.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 19px;"><br /></span><span style="font-size: 14pt;"></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiH6wKW6frJIIChIUAXKZct-EVGg2prhuAXgas6Iea0H4iMvYl9oPfntWrpkq4lGdUmUvWAnl-PkqPpnsK4pi8S4pK-D0ozvqZI1NiGuSTINKnabPjGub6B52_hngo2cY2XO2NMM1TZJU3E/s1600/get-attachment.aspx.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiH6wKW6frJIIChIUAXKZct-EVGg2prhuAXgas6Iea0H4iMvYl9oPfntWrpkq4lGdUmUvWAnl-PkqPpnsK4pi8S4pK-D0ozvqZI1NiGuSTINKnabPjGub6B52_hngo2cY2XO2NMM1TZJU3E/s1600/get-attachment.aspx.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a></div>
<o:p></o:p><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt;"> Tali Magal with Baby A and B - no names yet.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14pt;">Now I have to take very good care of myself
to stay around few more years to see the little ones grow up a little
bit.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14pt;">I have done it all my life, when it was
possible, although during those 7 years of WWII it was tough going
just to survive. That means eat, rest, and exercise with pleasure.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14pt;"> <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14pt;">Here in Sedona where people are mostly
retired there is no excuse to eat late in the evening. For best digestion the
main meal should be between 2-3 pm. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14pt;">If one has a good breakfast, then around
4-5pm coffee and delicious dessert (as my Aunt Ruth said, “something
worth sinning for”), and in the evening only a very light supper. Believe
me this makes you sleep much better than having a heavy meal at
night. One thing please remember: Eating
is a joy. Never hurry! Your
insides will be grateful!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14pt;"> <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14pt;">I am enjoying this January, so full of
sunshine and weather warm enough to go to swim in our spa at Los Abrigados.
When I go to swim and do a gentle work out in the middle of the day, there is practically
nobody around, so I enjoy privacy and quiet. They are so friendly and
helpful there; it is like a second home.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14pt;"> <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14pt;">Most people I meet tell me they set
aside an hour to meditate. I don’t
like to just sit… so I meditate when I swim.
I also try to have something to look forward to every day, such as meeting
a friend, or going to our beautiful library, and on the way I always stumble
upon some delightful adventures which are not planned at all. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14pt;"> <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14pt;">I met a number of very elegant sales ladies
in shops when I lived in Palm Beach, and I wondered why they have to work
standing on their aching feet so long at their advancing age. Getting old has to be prepared long
before it happens. We all bought things that we really did not need when
we were younger. Then, when we got home
we asked ourselves, “What did I need it for?” We should rather spend only on
good quality, beautiful things that will last, and not let our impulses dictate
unnecessary spending. We will need that
money later on!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14pt;">Also it is helpful to have a caring
husband like I did who plans for old age wisely- or, if one is
alone, to do the same for yourself…. just a little common sense.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14pt;">A big help in older age is to have good
children who are your friends! It is so
much more pleasant to enjoy life together than to fight and create stress. Sometimes it is difficult to achieve. I am grateful to have loving, caring
children and grandchildren - a real blessing!!!!! I hope they will
have the same luck when they grow old.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14pt;"> <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14pt;">Think and plan for yourself. Do not let strangers do it. That can be a big mistake.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14pt;">Now to rest after a great dinner at
2 p.m. and a little 20 min. nap which revives me to enjoy the rest of the
day. Shalom, and now am looking forward to be 95 years old in May.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14pt;">- Nika Fleissig <br />
<br />
Please Read My Blog Here:<br />
http://www.lifebeginsat90.blogspot.com/<br />
<br />
Order our book, From Miracle To Miracle: A Story of Survival (via PayPal):<br />
http://www.FromMiracleToMiracle.com<br />
<br />
Please view my art here:<br />
http://www.flickr.com/photos/nikafleissig/<o:p></o:p></span></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02391895261812155903noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-237156488617714921.post-27806339169968576422015-01-04T18:45:00.002-08:002015-01-04T18:45:41.905-08:00Blog #18 Life Begins at Ninety: Hats Old and New<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="color: black; font-size: 16pt; mso-ascii-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: HE; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-bidi;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">#18 Hats Old and New<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="color: black; font-size: 16pt; mso-ascii-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: HE; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-bidi;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="color: black; font-size: 16pt; mso-ascii-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: HE; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-bidi;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">Today is a sunny Saturday, at this new beginning of 2015,
and snow is on the ground. This is unusual here in Sedona, and it lasts a short
time, so this gives me the opportunity to take out of my storage box my only hat
left from the large amount of warm hats which I had made myself decades ago when
our children were very small.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="color: black; font-size: 16pt; mso-ascii-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: HE; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-bidi;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">When I arrived in the U.S. in 1946 this was a beginning
of a new life. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I slowly had to make up
for so many lost years when I was surviving the war.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Now I felt maybe I will be lucky to be able
to learn all the things I missed from the age of 19 when the war started, until
the age of 25, when I was liberated from Prisoner of War camp in Germany.
<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="color: black; font-size: 16pt; mso-ascii-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: HE; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-bidi;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"> <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="color: black; font-size: 16pt; mso-ascii-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: HE; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-bidi;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">I got married to Fred Fleissig, and had two lovely
children, Alicia and Willy.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I found a
whole catalogue of adult education courses available for free in the evenings at
the school nearby in White Plains, N.Y. As soon as my husband Fred came home
from the office and we had supper, I left the house to go to that adult night
school to learn slowly everything that was available. After 1 or 2 years when I
felt I learned enough, I started a new challenge.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="color: black; font-size: 16pt; mso-ascii-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: HE; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-bidi;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">At some time I decided to use all the remnants that nice
friends brought to my house and make a few hats for the winter, for skiing and
skating or just for wearing fashionable, colorful warm hats on cold
days.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="color: black; font-size: 16pt; mso-ascii-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: HE; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-bidi;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"> <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="color: black; font-size: 16pt; mso-ascii-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: HE; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-bidi;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">I liked the project so much that I kept making more and
more, every hat an original, totally made of lovely pieces of varied materials,
and then knitting and crocheting decorative pieces to hold it together.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was so much fun seeing Alicia wearing some
of the hats. There was a kind of creative dare I would make to anyone who came
to visit. I asked “Do you have the courage to wear my hats?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Then it is yours!”</span></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="color: black; font-size: 16pt; mso-ascii-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: HE; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-bidi;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="color: black; font-size: 16pt; mso-ascii-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: HE; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-bidi;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">Although I did give several away, I ended up with about
40 unusual hats, more than we could wear!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Fred’s secretary went together with my husband to a sport shop in White
Plains, and to my delight they bought the whole batch, selling each one for $40,
which was a lot of money. I don’t remember how much I got, but the point was
that people appreciated these whimsical and unique hats that I had made.</span></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjstK0_8C68OSmSWqE_fe9jfuB_grRupn4zuyaG26JCu_Rak5mAOVbNEpCsjIz8dWIqBaLUPKDdtnn6GHjnBGOWc4i_2TzgdrhoHw9YDBzftT-pcuRIkxFHFXusqLVjuPA296AokAtKrxAu/s1600/20150103_170126.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjstK0_8C68OSmSWqE_fe9jfuB_grRupn4zuyaG26JCu_Rak5mAOVbNEpCsjIz8dWIqBaLUPKDdtnn6GHjnBGOWc4i_2TzgdrhoHw9YDBzftT-pcuRIkxFHFXusqLVjuPA296AokAtKrxAu/s1600/20150103_170126.jpg" height="320" width="293" /></a></div>
<div align="center">
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<br /></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-size: 16pt; mso-ascii-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: HE; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-bidi;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">Now on this cold, snowy day over 50 years later, I just
had to wear the only one left from all those hats made so long ago. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A nice lady made a photo of me wearing it in
front of our library in Sedona. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="color: black; font-size: 16pt; mso-ascii-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: HE; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-bidi;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">I found that Alicia as a teenager modeled that same
hat when I had just made it, so here are both photos, of her then and me
now, and a close up.</span></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg90HYaynjRzTOt8xLEFttJjHdFy7Syp-Osdz90ho8vZ3DpuzaoIVpUpkoLL0_CLmwZMY9SkizNZAZ9AQv_7aNS_lBTeHaQIcjoz2CJT1a1XtSK5hywbPCvVyshDpX4SoAysEx4S-3pIZLJ/s1600/20150103_101222.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg90HYaynjRzTOt8xLEFttJjHdFy7Syp-Osdz90ho8vZ3DpuzaoIVpUpkoLL0_CLmwZMY9SkizNZAZ9AQv_7aNS_lBTeHaQIcjoz2CJT1a1XtSK5hywbPCvVyshDpX4SoAysEx4S-3pIZLJ/s1600/20150103_101222.jpg" height="320" width="180" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisy96m8Df2YBGSPoL2-JT7LmUACA2GHzrFPXyg6IiLglXrw9vShrZg9RB6jEFqcxTSEEtVWQdfhoz44I9oKS9E5BCC2fPQ1dafSR4lzgM2_I7SHqnjwW4gzSnQMqCNBJThGKT69PhK7nb3/s1600/20150103_170113.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisy96m8Df2YBGSPoL2-JT7LmUACA2GHzrFPXyg6IiLglXrw9vShrZg9RB6jEFqcxTSEEtVWQdfhoz44I9oKS9E5BCC2fPQ1dafSR4lzgM2_I7SHqnjwW4gzSnQMqCNBJThGKT69PhK7nb3/s1600/20150103_170113.jpg" height="320" width="217" /></a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJaOQhz2UKKPR8IyLnDAhCCC8ZwPOai1uVIju3t5qt-4GNINCTzyzIevnfKq5AEX2_-SW6UCyPj5O3gjgseWIBSoeeCmJRGBDQ_IBzO9GKWAtje3ZnxX8kP2A62ceSDCVqowlgOPOHxccO/s1600/20150103_120428.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJaOQhz2UKKPR8IyLnDAhCCC8ZwPOai1uVIju3t5qt-4GNINCTzyzIevnfKq5AEX2_-SW6UCyPj5O3gjgseWIBSoeeCmJRGBDQ_IBzO9GKWAtje3ZnxX8kP2A62ceSDCVqowlgOPOHxccO/s1600/20150103_120428.jpg" height="320" width="180" /></a></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="color: black; font-size: 16pt; mso-ascii-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: HE; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-bidi;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">I hope many ladies when they grow older could find
something to create out of different materials for their
grandchildren.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-size: 16pt; mso-ascii-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: HE; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-bidi;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">Imagine what fun that would be!</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-size: 16pt; mso-ascii-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: HE; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-bidi;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"> <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-size: 16pt; mso-ascii-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: HE; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-bidi;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">By the way I have now accumulated many beautiful hats,
some here in Sedona and others in Wellfleet.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>In my Sedona apartment, a friend of ours,Wayne Grossman, made a lovely
wooden stand with pegs to hold my hats for all to admire. I have a whole
collection: western cowboy hats, a woven colorful hat from Poland, a
fun packable hat from a museum, each one stylish in a different way! Lucky
me!!!!! </span></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhURMt2c5X7o-cc0yFdPSX12DfmOOdQRAdduuMcSiN5bEY7Rh0Lz_4HknjBcSasAs05dIaXBRXPE3aHnrfT40UFkORN0r_rz-KL_3H6sC2Gda1DflhvNt5SCt_8FyA1MYipKJsAm5JmJIQj/s1600/20150103_120614.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhURMt2c5X7o-cc0yFdPSX12DfmOOdQRAdduuMcSiN5bEY7Rh0Lz_4HknjBcSasAs05dIaXBRXPE3aHnrfT40UFkORN0r_rz-KL_3H6sC2Gda1DflhvNt5SCt_8FyA1MYipKJsAm5JmJIQj/s1600/20150103_120614.jpg" height="320" width="180" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFXHAdlel-Q8Q34WWwBbR6wD6FVPnhJFZuH69tWYw2b0ohkLtG7WqthBnTFz8ewepzTudJGgLLh2204xHH1YnY2FuQ-8YoM5ceCkGPa-VGVCMqHUwVAwfu06PGDNXwSHK7JnJNfvFO-7Y7/s1600/20150101_102629.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFXHAdlel-Q8Q34WWwBbR6wD6FVPnhJFZuH69tWYw2b0ohkLtG7WqthBnTFz8ewepzTudJGgLLh2204xHH1YnY2FuQ-8YoM5ceCkGPa-VGVCMqHUwVAwfu06PGDNXwSHK7JnJNfvFO-7Y7/s1600/20150101_102629.jpg" height="320" width="180" /></a></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-size: 16pt; mso-ascii-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: HE; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-bidi;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-size: 16pt; mso-ascii-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: HE; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-bidi;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"><span style="color: purple; font-family: Arial; font-size: medium;"> </span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: medium;">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">
</span>
</span><br />
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<span style="color: black; font-size: 16pt; mso-ascii-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: HE; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-bidi;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"><o:p>Hats off to you all!</o:p></span></span></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02391895261812155903noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-237156488617714921.post-89304498140386006212015-01-04T18:14:00.000-08:002015-01-04T18:14:59.361-08:00Blog #17 Life Begins at Ninety: Time to rethink one's life and actions<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 16pt;">At my age not having much time to plan
anything, but rather just living from day to day and making the best of it,
a thought occurred to me to ask myself a few questions.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 16pt;"> <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 16pt;">As long as I remember I was a doer,
not a talker or writer. Why then suddenly do I have the urge to
put down almost daily what I observe and try to write about
lessons I learned the hard way (is there any other way)?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 16pt;">The revolution in my life came with
my discovery of computers- the possibility of instant communication with
friends, and getting immediate answers, not to have to wait for eleven
days, by which time I already forgot what I asked.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 16pt;">In my eighties when I lived in Palm Beach, I
had great reservations to start burdening my small brain with this new and difficult-to-understand
stuff. I bought my first computer – a
terrible-looking, green, tall piece of equipment from a neighbor who had
lost his wife. It was impossible! I resold
it almost immediately to another “greenhorn” for the same $300. It felt like a great relief. It was so
frightening at that advanced age not to be able to read anything or understand
the language, and I felt dumb.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 16pt;">But I didn’t give up. A year later I met Sami, the 15 year old
son of my Finish friend Marjaleena. Sami is a genius! At an early age
he built four computers from scratch.
He convinced me that he could teach me to function on a more
modern computer than that first monster I had tried to learn to use. Well, that started a new life of
possibilities as well as the beginning of daily frustration which will never
stop. Just when I know how to open email, forward a message, etc. I get stuck
and can’t figure out how to find a picture or a note that was there in front of
me the day before. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 16pt;"> <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 16pt;">I imagine I see you smiling, thinking that I’m
still a “first grader.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 16pt;">But really the few simple operations I know
how to do give me great pleasure. I begin every morning to see what
emails arrived from family and friends, and then have enjoy playing
bridge on BBO with the whole world, communicating and
finding a few friends and not being lonely. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 16pt;"> <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 16pt;">Sitting in my Sedona quiet place I
connect with so many people. What a thrill.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 16pt;"> </span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhauavBE6Hw1RnLDSTWqKaz1JSdLWkU0RYfDRfKLfKvhG8bH1d5xgO-tgrk5DYgGBVKUkHFV4QM55yG0VaTjdPhfHr9_XkSzvxgskpQ8wCL-dQHLSPD3bMm4y0d3urMb6u38955W_crRq56/s1600/Nika+playing+bridge+online+(3).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhauavBE6Hw1RnLDSTWqKaz1JSdLWkU0RYfDRfKLfKvhG8bH1d5xgO-tgrk5DYgGBVKUkHFV4QM55yG0VaTjdPhfHr9_XkSzvxgskpQ8wCL-dQHLSPD3bMm4y0d3urMb6u38955W_crRq56/s1600/Nika+playing+bridge+online+(3).JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
<o:p></o:p><br />
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<span style="font-size: 16pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 16pt;">Writing the 18 blog posts so far (instead
of writing a book which I had wanted to do, called “Life Begins at Ninety”) my
darling Alicia explained that writing a blog from time to time will
reach many more people and I will find the responses and opinions very interesting.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 16pt;"> <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 16pt;">If you are past 90 you never heard
a word “blog”? Alicia explained
that it comes from <b>Web-log</b> contracted to “blog.” Well, now I
am in the advanced stage of having written more than 18 of them. Some
are waiting to be edited and will be sent out in the coming months. It is more like
talking to myself then teaching anybody anything.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 16pt;"> <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 16pt;">I will never give up talking about the
things that are plaguing our society, and I do hope that maybe it
will change for the better in the future.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 16pt;">For instance, eating junk food
is what America invented. It makes money and makes people happy
but obese! Lately I noticed, living now in the West, that people
seem to care more about “being in shape” <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 16pt;">and that is a good beginning.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 16pt;">Making money is what this game is
all about - I understand this - but we have to save ourselves in
spite of it. We have to listen to my Aunt
Ruth who advised: “never eat anything not worth sinning for”!!!!!!!!!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 16pt;"> <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 16pt;">This changed my life forever. She meant only
eat the very best, homemade, excellent treats once in a while. I lost many pounds and maybe I can persuade
others to eat well and to think about what they put in their mouth.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 16pt;">Now this New Year 2015 is a good time to
start with new resolutions!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 16pt;">I fervently hope that it will start already in
Kindergarten. Why wait till you have much
weight to lose and health problems? <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 16pt;">Happy New Year!!!! Well-wishing old/young
Nika</span></div>
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<o:p></o:p>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02391895261812155903noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-237156488617714921.post-25533205915973184302014-12-31T09:58:00.001-08:002014-12-31T15:23:36.166-08:00Blog #16 Snow in Sedona for the new year!<div class="MsoNormal">
<i><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;">Daughter Alicia Magal writes: It is snowing
in Sedona today – December 31, 2014.
Glad we made no plans to go out, and will welcome in the secular new
year at home!<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;">My mother Nika was excited seeing snow this
morning, and took a couple of pictures from her window. She also took her first “selfie” on her new smart
phone, since there was no one around to snap a photo of her with the snow in
the background! </span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;">I remember well the
years she took my brother Will and me out of school to go skiing for a week in
February when we were children. Let me
see now what she wrote, and I’ll send it out.<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXQoEtB92-01xzz2hASaQf8m53YajsjFboLqY9qOW-qXVIMt8cC5e3K0iEKr-ZGr1Jku2gep1UgA7vQRFp5oApiVVYYbWh4-7ouWkbLYLD96pC5df1oWDgCVS9nXeqTvx852-EJNccxKd7/s1600/139680873575E40B3D.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXQoEtB92-01xzz2hASaQf8m53YajsjFboLqY9qOW-qXVIMt8cC5e3K0iEKr-ZGr1Jku2gep1UgA7vQRFp5oApiVVYYbWh4-7ouWkbLYLD96pC5df1oWDgCVS9nXeqTvx852-EJNccxKd7/s1600/139680873575E40B3D.png" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaWhAyx8SLy1hfkCqpJsLnrAD29Eerd-SM0J4694s5lIl8ojvu2PU616q9XhXYxSrCv9Zq0NdqqVJXbfeb0leiK6z1yQKfBIwPNnxpa255KwU-Cttw5rFRw9aFIv-21DebsWJbwpVyjskp/s1600/18391595033502FF46.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaWhAyx8SLy1hfkCqpJsLnrAD29Eerd-SM0J4694s5lIl8ojvu2PU616q9XhXYxSrCv9Zq0NdqqVJXbfeb0leiK6z1yQKfBIwPNnxpa255KwU-Cttw5rFRw9aFIv-21DebsWJbwpVyjskp/s1600/18391595033502FF46.png" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">Start smiling please! I have on my pants that
fitted into ski boots from many </span><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 18px;">decades</span><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 18px;"> </span><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">ago when Fredziu took us to
Aspen on our last ski trip together. Today before New
Year 2015 I just found this pair of forgotten ski pants in one
of the boxes… incredible that I kept them all this time. But today I wanted to wear them because it is
snowing outside !!!!!!</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">These pants tell a fun story. We were staying in Heddy Lamar’s cottage
in Aspen Colorado, swimming in her hot
swimming pool surrounded by snow and beautiful mountains. These warm pants that I found today I wore every day on that trip, since they were so practical
and stylish!</span><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">We enjoyed skiing and
swimming </span><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 18px;">every day</span><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt;"> in this great combination of sun and snow with good
food and nice people. WOW. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">Nothing is perfect in this life, so at 4 a.m.
as we were returning to our home in Westchester , we finally
found a run-down taxi (the one we had ordered never arrived) so in freezing
weather with open broken windows, and holding our skis, we arrived dead tired
in our home in White Plains.</span><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt;"> <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">The next day Fredziu looked at us and said,
“I see we have our limbs together, so now the adventure in
cold is over for us. The time has come to decide where to go
south next winter.”</span><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt;"> <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">Greta Waldas, our artist friend from
Wellfleet, Cape Cod, came to our rescue. “Next winter you come to San Miguel de Allende
in Mexico!” She had a house
there. </span><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">So we did! We kind of lived like young
students in simple quarters, and the next winter we had the luck to meet a ponytailed young woman architect, who had
built many homes. We were at
dinner with our new friends Anita and Carl Anton von Bleyleben from Austria who entertained many interesting ex-pats from America and
Europe. This woman told us about a
beautiful, romantic town house that she was preparing for her and her
husband’s retirement one day. It was
right in town on Los Chiquitos 2A across from the post office.
Unfortunately they would only rent it to us, and we wanted to buy it so we
could stay there for many winters to come.</span><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">It had a beautiful door which was featured in a book on the doors of San Miguel, lovely Mexican furniture, and 3</span><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;"> terraces so I could hear the
music, which signaled yet another fiesta! We were so upset to find we could not buy it, but nothing we
tried worked.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;">In the evening I took my visiting children to
the airport and when I returned, my husband half asleep murmured “I think I
bought the house on Chiquitos.” I couldn’t
understand what he meant, so I made him wake all the way up. “Tell me the story
please!” So he said that while we were gone, the lady builder (so sorry to
have forgotten her name) called and said, “It is a woman's privilege to change her mind.
OK, you can have it.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">So for 10 years from 1973-1983 our warm
painter’s paradise lasted where I painted at Bellas Artes, we met with
interesting friends, swam in hot springs, and enjoyed the mild winter weather, until
one day Fredziu could not breath at that altitude of almost 7,000
ft. high. I had to get him out of there immediately. </span><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">Within a very short time I had to swap it
for a nice home somewhere lower. I hoped it would be anywhere but
Florida, but you guessed it…it had to be Palm Beach, Florida. This begins
another blog later, a whole new chapter.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">Now I’m going to have hot soup and enjoy
watching the snow fall. In Sedona it is
mostly decorative. Happy New Year to everyone!</span><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
P.S. Anne Crosman came over and took this picture of me outside my apartment in the Village of Oak Creek, Sedona.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9haRS9jYXsUEKBTre7p5Cx8w9ppGglIyVewPEUqN1vJ4GK2O6jFMuCKfFkIoP2nKMgiuCa6_z2VF5vRfbDO_Fo_OQjOXXCg7LG5XW2DLnmeLuPeHPLBhvIZioJIv-Ag2ricebjaEspinw/s1600/Nika+on+snowy+Dec.+31,+2014+Sedona.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9haRS9jYXsUEKBTre7p5Cx8w9ppGglIyVewPEUqN1vJ4GK2O6jFMuCKfFkIoP2nKMgiuCa6_z2VF5vRfbDO_Fo_OQjOXXCg7LG5XW2DLnmeLuPeHPLBhvIZioJIv-Ag2ricebjaEspinw/s1600/Nika+on+snowy+Dec.+31,+2014+Sedona.png" /></a></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;">Please Read My Blog Here:<br />
http://www.lifebeginsat90.blogspot.com/<br />
<br />
Order our book, From Miracle To Miracle: A Story of Survival (via PayPal):<br />
http://www.FromMiracleToMiracle.com<br />
<br />
Please view my art here:<br />
http://www.flickr.com/photos/nikafleissig/<o:p></o:p></span></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02391895261812155903noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-237156488617714921.post-4381005358177804742014-12-29T21:31:00.000-08:002014-12-29T21:31:16.247-08:00Nika’s Blog #15 Lonely on, , the Holidays<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14pt;">Life
Begins at Ninety – Nika’s Blog #15<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14pt;">Lonely
on the Holidays<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14pt;">Basically
we are lonely, even if we are surrounded by many people, don’t you agree? Especially during Christmas and New
Year. Lots of people have no
one to go to or celebrate with. Yes, there are many good
organizations providing food and help, but still many people are alone
at the last chapter of their life. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14pt;"> <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14pt;">That brings memories to me now, at my age
of 94, of when I was 23 years
old and all alone, living under a false name - Maria Zylinska - in Warsaw during World War II, from 1943-4, and hoping not
to be recognized as Bronislawa Felicja Kohn from
Krakow. I had bought documents supplied by the
underground so that I could survive and not be found out as a Jew and therefore
under threat of death.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14pt;">Every
day going to work kept me busy, and in the afternoons I was teaching English to 4 students who probably still talk
with my accent if they are alive.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14pt;">Then
came Christmas and they asked me where I am going
to celebrate. I was afraid to say that I am all alone. Everybody was suspicious that maybe one is hiding from being discovered as
a Jew. Then one day a young woman in our office invited me to
her home to their festive dinner. Well, I was elated not to sit
alone in my rented room.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14pt;">I
fixed myself up as best I could. I had
nothing pretty to wear, as all had been stolen, but I was full of
anticipation about my first Christmas dinner in a Polish home. It would be quite a great event!! The
father of my friend was a university professor. There
were a few friends invited as well as family.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14pt;">
<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14pt;">Very
soon the subject of the Jewish situation came up and led to a heated
discussion – and they said “Germans are terrible, but at least they helped us get rid of our minority, the Jewish people.” They
said other things that they never would have said if they knew I was Jewish,
but I got to hear how people talk when they feel “safe” and can speak about how
they really feel. I could not swallow the food and felt crushed.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14pt;">
<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14pt;">Last
year my darling daughter Alicia (Rabbi and spiritual leader in Sedona,
Arizona) was invited with me to return to Krakow for a
presentation, one of several talks I gave there and in Warsaw. But this particular one that made a huge
impression on me was arranged by a very dedicated Dr. Prof Aleks
Skotnicki who helps any survivors of the Holocaust. Prof. Skotnicki, who is not
Jewish, founded a Dialogue Center in Krakow so that young people
learn about the Holocaust and the dangers of racism and intolerance. Such a
place and such an attitude would have been impossible to imagine before the war.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14pt;">I
cannot describe my feelings as I stood in 2014 on the same spot where I should have been shot </span><span style="font-size: 19px;"> </span><span style="font-size: 19px;">in 1942 when I found myself </span><span style="font-size: 14pt;">walking at 5 a.m. through the fields of the </span><span style="font-size: medium;">Blonia Park near my home in Krakow before the night-time curfew ended at 7a.m. This was just after my parents and brother and thousands
of Jews were rounded up in Wielicka to be sent </span><span style="font-size: 19px;">to</span><span style="font-size: medium;"> a death camp, and before my “adventure”
in Warsaw with a false identity had begun.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14pt;">Later on during that memorable June day in 2014 as I was talking to a full room of older and younger
Polish people (including Piotr and Marysia Pozniak, the children of
my piano teacher who saved my life… but that is a whole other chapter) I
finally had a feeling of peace at the end of my life, and trying to forgive.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14pt;">
<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14pt;">Now that I understand how lonely we can be surrounded by hundreds
of well wishers, I ask myself could I do something about helping
people in Sedona where I am so happy, surrounded by love and
respect? Nobody deserves to be
alone and suffer being old and forgotten!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14pt;">
<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14pt;">Dec.
2014<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i><span style="font-size: 14pt;">Daughter Alicia adds:
In this post my mother mentioned several scenarios that are more fully
described in our book “From Miracle to Miracle: A Story of Survival” about Nika’s
wartime experiences, escaping seemingly certain death time and time again. But the main theme of why she wanted to write
this message in her blog was that she sensed the pain and loneliness that people
can and do feel at this time of family gatherings and supposedly happy, close
reunions with loved ones… and that doesn’t always happen. She does spread cheer wherever she goes – to stores,
restaurants, synagogue, the post office,
anywhere. She dresses beautifully and with colorful flair, and strikes up
conversations with everyone and invites them home, especially for breakfast
early in the morning, or for coffee (with brandy and whipped cream) in the late
afternoon. I think she DOES add to the friendly connections of people in our
community. And she does help people get
some perspective on all the blessings in their lives, although she doesn’t say
it that way. I mean, compared to what
she went through, we all should thank our stars for much smaller challenges.<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i><span style="font-size: medium;">So I’m sending this out now before the secular New Year
turning to 2015 in hopes that everyone reading this feels appreciated and
connected, and reaches out so they do not feel lonesome. Or come by Nika’s house, and we’ll both cheer
you up!</span><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilevf_NH5JBLYne4clUXdgpnsres5haBLgOdW2XSkU9XSp_pFB0myuW4L7BgKZV0Pc1hRLv1qKtSvbbk9lmQ5UIbGvlBMKPs3_flLMEsBpg5afIAFOGyNvTSfLrcemX5AGdN1qzt08OqZv/s1600/Nika+and+Alicia++Hanukkah+2014.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilevf_NH5JBLYne4clUXdgpnsres5haBLgOdW2XSkU9XSp_pFB0myuW4L7BgKZV0Pc1hRLv1qKtSvbbk9lmQ5UIbGvlBMKPs3_flLMEsBpg5afIAFOGyNvTSfLrcemX5AGdN1qzt08OqZv/s1600/Nika+and+Alicia++Hanukkah+2014.jpg" height="320" width="180" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: small;">Nika and Alicia at Hanukkah</span></b></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-size: medium;"><o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02391895261812155903noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-237156488617714921.post-2810389572406936522014-12-15T17:41:00.002-08:002014-12-15T17:44:38.213-08:00Life Begins at Ninety #13 Breakfast Adventure<div>
<em style="font-size: large;">Daughter Alicia
comments:</em><br />
<div>
<div>
<span style="font-size: medium;"><em>My mother Nika cannot leave her house without having an
adventure. She talks to strangers and they become friends. She crosses the
street or goes to the post office and people respond, help, laugh, and give her
yet another story to tell. Here is the adventure of the day:</em></span></div>
<div>
</div>
<div>
<span style="size: 4;"></span> </div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><span style="size: 4px;">Late last night, I got hungry and ate cereal with
fruit at 2 am; then went back to sleep. This story would not have happened if I
had my normal 6 a.m. breakfast. Was not hungry in the morning so I left home to
See Eric Haggard (talented physiotherapist) working on my balance.
</span><span style="size: 4px;"><span style="size: 4;"></span></span> </span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large; size: 4;"> </span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large; size: 4;">Eric made me jump on the trampoline, then I tried to
walk touching one foot in front of the other with closed eyes, etc. All very
tiring.</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large; size: 4;">Eric never gives up. He is a natural healer and a
nice man who cares - a rare bird. </span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large; size: 4;"> </span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large; size: 4;">Then I got to rest a little and Eric brought water in
a champagne glass--- round delicious goat cheese and little chocolate with
nuts. Thus revived, I started again walking, jumping, feeling silly. For a
former gymnast and a dancer not to be able to hold my balance perfectly, who
would have thought it possible? </span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large; size: 4;"> </span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large; size: 4;">After an hour of this torture (not really) I walked
down to New Frontiers health store, and bought goat cheese and other delicious
items and decided to have well-deserved breakfast. In front of me at the
coffee table was a young man helping himself to delicious, strong coffee and
sat down at the first table. When I was through fixing my brew, I asked if I
could join the young man at same table. He looked like many other young people
visiting Sedona, searching for a different kind of life. Sedona provides many
alternatives, I understand.</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large; size: 4;"> </span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large; size: 4;">To my delight this young man, Thomas Klien, an
architect, told me a bit about himslef. He came from Vienna to join a dance
group and see the wonders around Sedona and the almost-frozen Grand Canyon
national park.</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><span style="size: 4;"></span> </span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large; size: 4;">We spoke German and I told him the story of my broken
hip at 15 years of age, when I fell from a boy’s bike that was way too high for
me. No one could fix such a break at that time. The prognosis was that the leg
will get shorter and one has to wear a big ugly black boot. </span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large; size: 4;"> </span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large; size: 4;">When my father listened to all the doctors
explaining the sad situation, he immediately bought a ticket to Vienna for us,
carrying me on his arms to the railroad. He used a passport of his brother and
brother’s daughter since it would have been impossible on such short notice to
get passports for us. My cousin Minna (daughter of his sister Mala) worked in
Unfallkrankenhouse (hospital for fixing broken bones) in Vienna. She was a
young doctor working there, and explained that there is a new great doctor
Boehler experimenting with screws, nails, and weights on pulleys to fix a broken
hip, preventing it from getting shorter, and thus permitting a normal life after
therapy. It was just in an experimental stage but we had nothing to lose, so
the good doctor did everything to save my leg.</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large; size: 4;"> </span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large; size: 4;">I was hanging all day ....well, <u>my leg</u> was
hanging, strapped on a pulley with a weight pulling, pulling, pulling, and
causing constant pain, but preventing my leg from receding 2 1/2 inches, and
keeping it in the right place after the leg was reset. The pain was constant,
and worse in the evening, when all pillows were removed so it really pulled. I
promised to be so good the rest of my life if only this pain would go
away.</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large; size: 4;"> </span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large; size: 4;">Well cheer up, from all this pain came a great
advantage: I learned speaking Viennese-German very well. They put a huge cast
on after a few weeks, and I could hobble around and saw theater where they
gave me a special seat. </span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><span style="size: 4;"></span> </span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large; size: 4;">I lived for this year in a palatial home of my Aunt
and Uncle – across from the French consulate, a life so different from our
Krakow medieval lovely town in Poland.</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><span style="size: 4;"></span> </span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><span style="size: 4;">I was permitted to sit around the table and look at
these lovely actresses and actors and writers discussing their professional
troubles and good things, all that helped me </span><span style="size: 4;">forget
all my suffering. I was a young teenager and so grateful for being allowed to be
in the company of these sophisticated bohemians!</span></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large; size: 4;"> </span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large; size: 4;">Imagine telling this story from 1935 to the young man
as we were eating our breakfast in the store so many years later! I asked
Thomas when he returns to Vienna to look up Gusshausstr 17 to see if it
really was as grand as I remember it. This was “bashert” I explained - it
means “it had to happen.” This was my first time ever having breakfast so late
and not at home.</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"> </span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large; size: 4;">New adventures every day - WOW. </span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><span style="size: 4;"></span> </span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"> </span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">- Nika Fleissig </span><br /><br />Please Read My Blog
Here:<br />http://www.lifebeginsat90.blogspot.com/<br /><br />Order our book, From
Miracle To Miracle: A Story of Survival (via
PayPal):<br />http://www.FromMiracleToMiracle.com<br /><br />Please view my art
here:<br />http://www.flickr.com/photos/nikafleissig/</div>
</div>
</div>
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<span family="SANSSERIF" lang="0" ptsize="14" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: medium;"><br /></span><span family="SANSSERIF" lang="0" ptsize="10" style="color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: x-small;"><br /></span><span family="SCRIPT" lang="0" ptsize="24" style="color: purple; font-family: Pristina; font-size: x-large;">Rabbi Alicia Magal</span><span family="SANSSERIF" lang="0" ptsize="12" style="color: blue; font-family: Verdana; font-size: small;"><a href="http://www.jcsvv.org/">www.jcsvv.org</a></span><span family="SANSSERIF" lang="0" ptsize="12" style="color: purple; font-family: Verdana; font-size: small;"><u><br /></u></span><u><span family="SANSSERIF" lang="0" ptsize="14" style="color: #9900ff; font-family: Arial; font-size: medium;"></span></u><span family="SANSSERIF" lang="0" ptsize="12" style="color: purple; font-family: Verdana; font-size: small;"><b>928
204-1286</b><br />"A Jewel of a Shul"<u><br /><b></b></u><b><br />Please follow my
BLOG:<br /><a href="http://www.redrockrabbi.blogspot.com/">http://www.redrockrabbi.blogspot.com</a></b></span><b><span family="SANSSERIF" lang="0" ptsize="12" style="color: red; font-family: Verdana; font-size: small;">
</span><span family="SANSSERIF" lang="0" ptsize="12" style="color: purple; font-family: Verdana; font-size: small;"><br /><br />Please follow my mother Nika Fleissig's Blog - Life Begins
at Ninety</span></b><span family="SANSSERIF" lang="0" ptsize="12" style="color: purple; font-family: Verdana; font-size: small;">: <br /><b><a href="http://lifebeginsat90.blogspot.com/">http://www.lifebeginsat90.blogspot.com</a></b></span><span family="SANSSERIF" lang="0" ptsize="12" style="color: purple; font-family: Verdana; font-size: small;"><br /><br />Mission Statement:<br />The Jewish Community of Sedona and
the Verde Valley is a welcoming, egalitarian, inclusive congregation dedicated
to building a link from the past to the future by providing religious,
educational, social and cultural experiences. We choose to remain unaffiliated
in order to respect and serve the rich diversity of our members and visitors.
</span><span family="SANSSERIF" lang="0" ptsize="12" style="color: purple; font-family: Arial; font-size: small;"><br /><br /><br />You may order my book," From Miracle To Miracle: A Story
Of Survival" </span><span family="SANSSERIF" lang="0" ptsize="12" style="color: purple; font-family: Verdana; font-size: small;"><br />(via PayPal): <a href="http://www.frommiracletomiracle.com/">http://www.FromMiracleToMiracle.com</a></span><span family="SANSSERIF" lang="0" ptsize="10" style="color: black; font-family: Verdana; font-size: x-small;">
<br /><br /></span></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02391895261812155903noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-237156488617714921.post-32564672754371529292014-11-27T10:52:00.001-08:002014-11-29T19:50:09.171-08:00Blog #12 Thanksgiving - a time to reflect and remember <div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 14pt;">
<span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 14pt;">
<span style="font-size: medium;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
<div>
<div>
<span style="font-size: medium;"><b>
</b></span>
<br />
<div style="font-size: medium;">
<span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>This is daughter Alicia Magal writing: My
mother Nika awoke this Thanksgiving Day 2014 with many thoughts intertwined -
gratitude for her life, family, and blessings, and, in stark contrast,
flashbacks to times of hunger, loss, and deprivation. </b></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: medium;">
</span>
<div style="font-size: medium;">
<span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>I find it nearly impossible to explain all
of her memory-connections, but I'll put in a few thought-links so the readers
who haven't known Nika for years won't be totally confused. I've also left most
of her unique punctuation marks that show how rapidly she thinks and then moves
on to the next thought. </b></span></span></div>
<div style="font-size: medium;">
</div>
<div style="font-size: medium;">
<span style="font-family: Arial;"><b>We would appreciate if you would go to her Blog site (<a href="http://www.lifebeginsat90.blogspot.com/">http://www.lifebeginsat90.blogspot.com</a>)
</b></span></div>
<div style="font-size: medium;">
<span style="font-family: Arial;"><b>and post any comments there, as well as replying to Nika on her
email. </b></span></div>
<div style="font-size: medium;">
</div>
<div style="font-size: medium;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Happy Day of Giving Thanks to all our family
and friends reading this.</b></span></div>
<div style="font-size: medium;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b> - Alicia Fleissig Magal.</b></span></div>
<div style="font-size: medium;">
</div>
<div style="font-size: medium;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">------</span></div>
<div style="font-size: medium;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-size: medium;">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman Baltic;">Wow ----- it is Thursday, Thanksgiving Day, and I
am in bed at 9 a.m. - something unheard of.</span></div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 14pt;">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman Baltic; font-size: medium;"> </span></div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 14pt;">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman Baltic; font-size: medium;">I feel this is the day to remember and be
grateful for our good fortune- not to run with big crowds and buy things in the
last minute- harassed and getting exhausted!!! Why do people follow the
advertising like sheep?</span></div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 14pt;">
<br />
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman Baltic; font-size: medium;"></span></div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 14pt;">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman Baltic; font-size: medium;">Slowly got up - had a delightful shower
(actually love to sit in a tub but at my age cannot get out of it without help),
so like everything else it requires a compromise. </span></div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 14pt;">
<br />
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman Baltic; font-size: medium;"></span></div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 14pt;">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman Baltic; font-size: medium;">I feel lucky that the water is hot, and my apartment is
warm and cozy, everything works, and the sun is shining (Sedona, Arizona has mostly
sunny days. I am looking forward to a delicious breakfast, m</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman Baltic'; font-size: medium;">y favorite meal of the day</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman Baltic'; font-size: medium;">. My mouth is
watering. Today's spread: fruit, toasted
Challah, black European bread, smoked salmon, </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman Baltic'; font-size: medium;">a soft boiled egg in a Polish decorated ceramic egg cup, </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman Baltic'; font-size: medium;">special Krakow (my home town)
“kielbasa”sausage from the local Sedona Polish Deli, and strong coffee with whipped cream. Then, to finish with something sweet - delicious Warsaw
chocolate (better tasting in my memory from before the war, but still
ok).</span></div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 14pt;">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman Baltic; font-size: medium;"> </span></div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 14pt;">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman Baltic; font-size: medium;">Today I remember my warm and loving
family – killed senselessly in the prime of their lives-- and friends. I'm
sitting at the computer wearing a white robe given to me by my friend and
neighbor </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman Baltic'; font-size: medium;">Joanie McManus </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman Baltic'; font-size: medium;">in Palm Beach for many years where I lived in a small townhouse. She had gotten that luxurious robe from her brother who was the
manager of an elegant NY hotel. I am thinking of her with great love ---- it helps
wearing the garment she gave me. A sad life this beautiful, talented woman suffered-- not being loved by her mother (or so Joan remembers) affected her whole life and made it unhappy. I tried </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman Baltic'; font-size: medium;">to pull her out to
enjoy life a little, but it was not easy to make her laugh! Childhood
memories can break us or make us?</span></div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 14pt;">
</div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 14pt;">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman Baltic; font-size: medium;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman Baltic; font-size: medium;">Usually by 6 a.m. I am ready for
adventure and going for a walk- but not on this Thanksgiving Day 2014. It is reflection
time - remembering!!! The past coming forward!!!</span></div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 14pt;">
<br />
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman Baltic; font-size: medium;"></span></div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 14pt;">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman Baltic;"><span style="font-size: medium;">In 1945 in Oberlangen, Germany,
near Holland, in a prisoner of war camp in the woods all alone... We were the
first women prisoners of war (fighting and losing in Warsaw Uprising in 1944).
We had to chop ice to wash ourselves and get ready for some terrible soup
three times a day. No one could, or wanted to, guess what was floating in that
soup. <span style="font-size: medium;">Then</span> <span style="font-size: medium;">our
sadistic camp director was shooting over our heads so we had to lie down flat to
avoid getting hurt.</span></span></span></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; font-size: large; margin-right: 1em;">
<tbody>
<tr>
<td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2tRZDTMdSs0t92KmhWyCi2st5gVcJYPFnn91IWYjS1YqH1Mahtqc38NR5SeF2aekGznhASyREBbEOHHA82RpZ0J3gORChMhK3Z0UL0PKwFIVX-HY9ISUvN1ZctbWteaX175AgmhrlmRUw/s1600/Nika+in+nurse+uniform+1944+-+Copy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman Baltic; font-size: medium;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2tRZDTMdSs0t92KmhWyCi2st5gVcJYPFnn91IWYjS1YqH1Mahtqc38NR5SeF2aekGznhASyREBbEOHHA82RpZ0J3gORChMhK3Z0UL0PKwFIVX-HY9ISUvN1ZctbWteaX175AgmhrlmRUw/s1600/Nika+in+nurse+uniform+1944+-+Copy.jpg" height="320" width="197" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr>
<td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 13px; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman Baltic; font-size: medium;">Nika as nurse in Warsaw
1944</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="font-size: large; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;">
<tbody>
<tr>
<td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwBJflawTDy1zf1kRHnA-Q6kX0X3BZpOdNF4FBTsFz3tAjSO7jVelCXebi4C2EgMYCnaaLcni-674dETN9gonIE3uW4sF_jK79rlYcRAPxB6UzoayABfM4Ma145StMvQK-a_RqiuFgWJxv/s1600/Nika+as+Maria+Zylinska+after+liberation+from+POW+camp+Oberlangen+1945+-+Copy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman Baltic; font-size: medium;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwBJflawTDy1zf1kRHnA-Q6kX0X3BZpOdNF4FBTsFz3tAjSO7jVelCXebi4C2EgMYCnaaLcni-674dETN9gonIE3uW4sF_jK79rlYcRAPxB6UzoayABfM4Ma145StMvQK-a_RqiuFgWJxv/s1600/Nika+as+Maria+Zylinska+after+liberation+from+POW+camp+Oberlangen+1945+-+Copy.jpg" height="320" width="220" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr>
<td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 13px;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman Baltic; font-size: medium;">Nika as Maria Zielinska after liberation
1945</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 14pt;">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman Baltic; font-size: medium;"> </span>
</div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 14pt;">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman Baltic; font-size: medium;">Strange that the feeling of revenge, and of
seeing this terrible war end, gives one power to survive anything. It also
helped being young. </span></div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 14pt;">
<br />
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman Baltic; font-size: medium;"></span></div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 14pt;">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman Baltic; font-size: medium;">This is the time under pressure when you
get introduced to yourself - who you really are- weak and complaining under
tough circumstances, or strong and tough when necessary to survive and
see justice done. From a spoiled, pampered,
protected, </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman Baltic'; font-size: medium;">young </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman Baltic'; font-size: medium;">Jewish woman I became a tough fighter, and saw myself trying to
find a happy moment every day under even the worst conditions. </span></div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 14pt;">
<br />
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman Baltic; font-size: medium;"></span></div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 14pt;">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman Baltic;"><span style="font-size: medium;">We were hungry, forgotten by the
world, or so we thought, but we believed that we would be rescued by the Allied
forces making progress in Europe in the spring of 1945. We got this news from Russian prisoners who had a hidden radio. Every day they had to work on German farms, and they did not have the food packages from the Red
Cross under the Geneva Convention rules that we got. But these packages
contained <span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-size: medium;">useless
cacao, chocolate, and other stuff nobody likes to eat when so hungry. I was the
exchange person in the camp office in charge</span> <span style="font-size: medium;">of receiving
the vegetables like onions and potatoes</span> smuggled in </span><span style="font-size: medium;">every day from the fields by those Russian
prisoners, and exchanging them for our sweets, cigarettes, and toiletry liquids
which the Russian men drank in lieu of vodka! Now I am so grateful for those vegetables with vitamins. My teeth had something to chew, and got saved until my old age. Not many were so
lucky</span>.</span></span></div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 14pt;">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman Baltic; font-size: medium;"> </span></div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 14pt;">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman Baltic;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Today all this seems very far away, but <span style="font-size: medium;">never </span><span style="font-size: medium;">forgotten.
I taught my darling children, Alicia and Willy, to be grateful for everything
and try to help others less fortunate.</span></span></span></div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 14pt;">
<br />
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman Baltic; font-size: medium;"></span></div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 14pt;">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman Baltic; font-size: medium;">Last week Alicia was honored for her
philanthropic work. She is the beloved Rabbi of Sedona. Willy is at the moment speaking to 500 people in Hawaii about
alternate retirement (an award which he and his wife Wendy Kohn received as
young architects in Boston). My children and grandchildren are talented, kind,
giving people who care about others. I am glad to see that.</span></div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 14pt;">
<br />
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman Baltic; font-size: medium;"></span></div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 14pt;">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman Baltic; font-size: medium;">My life is almost over -- I am 94 years old, but how grateful I
am that I found so much love and appreciation wherever I speak or
travel.</span></div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 14pt;">
<br />
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman Baltic; font-size: medium;"></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman Baltic;">I give a great big Thank You today! We will celebrate
together with friends, enjoying turkey with </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman Baltic';">sweet potatoes, cranberries, pumpkin,</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman Baltic';"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman Baltic';">which were unknown to me
in Poland. </span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman Baltic;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman Baltic;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman Baltic;">It is time to walk and smile.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman Baltic;">Embracing all of you
with love!!!!!</span></div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 14pt;">
<span style="font-size: medium;"> </span></div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 14pt;">
</div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 14pt;">
</div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 14pt;">
-
Nika Fleissig<br />
<br />
Please Read My
Blog Here:<br />
http://www.lifebeginsat90.blogspot.com/<br />
<br />
Order our book,
From Miracle To Miracle: A Story of Survival (via
PayPal):<br />
http://www.FromMiracleToMiracle.com<br />
<br />
Please view my art
here:<br />
http://www.flickr.com/photos/nikafleissig/</div>
</div>
<div>
</div>
<br />
<div>
<span family="SANSSERIF" lang="0" ptsize="14" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: medium;"><br /></span><span family="SANSSERIF" lang="0" ptsize="10" style="color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: x-small;"><br /></span><span family="SCRIPT" lang="0" ptsize="24" style="color: purple; font-family: Pristina; font-size: x-large;">Rabbi Alicia Magal</span><span family="SANSSERIF" lang="0" ptsize="12" style="color: blue; font-family: Verdana; font-size: small;"><a href="http://www.jcsvv.org/">www.jcsvv.org</a></span><span family="SANSSERIF" lang="0" ptsize="12" style="color: purple; font-family: Verdana; font-size: small;"><u><br /></u></span><u><span family="SANSSERIF" lang="0" ptsize="14" style="color: #9900ff; font-family: Arial; font-size: medium;"></span></u><span family="SANSSERIF" lang="0" ptsize="12" style="color: purple; font-family: Verdana; font-size: small;"><b>928
204-1286</b><br />"A Jewel of a Shul"<u><br /><b></b></u><b><br />Please follow my
BLOG:<br /><a href="http://www.redrockrabbi.blogspot.com/">http://www.redrockrabbi.blogspot.com</a></b></span><b><span family="SANSSERIF" lang="0" ptsize="12" style="color: red; font-family: Verdana; font-size: small;">
</span><span family="SANSSERIF" lang="0" ptsize="12" style="color: purple; font-family: Verdana; font-size: small;"><br /><br />Please follow my mother Nika Fleissig's Blog - Life Begins
at Ninety</span></b><span family="SANSSERIF" lang="0" ptsize="12" style="color: purple; font-family: Verdana; font-size: small;">: <br /><b><a href="http://lifebeginsat90.blogspot.com/">http://www.lifebeginsat90.blogspot.com</a></b></span><span family="SANSSERIF" lang="0" ptsize="12" style="color: purple; font-family: Verdana; font-size: small;"><br /><br />Mission Statement:<br />The Jewish Community of Sedona and
the Verde Valley is a welcoming, egalitarian, inclusive congregation dedicated
to building a link from the past to the future by providing religious,
educational, social and cultural experiences. We choose to remain unaffiliated
in order to respect and serve the rich diversity of our members and visitors.
</span><span family="SANSSERIF" lang="0" ptsize="12" style="color: purple; font-family: Arial; font-size: small;"><br /><br /><br />You may order my book," From Miracle To Miracle: A Story
Of Survival" </span><span family="SANSSERIF" lang="0" ptsize="12" style="color: purple; font-family: Verdana; font-size: small;"><br />(via PayPal): <a href="http://www.frommiracletomiracle.com/">http://www.FromMiracleToMiracle.com</a></span><span family="SANSSERIF" lang="0" ptsize="10" style="color: black; font-family: Verdana; font-size: x-small;">
<br /></span></div>
</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02391895261812155903noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-237156488617714921.post-78839589602794277462014-11-23T15:24:00.000-08:002014-11-23T15:30:27.108-08:00Holiday shopping?... not I! Blog #11<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 14pt;">
<div>
<span style="font-size: medium;">It is the Sunday before Thanksgiving, 2014. Sunny and beautiful
weather out, so I decided to drive to our Spa - Los Abrigados near Tlaquepaque in Sedona.
</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-size: medium;"> </span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-size: medium;">A month ago I had an unfortunate accident. I fell on an uneven cement walkway and was very bruised, bloody and achy, so no swimming or exercising of any
sort while I healed, just waiting to get better. Grateful that nothing was broken. I
patiently waited and today decided to make an appearance at the spa which probably would be filled with people.</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-size: medium;"> </span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-size: medium;">To my surprise there was no one around except the friendly employees who waited to help if needed.</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-size: medium;">All alone in big exercise room, alone in the shower and
dressing room on such a day... why? Ah- I figured it out. This is the last chance to go shopping before Thanksgiving!!!!!</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-size: medium;"> </span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-size: medium;">Started laughing ---- remembering our travels with my companion Andrew in the late 1980's and '90's all over the world and saying "Now is the time to find all the
unusual gifts for all the holidays - no hurry- and prices much lower then later. During the summer I live for four months in Wellfleet, Cape Cod, which has so many
galleries and talented artists around. There are always lovely and interesting gifts to chose from for
the rest of the year. Something catches my eye and reminds me of a family member or friend who would like it, so I get it and hold on to it, maybe for months. </span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-size: medium;"> </span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-size: medium;">Imagine- all the stress and rushing and being tired. Why
wait till the last moment? Believe me ---- it will make you so happy not
to be rushing or stressed, but rather just enjoying, swimming, or
doing what is fun instead of last minute getting over-priced
presents.</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-size: medium;"> </span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-size: medium;">Here is a funny example from the very early days of my marriage to Fred Fleissig. He came on some kind of Holiday with a gift to surprise me.....and I really gasped.</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-size: medium;">Imagine being surprised with a full length stiff corset (the
kind worn in the 19th century) waiting for me, standing up by itself </span><span style="font-size: medium;"> </span><span style="font-size: medium;">in the living room!?</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-size: medium;"> Where on earth is the saleslady who dared convince my
husband to buy such an atrocity? </span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-size: medium;">I imagine he was probably coming home through Grand Central Station in NY when Fred remembered at the very last minute to get a gift for me, and in a hurry to catch his train ride to White Plains, he bought this thing that was waiting for years to find
a man in a hurry.</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-size: medium;">This kind of incident repeated itself twice more during the year. I finally asked as kindly as I could muster to save Fred
from having to chose presents for me, "Why don’t we make a pact, and I get the
money and can choose my own present?” </span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-size: medium;"> </span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-size: medium;">With a smiling face Fredziu (endearing Polish diminutive) agreed to do that in the
future which lasted 38 years of our marriage, from 1946 until he died in 1984.</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-size: medium;"> </span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-size: medium;">Everything is cheaper and you save a lot of aggravation. Shop off off season. You will thank me with a smile!!!!</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-size: medium;">Happy Thanksgiving at 94 - enjoying it very much!
</span></div>
<div>
</div>
<div>
</div>
<div>
- Nika Fleissig <br />
<br />
Please Read My Blog
Here:<br />
http://www.lifebeginsat90.blogspot.com/<br />
<br />
Order our book, From
Miracle To Miracle: A Story of Survival (via
PayPal):<br />
http://www.FromMiracleToMiracle.com<br />
<br />
Please view my art
here:<br />
http://www.flickr.com/photos/nikafleissig/</div>
</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02391895261812155903noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-237156488617714921.post-18974974941008993352014-11-22T18:41:00.000-08:002014-11-22T18:41:42.111-08:00Role of Grandmother blog #10 Life Begins at Ninety<div>
<span style="font-size: medium;">Coming back from a perfect visit to my grandchildren in Los
Angeles, I had time to think: what is the role of a grandmother after
90?<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsto8XGO4gtu7cdeb2ELhVpUvW-wl2NCv5GlvU0j30rwmcJ2m-s2nerY98c39FEs1AbuOTWBEuzl8ne9DMFJb_v0ZvPfDZlp8exNTdRt7l0EqcnN_15TB4FQiFVH_KEQJtkZwgAo-jjG6S/s1600/SubstandardFullSizeRender.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsto8XGO4gtu7cdeb2ELhVpUvW-wl2NCv5GlvU0j30rwmcJ2m-s2nerY98c39FEs1AbuOTWBEuzl8ne9DMFJb_v0ZvPfDZlp8exNTdRt7l0EqcnN_15TB4FQiFVH_KEQJtkZwgAo-jjG6S/s1600/SubstandardFullSizeRender.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Nika with granddaughter Tali, 7 months pregnant</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIKnFcFu4XMh_R7m6t0Ob9WO9-mXlKydRVdmBsSGwHZr_R-tqQ1MurA1Le1m-If0h95Tsr-nR9e0OyfBSqbweVwZB0dm98MbyJ4nSiPg1NTstHQTmYoYAzGbACXjxBgWKT9Ba_asxaYiZG/s1600/FullSizeRender.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIKnFcFu4XMh_R7m6t0Ob9WO9-mXlKydRVdmBsSGwHZr_R-tqQ1MurA1Le1m-If0h95Tsr-nR9e0OyfBSqbweVwZB0dm98MbyJ4nSiPg1NTstHQTmYoYAzGbACXjxBgWKT9Ba_asxaYiZG/s1600/FullSizeRender.jpg" height="208" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Nika enjoying visit with grandson Amir Magal (left), granddaughter Tali Magal, and son Will Fleissig<br />in Los Angeles, Novembert 2014</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-size: medium;"></span> </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<span style="font-size: medium;">We are taking up space. We are using up Social Security. We
are beyond what we used to be – a woman, lover, nurturer, teacher.</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-size: medium;">What is the point of us, if we are fairly healthy, making any
kind of sense?</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-size: medium;"></span> </div>
<div>
<span style="font-size: medium;">My first thought is that we have to take the time to listen to
our grandchildren. The parents have to make a living and can’t spare that
time. But the growing-up young children need to hear themselves tell about their
future plans and dreams.</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-size: medium;">Someone has to listen. Who is more perfect for that than a
loving grandmother?</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-size: medium;"></span> </div>
<div>
<span style="font-size: medium;">She can use her experience of a lifetime, to help her
grandchildren, or in the community, or cheer up a few people who are not so
happy, and so not to feel completely useless here on earth. </span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-size: medium;"></span> </div>
<div>
<span style="font-size: medium;">Our companions have usually passed away. We are left alone,
but we are really in control of our lives, for the first time --- financially
independent, if we are lucky! And we can help in many ways.</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-size: medium;"></span> </div>
<div>
<span style="font-size: medium;">Very important, we can also learn new things, even though we
thought we knew everything!</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-size: medium;">Every day I am learning new things, seeing new art, having new
ideas, trying different foods.</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-size: medium;">Whatever we were used to, we have to forget it and try new
stuff. That keeps one young.</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-size: medium;"></span> </div>
<div>
<span style="font-size: medium;">That eliminates removing myself to a most elegant “retirement”
home that is a slow death without any purpose, except eating, sleeping, and
keeping doctors happy, and making lots of money for the owners of those
homes.</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-size: medium;">Why not, for half the money, hire help in your own familiar
surroundings, amid all the things you’ve assembled all your life?</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-size: medium;">Why be a complete stranger among all strangers, who are
miserable in those homes? Perhaps this works for some people, but I don't relish the thought.</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-size: medium;"></span> </div>
<div>
<span style="font-size: medium;">I don’t think I’m going to be very popular in certain circles,
because most money is made on the growing old population.</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-size: medium;"></span> </div>
<div>
<span style="font-size: medium;">I also think that when the time comes when you feel you cannot
take care of yourself, you have the right to belong to a society that can help
you leave this world with dignity. There is no reason why we have to suffer.
We are entitled to die in dignity.</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-size: medium;"></span> </div>
<div>
<span style="font-size: medium;">I belong a group called Dignitas, located in Switzerland. My
aunt and cousin also belong. It believes in dying in dignity, and not to
suffer.</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-size: medium;">By the way, many Swiss people are fighting it and giving the
group trouble, just like here.</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-size: medium;"></span> </div>
<div>
<span style="font-size: medium;">P.S. I hope that lots of professional people will read this
blog and think about how the current situation can be changed.</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-size: medium;"></span> </div>
<div>
<span style="font-size: medium;"></span> </div>
<div>
</div>
<div>
</div>
<div>
</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
</div>
<div>
</div>
<br />
<div>
- Nika Fleissig <br /><br />Please Read My Blog Here:<br /><a href="http://www.lifebeginsat90.blogspot.com/" title="http://www.lifebeginsat90.blogspot.com/">http://www.lifebeginsat90.blogspot.com/</a><br /><br />Order
our book, From Miracle To Miracle: A Story of Survival (via PayPal):<br /><a href="http://www.frommiracletomiracle.com/" title="http://www.frommiracletomiracle.com/">http://www.FromMiracleToMiracle.com</a><br /><br />Please
view my art here:<br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/nikafleissig/" title="http://www.flickr.com/photos/nikafleissig/">http://www.flickr.com/photos/nikafleissig/</a></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02391895261812155903noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-237156488617714921.post-58886222630260915312014-11-22T18:29:00.002-08:002014-11-22T18:29:40.904-08:00TRUST YOUR BODY Life Begins at Ninety Blog #9<div>
<span style="font-size: medium;">I discovered late in life that our body ought to be trusted. Maybe it does
not work for everyone but it works for me. </span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-size: medium;"> As we age things start to fall apart.</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-size: medium;">It started long ago... I had to have surgery for a new hip and then few years
later a new knee. They were damaged when I was very young, about 15 years old, when I fell from a man’s bicycle much too high for me to learn to ride. After those operations for the first time in 75 years my legs were the same length and I didn't need lifts in one shoe.</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-size: medium;"> </span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-size: medium;">About three years ago the surgeon decided after looking at the x-ray that my <u>other</u> knee needs to be
replaced. </span><span style="font-size: medium;">We set the date for the operation and then I changed my
mind. </span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-size: medium;">I asked the good doctor if we could wait till I return from my summer place in Wellfleet, Cape Cod, like around October to do it. </span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-size: medium;"> </span><span style="font-size: medium;">Every single day during the summer I walked, swam, and did gentle exercises. Somehow that must have strengthened the muscles around the knee which had showed up as bone on bone in the x-rays. </span></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2ntOdDd3nS-FuYjCgdzW5vxMiuQzks6-8femL5gEwmVxZh9lxR0tuvGT2cqmCcpcTOqf1QAXVHxdRP4A2JqVs6t4aN44DnOSn8ogcSy3NlFvOY9D4ZajB0QNGALnruwxNmYnsIjcZuilD/s1600/NIka+on+daily+walk+at+marina+in+Wellfleet.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2ntOdDd3nS-FuYjCgdzW5vxMiuQzks6-8femL5gEwmVxZh9lxR0tuvGT2cqmCcpcTOqf1QAXVHxdRP4A2JqVs6t4aN44DnOSn8ogcSy3NlFvOY9D4ZajB0QNGALnruwxNmYnsIjcZuilD/s1600/NIka+on+daily+walk+at+marina+in+Wellfleet.JPG" height="320" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Nika on her daily walk around the Wellfleet Marina</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div>
<span style="font-size: medium;">I returned that October 3 years
ago and felt no pain and no discomfort whatsoever. </span><span style="font-size: medium;">I told the doctor's office that in that case we will wait till it
hurts; then the operation will be necessary. Now it is 3 years later... I walk a lot
morning and evening and feel no pain at all. I do not argue, but listen to my body.
Whatever happened is a mystery!</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-size: medium;">The body maybe can find a way to repair itself given more
time? </span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-size: medium;">The same thing happened with my tennis arm which needed an
injection every 5 months. I had very limited movement and constant nagging pain... not terrible, but I knew I had an aching shoulder.</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-size: medium;">Last summer in the middle of the night I felt a release
of sorts. I cannot describe it better. And now I am using this hand and arm without
pain like it never happened. This is now 9 months since the last injection. We
will wait and see what the future holds.</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-size: medium;"></span> </div>
<div>
<span style="font-size: medium;">So I escaped two serious operations with painful and long
rehab. I'm so <u>so</u> grateful to have waited and given my body a chance to
recuperate.</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-size: medium;">The x-rays have shown a necessity for an operation, but I
decided to wait, and am I happy!</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-size: medium;">Many of you had similar discoveries. Maybe you will let me hear about it?</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-size: medium;"> </span> </div>
<div>
<span style="font-size: medium;">Best wishes --</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-size: medium;">Baci,</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-size: medium;"> Nika smiling, back from a long
walk.</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-size: medium;"></span> </div>
<div>
<span style="font-size: medium;"></span> </div>
<div>
<span style="font-size: medium;"></span> </div>
<div>
<span style="font-size: medium;"></span> </div>
<div>
<span style="font-size: medium;"></span> </div>
<div>
<span style="font-size: medium;"></span> </div>
<div>
<span style="font-size: medium;"></span> </div>
<br />
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 14pt;">
- Nika
Fleissig <br /><br />Please Read My Blog
Here:<br />http://www.lifebeginsat90.blogspot.com/<br /><br />Order our book, From
Miracle To Miracle: A Story of Survival (via
PayPal):<br />http://www.FromMiracleToMiracle.com<br /><br />Please view my art
here:<br />http://www.flickr.com/photos/nikafleissig/</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02391895261812155903noreply@blogger.com0