On January 31st I responded to Alan's email in pink and he responded back in dark Blue ! It is a bit confusing to follow the thread of the conversation but somehow it's taken on manuscript-like qualities with a lot of autobiographical information about the Zorfas's and the Silverman family from 'ye olden days.'
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So, I'm going to make comments in BLUE CAPS below (since PINK is hard to read). WHAT IF I USE A DEEPER SHADE OF PINK, LIKE NEON PINK ?! LOL :-)
IT
TOOK ME 24 HOURS TO GET YOUR REFERENCE THAT PINK IS HARD TO
READ....CARRYING 'PINK PINK YOU STINK' TO EVEN GREATER LEVELS OF
MEANING .....OVER A 46 YEAR REFERENCE ! TOO FUNNY ! YOU WILL HAVE TO
FORGIVE ME IF THAT PHRASE IS NOT SITTING IN THE FRONT OF MY BRAIN, BUT,
AS BOB DYLAN SAYS, IT'S GETTIN' THERE -:)
IF YOU LISTEN TO DYLAN, CHECK OUT THIS OUTSTANDING LIVE PERFORMANCE. VISIONS OF JOHANNA.
CONDOLENCES
ON YOUR MOM, IRENE AND MAZEL TOV RE. YOUR THREE BOYS ! I MISS
IRENE.....I THINK THE LAST TIME I TALKED TO HER WAS 2012, AFTER MY
MOTHER PASSED....
Hi my little cousin Alan :-),
Ok, I have to admit my heart skipped a beat upon seeing the 'young' Shirley + Julius in NY. I never saw that picture. Who are the people in the third photo ? I assume that is Irene in those very large sunglasses. I love them ! THAT WAS IRENE. THEY THEN RAN INTO SHIRLEY MACLAINE ENTOURAGE ON PARK AVE...SUCH HIPSTER 70'S. YOU ID'D HER CORRECTLY, BELOW! IT DIDN'T OCCUR TO ME THAT THERE WERE TWO SHIRLEYS IN THE PICS. ME NEITHER ! WHAT ARE THE ODDS OF THAT ? AND YES, PUN INTENDED WITH JULIUS AS HER PARTNER. :-) HE WAS A BOOKIE. YOU KNEW THAT, RIGHT ? OH THE FUN STUFF LIKE WHEN THE FBI CAME TO OUR HOUSE AT 6:30 AM, "OPEN UP, IT'S THE FBI, OPEN THE DOOR OR WE WILL BREAK IT DOWN !" OH YEAH, THAT DID HAPPEN ! I WROTE ABOUT IT ON THE BLOG. THE SEARCH BOX WORKS ON BLOGGER. I TYPED ZORFAS INTO IT AND UP CAME THE POSTS YOU SAW AND YES, I DID SEE YOUR COMMENT ! THANK YOU - WE LOVE COMMENTS !:-) I WROTE TO THE FBI UNDER THE FOIA. THEY SENT ME THE WHOLE FILE ON JULIUS.
Ok, I have to admit my heart skipped a beat upon seeing the 'young' Shirley + Julius in NY. I never saw that picture. Who are the people in the third photo ? I assume that is Irene in those very large sunglasses. I love them ! THAT WAS IRENE. THEY THEN RAN INTO SHIRLEY MACLAINE ENTOURAGE ON PARK AVE...SUCH HIPSTER 70'S. YOU ID'D HER CORRECTLY, BELOW! IT DIDN'T OCCUR TO ME THAT THERE WERE TWO SHIRLEYS IN THE PICS. ME NEITHER ! WHAT ARE THE ODDS OF THAT ? AND YES, PUN INTENDED WITH JULIUS AS HER PARTNER. :-) HE WAS A BOOKIE. YOU KNEW THAT, RIGHT ? OH THE FUN STUFF LIKE WHEN THE FBI CAME TO OUR HOUSE AT 6:30 AM, "OPEN UP, IT'S THE FBI, OPEN THE DOOR OR WE WILL BREAK IT DOWN !" OH YEAH, THAT DID HAPPEN ! I WROTE ABOUT IT ON THE BLOG. THE SEARCH BOX WORKS ON BLOGGER. I TYPED ZORFAS INTO IT AND UP CAME THE POSTS YOU SAW AND YES, I DID SEE YOUR COMMENT ! THANK YOU - WE LOVE COMMENTS !:-) I WROTE TO THE FBI UNDER THE FOIA. THEY SENT ME THE WHOLE FILE ON JULIUS.
Red Sox Fever: I admit I did forget that we
went to Game 7 of the '75 World Series ! I don't remember that at all. I MAY HAVE BEEN A MORE IMPRESSIONABLE SOX FAN BACK THEN. OR, MAYBE YOU WERE MORE INTO TAKING OVER THE BERKELEY STUDENT UNION THAN THE BOSOX? I
WAS NOT IN BERKELEY IN 1975. BY THE TIME I GOT THERE, IN THE MID-'80'S I
HAD TO TELL MY STUDENTS (AS A T.A.) TO READ THE TEXT BOOK AND NOT TO
TAKE IT AS GOSPEL TRUTH; THEY COULD THINK, AND DISAGREE ! I HAD TO TELL THEM ABOUT BERKELEY AND THE 'FREE SPEECH' MOVEMENT. OR, MAYBE I DREAMED IT UP? Julius just showed up with the tickets ? Was that in our house in Malden
or your house in Peabody ? MY MOTHER AND I
JUST DROPPED BY THE MALDEN HOUSE FOR SOME REASON, THEN JULIUS SHOWED UP
WITH THE TIX. I DON'T REMEMBER HOW I GOT HOME AFTER THE GAME, SO I
GUESS IRENE HUNG OUT WITH SHIRLEY UNTIL WE GOT BACK. I REMEMBER JULIUS
TAKING ALL BACK ROADS TO FENWAY, AND HE DECLARING "GO SPACEMAN" AS HE
POINTED TO "SPACEMAN" DISPLAYED ON TOP OF THE PRU (THAT WAS BILL LEE'S
NICKNAME). I KNEW THAT ! (
I CERTAINLY DIDN'T KNOW ANYONE ELSE WHO WOULD JUST APPEAR
WITH GAME 7 TIX THE DAY OF THE GAME! :) Oh yeah, big, big Red Sox fans. It's in the
Sandler family DNA. When I went to my Bubbie's house, the game was
always on the radio. My uncle Roby tried out to be a Red Sox player (DIDN'T KNOW THAT!) OH YEAH ! DEF ! after he graduated from high school. He did not make it so he became a
Professor of English at the University of Miami, (I think). He also
taught numerous classes on Judaism at his Temple. He published a lot of
articles too. I was scheduled to visit him in 2010 but he had a stroke. I
ended up going to the funeral instead. :( His wife, my aunt Bernice said I
could take something of his, so, I have his baseball that was in a
glass case. If you go to 2010 on the blog you can see some photos of his
office there. I have more pics I plan to put on the blog from that
trip.
Shirley:Thank you for sharing your good memories of my mother. I am glad you experienced 'the good Shirley'. It sounds like you have spent some time reading on my blog. Also, knock me over with a feather re. Roby talking about my mother's mental illness in that constructive way. And that it impacted your life in such a positive way. That is quite something ! She was like two different people. The good Shirley was just fabulous. IT BECAME MORE VIVID FOR ME ON THESE DINNER TRIPS WHERE SHE CAME TO FETCH ME IN PEABODY, BECAUSE SHE WANTED TO (WHICH GREW IN MEANING TO ME OVER TIME...NOT SURE WHY I ZOOMED IN ON THAT FROM THE PAST). THEN EACH NIGHT THERE WAS AT LEAST ONE SCENE WITH THE WAITRESS, AND ONCE SHE TOOK BOTH HANDS OFF THE STEERING WHEEL TO GIVE BARRY A WHACK IN THE BACK SEAT...ON RT 1. NOW THAT WOULD BE THE 'OTHER SHIRLEY AKA 'THE BAD SHIRLEY.' I WAS IN TOUCH WITH HER ALL THE YEARS I WAS IN CALIFORNIA BY PHONE AND LETTERS. IT WAS THAT TIME ON THE PHONE, SHE ASKED ME "WAS I A GOOD MOTHER ?" YIKES ! I SAID THE TRUTH WHICH IS: SHE WAS LIKE TWO DIFFERENT PEOPLE. THE GOOD SHIRLEY WAS JUST FABULOUS, BEAUTIFUL, FUNNY, KIND, GIVING, ETC. THE BAD SHIRLEY WOULD HURT YOU, AS YOU SAW WITH BARRY. SHE WAS ALWAYS VERY NICE TO OTHER PEOPLE, LEAVING A VERY GOOD IMPRESSION. BEHIND CLOSED DOORS SHE THOUGHT IT WAS PERFECTLY OK TO BE ABUSIVE. I ALWAYS FELT A CERTAIN AFFECTION FOR HER, AND IT PROBABLY TOOK SOME RETROSPECT TO PUT THESE EXPERIENCES--PLUS & MINUS--MORE IN THEIR PLACE. AND WHILE, AT THE TIME, I GOT ANNOYED HAVING TO HANG OUT WITH BARRY, AS I GOT OLDER (AND SOMEWHAT MATURED) I WOULD THINK ABOUT BARRY, HOW THINGS WENT FOR HIM, AND HOW IT JUST COULDN'T HAVE BEEN THAT EASY. NO IT WAS NOT. MORE ON THAT SOME OTHER TIME. AND THERE IS A LOT MORE !
Robert/Roby: I'm glad I wrote about his military service. I was very close to Roby a few years before he passed away. We talked a lot on the phone. I set up a blog for some of his articles. Unfortunately I ran into technical difficulties but he did write an article on Ted Williams who he and my Zaidy saw play in a double header at Fenway. "He Tipped His Cap", July 2010. WOW! I PROBABLY MET ROBY NO MORE THAN 1 OR 2X...RUTH A FEW TIMES. HIS DISCUSSION WHEN HE APPEARED IN NANTASKET WITH MY PARENTS SEEMED MORE SERIOUS...BUT I GOT TO TAKE IT IN. FUNNY, SO MANY YOUNGER COUSINS (MORE RECENT TIMES) AND FAMILY FRIENDS' KIDS WANT TO GET AWAY FROM THE ADULTS WHEN VISITING OR DURING A HOLIDAY...I ALWAYS LIKED TO STICK AROUND AND TAKE IT IN. MY KIDS DO THE SAME...SO NOT SURE WHAT THAT'S ABOUT.
http://sandlerfamilyarchives.
http://robertsandlerprofessor.
Barry: "Unwieldy kid", lol. When he was a little boy, he visited me in Wash. D.C. We went to a supermarket. I saw him standing in an aisle, not touching anything and things fell off the shelf ! A dozen eggs also hit the floor which I did not see him touching. He was just near them ! He also got into my car, released the emergency brake and the car rolled into a neighbor’s mailbox and flattened it. He was not good in sports which was problematic with having Julius as his father. Instead he was a gifted musician. My mother gave him piano lessons at age 4 I think. The teacher said he was talented. He went to Berklee School of Music. WOW, I DIDN'T KNOW THAT...
“The blog does not go deep.” Very perceptive Alan. I have not written about the Malden Years yet. Because what I have to say will make your hair stand on end. (YOU HAVEN'T SEEN MY MORE RECENT PICTURES...re: "hair stand on end"...MAYBE I COULD GET IT TO STAND ON END WITH SOME GEL) RIGHT, ALL THE RAGE THESE DAYS :-) . Some of it was good, but....
Shirley:Thank you for sharing your good memories of my mother. I am glad you experienced 'the good Shirley'. It sounds like you have spent some time reading on my blog. Also, knock me over with a feather re. Roby talking about my mother's mental illness in that constructive way. And that it impacted your life in such a positive way. That is quite something ! She was like two different people. The good Shirley was just fabulous. IT BECAME MORE VIVID FOR ME ON THESE DINNER TRIPS WHERE SHE CAME TO FETCH ME IN PEABODY, BECAUSE SHE WANTED TO (WHICH GREW IN MEANING TO ME OVER TIME...NOT SURE WHY I ZOOMED IN ON THAT FROM THE PAST). THEN EACH NIGHT THERE WAS AT LEAST ONE SCENE WITH THE WAITRESS, AND ONCE SHE TOOK BOTH HANDS OFF THE STEERING WHEEL TO GIVE BARRY A WHACK IN THE BACK SEAT...ON RT 1. NOW THAT WOULD BE THE 'OTHER SHIRLEY AKA 'THE BAD SHIRLEY.' I WAS IN TOUCH WITH HER ALL THE YEARS I WAS IN CALIFORNIA BY PHONE AND LETTERS. IT WAS THAT TIME ON THE PHONE, SHE ASKED ME "WAS I A GOOD MOTHER ?" YIKES ! I SAID THE TRUTH WHICH IS: SHE WAS LIKE TWO DIFFERENT PEOPLE. THE GOOD SHIRLEY WAS JUST FABULOUS, BEAUTIFUL, FUNNY, KIND, GIVING, ETC. THE BAD SHIRLEY WOULD HURT YOU, AS YOU SAW WITH BARRY. SHE WAS ALWAYS VERY NICE TO OTHER PEOPLE, LEAVING A VERY GOOD IMPRESSION. BEHIND CLOSED DOORS SHE THOUGHT IT WAS PERFECTLY OK TO BE ABUSIVE. I ALWAYS FELT A CERTAIN AFFECTION FOR HER, AND IT PROBABLY TOOK SOME RETROSPECT TO PUT THESE EXPERIENCES--PLUS & MINUS--MORE IN THEIR PLACE. AND WHILE, AT THE TIME, I GOT ANNOYED HAVING TO HANG OUT WITH BARRY, AS I GOT OLDER (AND SOMEWHAT MATURED) I WOULD THINK ABOUT BARRY, HOW THINGS WENT FOR HIM, AND HOW IT JUST COULDN'T HAVE BEEN THAT EASY. NO IT WAS NOT. MORE ON THAT SOME OTHER TIME. AND THERE IS A LOT MORE !
Robert/Roby: I'm glad I wrote about his military service. I was very close to Roby a few years before he passed away. We talked a lot on the phone. I set up a blog for some of his articles. Unfortunately I ran into technical difficulties but he did write an article on Ted Williams who he and my Zaidy saw play in a double header at Fenway. "He Tipped His Cap", July 2010. WOW! I PROBABLY MET ROBY NO MORE THAN 1 OR 2X...RUTH A FEW TIMES. HIS DISCUSSION WHEN HE APPEARED IN NANTASKET WITH MY PARENTS SEEMED MORE SERIOUS...BUT I GOT TO TAKE IT IN. FUNNY, SO MANY YOUNGER COUSINS (MORE RECENT TIMES) AND FAMILY FRIENDS' KIDS WANT TO GET AWAY FROM THE ADULTS WHEN VISITING OR DURING A HOLIDAY...I ALWAYS LIKED TO STICK AROUND AND TAKE IT IN. MY KIDS DO THE SAME...SO NOT SURE WHAT THAT'S ABOUT.
http://sandlerfamilyarchives.
http://robertsandlerprofessor.
Barry: "Unwieldy kid", lol. When he was a little boy, he visited me in Wash. D.C. We went to a supermarket. I saw him standing in an aisle, not touching anything and things fell off the shelf ! A dozen eggs also hit the floor which I did not see him touching. He was just near them ! He also got into my car, released the emergency brake and the car rolled into a neighbor’s mailbox and flattened it. He was not good in sports which was problematic with having Julius as his father. Instead he was a gifted musician. My mother gave him piano lessons at age 4 I think. The teacher said he was talented. He went to Berklee School of Music. WOW, I DIDN'T KNOW THAT...
“The blog does not go deep.” Very perceptive Alan. I have not written about the Malden Years yet. Because what I have to say will make your hair stand on end. (YOU HAVEN'T SEEN MY MORE RECENT PICTURES...re: "hair stand on end"...MAYBE I COULD GET IT TO STAND ON END WITH SOME GEL) RIGHT, ALL THE RAGE THESE DAYS :-) . Some of it was good, but....
The marriage lasted ten years. 'You never know what goes on behind closed doors'. I will start with that line. STUPID
LITTLE MEMORY, BUT I THINK SHIRLEY AND JULIUS HAD JUST FINISHED THE
BASEMENT. THERE WAS SOME BIG OLDER GUY WHO COULDN'T MOVE VERY WELL, WHO
SAT IN THE COMFIE CHAIR...NOT SURE WHO HE WAS RELATED TO...AND I'M NOT
MAKING FUN OF HIM...JUST REMEMBER. AND BARRY WAS FLYING AROUND ON SOME
KIND OF BIKE AND THE HANDLEBAR SCRAPED A BIG GOUGE IN THE NEW PANELING.
OUCH! JULIUS WASN'T HAPPY, BUT HE WAS PATIENT. MY FATHER MADE SOME
SUGGESTIONS FOR HOW TO FIX...IT THINK IT WAS SOMEONE'S BIRTHDAY, MAYBE
BARRY'S. MAN, THE THINGS YOU REMEMBER!
Pink, pink you stink.
Blue, blue so do you. (WITH AFFECTION, OF COURSE. I BELIEVE OUR USE OF THIS LINE PRE-DATED THE BOOK...NOT SURE WHERE I PICKED IT UP...MAYBE ON THE TOUGH STREETS OF PEABODY B:-)
I bought Barry that book and we said it to each other all the time. I did not care that he was and is 15 years younger than me. I was happy to have a sibling and I schlepped him with me to lots of things. Also, I was his second mother. I'M SURE. JUDY TRIES TO CLAIM SHE BROUGHT ME UP, BUT I THINK YOUR ROLE WAS A BIT MORE DEMANDING AND, I HOPE, APPRECIATED. UNFORTUNATELY NO NOT REALLY, WE ARE ESTRANGED. I WROTE ABOUT IT ON THE BLOG. MY BLOG IS ABOUT TELLING THE TRUTH. NO WHITEWASHING. I DECIDED IT WAS NOT RIGHT THAT I AM THE ONLY ONE WHO KNEW WHAT REALLY HAPPENED AND I WAS GOING TO WRITE IT ALL DOWN, THE GOOD, THE BAD AND THE UGLY :-) :-( BARRY HAS BEEN THROUGH REHAB THREE TIMES I BELIEVE, MAYBE 4, FOR ALCOHOL.. I WAS WITH HIM FOR THE FIRST TWO ROUNDS. EVEN AT THE TIME I KNEW HE WAS NOT TAKING IT SERIOUSLY. HE IS AN ALCOHOLIC. JULIUS GAVE HIM WINE TO DRINK WHEN HE WAS 10 YEARS OLD, "DOWN THE CAPE WHEN WE STAYED AT THE SEACREST" HE TOLD ME. WHEN I SPOKE TO THE DOCTOR I SAID, JULIUS, HIS FATHER DRANK EVERY DAY OF HIS LIFE AS A BOOKIE. THE DOCTOR SAID WITHOUT MISSING A BEAT, "SO HE WAS A FUNCTIONING ALCOHOLIC..." I NEVER HEARD THAT TERM BEFORE........MERYL WAS ABOUT 12 YEARS OLDER THAN ME, AND WAS OUT OF THE HOUSE WHILE I WAS STILL IN 1ST GRADE. BUT, I RECALL DISTINCTLY HER BRINGING ME HOME BOOKS AROUND THAT TIME...IT LEFT AN IMPRESSION. WERE YOU IN BETWEEN JUDY AND MERYL IN AGE? YES. FUNNY, JUST REMINDED ME THAT WE HAVE SOME OLD MOVIE FOOTAGE FROM DORCHESTER, MAYBE JUDY'S 2ND OR 3RD BIRTHDAY (I DIDN'T EXIST YET), AND YOU AND SHIRLEY WERE ALSO THERE...AND I THINK SHIRLEY HAD A LITTLE POINTED PARTY HAT ON AND VERY RED LIPSTICK. LOOKED LIKE A SLICE FROM ANOTHER TIME. WE MOVED FROM DORCHESTER WHEN I WAS TWO...SO I DIDN'T HAVE A CHANCE TO JOIN ANY JEWISH STREET GANGS OR ANYTHING. I GREW UP ON THE TOUGH STREETS OF DORCHESTER UNTIL I WAS 13. I DID NOT GET A CHANCE TO JOIN A STREET GANG EITHER. SHIRLEY KEPT ME BUSY WITH PUBLIC SCHOOL AND THEN I HAD TO GO TO HEBREW SCHOOL 4 DAYS A WEEK. ! IF I DIG OUT THOSE MOVIES, WHICH I HAD X-FERED TO VHS (WHEN THAT WAS A THING), I'LL SEE IF I CAN CAPTURE THAT SCENE FOR YOU...OR ANY OTHERS. I WOULD LOVE TO SEE THEM !
Me: “Now we’re closer in age, ha ha’ LOL ! How did that happen LOL again (YOU KNOW, YOU JUST RESTORED MY FAITH IN MENTAL AGILITY AND HUMOR...(IN YIDDISH, THE TERM IS IBBEBUTLE/IBBIBUTEL , AKA GONE WITH THE MATZEY FARFEL ! YOU KNOW HOW MANY PEOPLE WOULD SAY, (IN DUMB VOICE: "WHA? I DON'T SEE HOW YOU GOT CLOSER IN AGE...IT STAYS THE SAME YOU KNOW!" CAROL, I NEVER HAD MUCH PATIENCE FOR THOSE TYPES OF PEOPLE. KEEPING HUMOR IN THE GAME--EVEN WHEN OTHER PARTS OF LIFE ARE CHALLENGING--IS A PRECIOUS CHARACTERISTIC. I HOPE THOSE AROUND YOU HAVE A SENSE OF HUMOR. AND, WHEN I PICTURE YOU IN OUR HOUSE IN PEABODY, I PICTURE YOU LAUGHING. AFTER 46 YEARS, I KNEW YOU'D BE ABLE TO HANDLE THAT WE'RE NOW CLOSER IN AGE...HAHA)…EVERY TIME I READ THAT LINE I LAUGH OUT LOUD, LOL, IT'S VERY AMUSING ! WELL, IT'S HARD AS MORE TIME GOES BY, EVEN FOR MY 1ST COUSINS...LET ALONE...WHAT WOULD YOU AND I BE, 2ND COUSINS, 1ST COUSINS ONCE REMOVED...I DON'T KNOW HOW THAT WORKS. ME NEITHER. 2ND COUSINS WORKS FOR ME !YOU END UP GOING TO WEDDINGS, ETC. WITH THE UNCLES, AUNTS AND 1ST COUSIN GROUP...AND THE LAST TIME I SAW SHIRLEY WAS PROBABLY WHEN I CAME HOME ONE WEEKEND FROM COLLEGE AND SHE WAS VISITING. AT THAT POINT, SHE HAD GAINED WEIGHT AND WAS NOT QUITE THE SAME...:( NO SHE WAS NEVER QUITE THE SAME AFTER THE DIVORCE FROM JULIUS. I WILL WRITE MORE ON THAT ON THE BLOG.
Pink, pink you stink.
Blue, blue so do you. (WITH AFFECTION, OF COURSE. I BELIEVE OUR USE OF THIS LINE PRE-DATED THE BOOK...NOT SURE WHERE I PICKED IT UP...MAYBE ON THE TOUGH STREETS OF PEABODY B:-)
I bought Barry that book and we said it to each other all the time. I did not care that he was and is 15 years younger than me. I was happy to have a sibling and I schlepped him with me to lots of things. Also, I was his second mother. I'M SURE. JUDY TRIES TO CLAIM SHE BROUGHT ME UP, BUT I THINK YOUR ROLE WAS A BIT MORE DEMANDING AND, I HOPE, APPRECIATED. UNFORTUNATELY NO NOT REALLY, WE ARE ESTRANGED. I WROTE ABOUT IT ON THE BLOG. MY BLOG IS ABOUT TELLING THE TRUTH. NO WHITEWASHING. I DECIDED IT WAS NOT RIGHT THAT I AM THE ONLY ONE WHO KNEW WHAT REALLY HAPPENED AND I WAS GOING TO WRITE IT ALL DOWN, THE GOOD, THE BAD AND THE UGLY :-) :-( BARRY HAS BEEN THROUGH REHAB THREE TIMES I BELIEVE, MAYBE 4, FOR ALCOHOL.. I WAS WITH HIM FOR THE FIRST TWO ROUNDS. EVEN AT THE TIME I KNEW HE WAS NOT TAKING IT SERIOUSLY. HE IS AN ALCOHOLIC. JULIUS GAVE HIM WINE TO DRINK WHEN HE WAS 10 YEARS OLD, "DOWN THE CAPE WHEN WE STAYED AT THE SEACREST" HE TOLD ME. WHEN I SPOKE TO THE DOCTOR I SAID, JULIUS, HIS FATHER DRANK EVERY DAY OF HIS LIFE AS A BOOKIE. THE DOCTOR SAID WITHOUT MISSING A BEAT, "SO HE WAS A FUNCTIONING ALCOHOLIC..." I NEVER HEARD THAT TERM BEFORE........MERYL WAS ABOUT 12 YEARS OLDER THAN ME, AND WAS OUT OF THE HOUSE WHILE I WAS STILL IN 1ST GRADE. BUT, I RECALL DISTINCTLY HER BRINGING ME HOME BOOKS AROUND THAT TIME...IT LEFT AN IMPRESSION. WERE YOU IN BETWEEN JUDY AND MERYL IN AGE? YES. FUNNY, JUST REMINDED ME THAT WE HAVE SOME OLD MOVIE FOOTAGE FROM DORCHESTER, MAYBE JUDY'S 2ND OR 3RD BIRTHDAY (I DIDN'T EXIST YET), AND YOU AND SHIRLEY WERE ALSO THERE...AND I THINK SHIRLEY HAD A LITTLE POINTED PARTY HAT ON AND VERY RED LIPSTICK. LOOKED LIKE A SLICE FROM ANOTHER TIME. WE MOVED FROM DORCHESTER WHEN I WAS TWO...SO I DIDN'T HAVE A CHANCE TO JOIN ANY JEWISH STREET GANGS OR ANYTHING. I GREW UP ON THE TOUGH STREETS OF DORCHESTER UNTIL I WAS 13. I DID NOT GET A CHANCE TO JOIN A STREET GANG EITHER. SHIRLEY KEPT ME BUSY WITH PUBLIC SCHOOL AND THEN I HAD TO GO TO HEBREW SCHOOL 4 DAYS A WEEK. ! IF I DIG OUT THOSE MOVIES, WHICH I HAD X-FERED TO VHS (WHEN THAT WAS A THING), I'LL SEE IF I CAN CAPTURE THAT SCENE FOR YOU...OR ANY OTHERS. I WOULD LOVE TO SEE THEM !
Me: “Now we’re closer in age, ha ha’ LOL ! How did that happen LOL again (YOU KNOW, YOU JUST RESTORED MY FAITH IN MENTAL AGILITY AND HUMOR...(IN YIDDISH, THE TERM IS IBBEBUTLE/IBBIBUTEL , AKA GONE WITH THE MATZEY FARFEL ! YOU KNOW HOW MANY PEOPLE WOULD SAY, (IN DUMB VOICE: "WHA? I DON'T SEE HOW YOU GOT CLOSER IN AGE...IT STAYS THE SAME YOU KNOW!" CAROL, I NEVER HAD MUCH PATIENCE FOR THOSE TYPES OF PEOPLE. KEEPING HUMOR IN THE GAME--EVEN WHEN OTHER PARTS OF LIFE ARE CHALLENGING--IS A PRECIOUS CHARACTERISTIC. I HOPE THOSE AROUND YOU HAVE A SENSE OF HUMOR. AND, WHEN I PICTURE YOU IN OUR HOUSE IN PEABODY, I PICTURE YOU LAUGHING. AFTER 46 YEARS, I KNEW YOU'D BE ABLE TO HANDLE THAT WE'RE NOW CLOSER IN AGE...HAHA)…EVERY TIME I READ THAT LINE I LAUGH OUT LOUD, LOL, IT'S VERY AMUSING ! WELL, IT'S HARD AS MORE TIME GOES BY, EVEN FOR MY 1ST COUSINS...LET ALONE...WHAT WOULD YOU AND I BE, 2ND COUSINS, 1ST COUSINS ONCE REMOVED...I DON'T KNOW HOW THAT WORKS. ME NEITHER. 2ND COUSINS WORKS FOR ME !YOU END UP GOING TO WEDDINGS, ETC. WITH THE UNCLES, AUNTS AND 1ST COUSIN GROUP...AND THE LAST TIME I SAW SHIRLEY WAS PROBABLY WHEN I CAME HOME ONE WEEKEND FROM COLLEGE AND SHE WAS VISITING. AT THAT POINT, SHE HAD GAINED WEIGHT AND WAS NOT QUITE THE SAME...:( NO SHE WAS NEVER QUITE THE SAME AFTER THE DIVORCE FROM JULIUS. I WILL WRITE MORE ON THAT ON THE BLOG.
BUT,
YOU AND BARRY WERE ALWAYS IN MY CONSCIOUSNESS...THAT'S INTERESTING AND AN INTERESTING WAY OF SAYING IT......AND, I DON'T REMEMBER
WHAT I WAS GOOGLING...I ENDED UP ON THE SANDLER BLOG. I WAS PROBABLY
GOOGLING JULIUS WHILE WE WATCHED THE WHITEY BULGER MOVIE OR SOMETHING. OH YEAH, I WROTE A WHOLE BLOG POST ABOUT JULIUS AND THE WHITEY BULGUR CONNECTION. I
SPENT A COUPLE OF NIGHTS (WHILE PRETENDING TO WATCH SOME SHOW ON
NETFLIX) GOING THROUGH THE BLOG. IT WAS A TRIP! AS AN OLDER (LESS
OLDER NOW) LOVE IT !! PRETTY GIRL COUSIN WITH A COOL HAIR STYLE LOVE THOSE THOUGHTS TOO :-) AND FUN-LOVING
PERSONALITY...WHY WOULDN'T YOU MAKE AN IMPRESSION ON LITTLE ME!? LOL:-) 
CHILDREN ARE TOO OFTEN UNDERESTIMATED IMHO ! :-)
Well the blog has worked in the way I hoped it would. A long lost relative would stumble upon it and contact me ! Since I am not on Facebook, this is a Big Deal :-) If 1975 was the last time you saw me, then 46 years qualifies as a long lost relative :-) I thought I was living in Wash. D.C. in 1975. I will have to check that out and confirm. I also lived in California, Berkeley for over 10 years until mudslides, fires and earthquakes were just ‘too much ‘weather’; they don’t have weather, they have disasters, I am back in freezing Boston but the earth does not shake beneath my feet unexpectedly as it did in October 1989 in downtown San Francisco. (the ballgame was on the radio, then it went dead) That was the deal breaker for me. Thanks for your kind words about the blog and reading it.
Well the blog has worked in the way I hoped it would. A long lost relative would stumble upon it and contact me ! Since I am not on Facebook, this is a Big Deal :-) If 1975 was the last time you saw me, then 46 years qualifies as a long lost relative :-) I thought I was living in Wash. D.C. in 1975. I will have to check that out and confirm. I also lived in California, Berkeley for over 10 years until mudslides, fires and earthquakes were just ‘too much ‘weather’; they don’t have weather, they have disasters, I am back in freezing Boston but the earth does not shake beneath my feet unexpectedly as it did in October 1989 in downtown San Francisco. (the ballgame was on the radio, then it went dead) That was the deal breaker for me. Thanks for your kind words about the blog and reading it.
Update
Here: So, I'm actually living on the peninsula below SF. We've only
been here around 10 years when we moved our company first to San Mateo
then to SF (then closed the office in March). I've heard locals talk
about what the '89 World Series earthquake was like (I guess if we went
to that game together you'd remember! :), like the roads rolling in
front of you, etc. THAT WAS THE WORST
EXPERIENCE I EVER HAD LIVING IN ANY CITY ! NOT GOOD. GLASS ALL OVER THE
SIDEWALK. MASONRY BUILDINGS CRACKING. THE MARINA DISTRICT WAS ON FIRE !
ALL I COULD THINK OF AFTER THAT WAS, "I HAVE TO GET OUT OF HEAH ! AND
RETURN TO BOSTON WHERE THE GROUND BENEATH YOUR FEET DOES NOT SHAKE
UNEXPECTEDLY ! NO. NO. NO. As I have not gone through anything more than little
tremors, I've enjoyed the climate and outdoor aspects of the area. Met
Nancy at BU, but didn't date then (she was a year ahead). Then, we ran
into each other, I rescued her from New Jersey, and we got married
couple years later. We lived in Marblehead for about 8 years, Westport,
CT for about 18, then ended up here...going west! During that time we
had three boys, Ethan, Zachary and Sam, ranging from 28 to 34 (TODAY,
NOT WHEN THEY WERE BORN). LOL ! They were all born in Boston and are crazy
Sox, Pats, Celtics, Bruins fans. (I SEE YOU HAD YOUR PRIORITIES IN ORDER :-) Sam, who was at NU during the 2013
Series got a job at the souvenir shop so he could go in and watch the
games. Ethan went to two of the Yankees playoff games in 2004, the
first one (3-1) and when they won. Lots of Pats memories, etc. Some
people think I moved to San Mateo to make pilgrimage to Tom Brady's
hometown, but that's not entirely true. Anyway, the boys are all on FB,
I'm not. ME NEITHER. I don't even look at them on FB, but you can give a keek. Two
have girl friends, none married, no grandchildren...as my father would
say, "I'm now sleeping with a grandmother!" Not quite yet. We used to
get back east every couple of months, but haven't traveled since Covid,
and hanging tight until we get vaccines, etc. You get it yet? NOT
YET, I HAVE TO FIGURE OUT IF I AM ALLERGIC TO SOME OF THE INGREDIENTS,
says the OLDSTER, wince, wince. Let's go back to "we are closer in age"-
:-) As a
youngster of 61, I'm not yet eligible in CA.
Not
sure you knew, but Irene only passed away this past April, at 95. I DID NOT KNOW BUT I FIGURED.
NOW I AM REALLY SORRY I DIDN'T STAY IN TOUCH WITH JUDY, I WOULD HAVE
LIKED TO REMAIN IN TOUCH WITH IRENE. SHE WAS ALWAYS VERY NICE TO ME. I
AM SO SORRY TO HEAR WHAT HAPPENED BECAUSE OF COVID ! On
one hand, we were grateful of her longevity (despite her thinking I was
cousin Herbie the last few times I visited her---probably on the other
side of the family). But, the last two years she was in a nursing home
and contracted C-19 in that first wave in NY, she was in Mamaroneck,
where Judy could visit pretty often. She died within two days of
testing positive, and no one was allowed in. So, long life, bad deal at
the end.
I don’t remember the NY trip. I wondered who that was in the third picture - Shirley Maclaine ! Now I recognize her.NO
I most definitely do enjoy the pics.
Is it ok if I put your memories of ‘ye olden days’ on the blog ?? I would like to. Pics or what I wrote? I'm OK with pics...probably with what I wrote, too, although I wasn't thinking about sharing beyond you...but, as a celebration of our reconnecting, I'll trust you as my editor! I did make an entry onto the blog, not sure if you get a read out or alert...but it was pretty deep into it based on where I found a Zorfas mention.
Where are you living Alan ? I am in Brookline. I have more photos of Irene and Roby and Bernice at Barry’s wedding. He is now divorced. Now that I heard from you I will scan them in and send you some. Are you on Facebook ? Not on FB, but would love to see them. I AM SORRY - I HAVE NOT SCANNED THEM IN YET. LAST WEEK WAS BUSY.....IN THE INTEREST OF GETTING THIS OUT TO YOU SOONER RATHER THAN LATER, I'M SENDING THIS NOW :-) THIS IS THE LAST TIME I WILL EMAIL USING THIS COLOR CODED METHOD - IT'S STARTING TO HAVE MANUSCRIPT- LIKE QUALITIES.
I HAVE NOT HAD TIME TO POST ANYTHING TO THE BLOG EITHER.
Stay safe and healthy,
You too! Almost there...stay disciplined. OH YEAH, I HAVE EVERYTHING DELIVERED. IT IS FREEEZING HERE - NO GOING OUTSIDE.
great to hear from you with good memories,
your long lost cousin,
carol
I don’t remember the NY trip. I wondered who that was in the third picture - Shirley Maclaine ! Now I recognize her.NO
I most definitely do enjoy the pics.
Is it ok if I put your memories of ‘ye olden days’ on the blog ?? I would like to. Pics or what I wrote? I'm OK with pics...probably with what I wrote, too, although I wasn't thinking about sharing beyond you...but, as a celebration of our reconnecting, I'll trust you as my editor! I did make an entry onto the blog, not sure if you get a read out or alert...but it was pretty deep into it based on where I found a Zorfas mention.
Where are you living Alan ? I am in Brookline. I have more photos of Irene and Roby and Bernice at Barry’s wedding. He is now divorced. Now that I heard from you I will scan them in and send you some. Are you on Facebook ? Not on FB, but would love to see them. I AM SORRY - I HAVE NOT SCANNED THEM IN YET. LAST WEEK WAS BUSY.....IN THE INTEREST OF GETTING THIS OUT TO YOU SOONER RATHER THAN LATER, I'M SENDING THIS NOW :-) THIS IS THE LAST TIME I WILL EMAIL USING THIS COLOR CODED METHOD - IT'S STARTING TO HAVE MANUSCRIPT- LIKE QUALITIES.
Stay safe and healthy,
great to hear from you with good memories,
your long lost cousin,
carol
PS.
I started to make a Folder for ZORFAS. Yahoo told me that folder
already existed. NOT SURE WHO DID THAT...THERE ARE OTHER ZORFI OUT THERE...ZORFI !! LOVE IT !SO WHO KNOWS. I CREATED THAT FOLDER IN 2012 AND FORGOT ALL ABOUT IT ! I HAVE NEVER MET ANOTHER ZORFAS ! Imagine my surprise to see an email from Judy, August
2012 ! I forgot all about it. That was 2 months after my mother passed
away, unexpectedly - I was in shock and remained that way for at least a
year. I am going to respond to her questions even if it is a little
after 8 years later ! AW, I ASKED JUDY IF
SHE HAD YOUR EMAIL, AND SHE DID...EVEN IF IT WAS THE YAHOO ONE. SHE WAS
LIKE, "WHAT FOR?" I TOLD HER I WAS GOING TO SEND YOU PICS...SO SHE
COMPLIED. GLAD SHE DID ! Apparently we talked on the phone at that time and
we exchanged email addresses. I hope everything is fine in the Zorfas
family :-)
YOU MENTIONED MOVING AROUND A LOT FOR YOUR COMPANY. WHAT COMPANY ? WHAT DO YOU DO ?
I'M
GLAD YOU 'FOUND' ME. IT'S FUN TAKING A TRIP DOWN MEMORY LANE BUT MORE
IMPORTANTLY, IT'S GREAT TO TALK TO YOU ABOUT MY MOTHER - MY AUNTS AND
UNCLES ARE GONE. AND YOU HAVE THE PERSPECTIVE OF YOUTH - :-)
LOL.......LET'S KEEP IT UP -
Sun, Jan 31, 3:15 PM |
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