Al and I bought our first home about a year after moving to California...It was a two-story red brick house, located in Studio City; with a small pool and room for a garden, where our three years three years old daughter Karen, was 'helped us' plant some flowers and carrots... We added a "swing set" a mall 'Play house' and were ready to 'Finally Settle Down'... Both Al and I were very social; we loved gusts, enjoyed entertaining the new friends we made in L.A. and the visitors who flew in from N.Y, New Jersey Washington D.C, Puerto Rico, Italy and gusts from Israel...We were able to convince a handful of family members, from the East Coast; to join us as 'Permanent Residents' in our Sunny California: Al's younger brother Steve, who just graduated from Law School, in the east coast, came from New Jersey,to live near us, cousin Marcia, younger then me in two years,who became my beloved 'Cousin in Law 'Soul sister and 'Best friends'... I was delighted, to be a part of a warm and loving family with whom we would celebrate our holidays, birthdays,weddings, anniversary's and be together for one another in difficult and painful times ,which 'Life' may put on our way', from time to time...
The years were passing by fast, before realizing it, our 'Little Karen' ,who lived for a while in New Zealand, Australia and Israel, moved back to the U.S. to study at Hebrew Union Collage. We never 'dreamt', that our 'one and only daughter', would become an Ordained Rabbi...Al and I found ourselves, going through the "Empty Nest Syndrome" and decided it may be time, we also make a change...We began to look for the right house and eventually found one... It was Partially built, which enabled us to have our own Impute, during the process of completing it! The fact we were very busy with this new project, left us with little time, to worry about our ''Nomadic' Only Child, who was"Still Running all over the world!", just like the two of us did alone and together, so many years before...
Our first house in Studio City, was located at the Bottom of a tall mountain (No view) The new one in Sherman Oaks, was built on Top of the tallest mountain in the neighborhood and had 'Breath Taking' view from three sides... There was enough space for a garden, several fruit trees and a small swimming pool at the Backyard'. There was room for a Swing Set and a small Play House, for our future Grandchild Eliyah, who would arrive several years later, after Karen received her credentials as a 'Rabbi' and settled down in Studio City, one street away from her childhood home... Eventually, years later it would be the very same neighborhood, where she would be living with Greg and our 'One and only' beloved Grand daughter Eliyah'...
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Al and I lived in our new home for many blissful years... It was a good life! Just as in our previous home, this one, was also full with friends and visitors; who came from all over the world...Years later after Al's passing, at the age of Eighty three, it was good to have Karen and her tiny family, live near by... It would help me deal better with the loneliness I was left with, after my beloved husband's Al's Departure... At one point, as my 80th birthday was approaching, I was asked by Karen, to give some thoughts and ideas, to the place I would like to celebrate it... After considering several options, Karen and I decided, that rather then having the party in a restaurant, we would celebrate it at my present house in Sherman Oaks, the place Al and I created together and enjoyed so much...
Women only were invited... Among them several of Karen's school friends,who used to be frequent visitors at our Studio City home... Since we had only one child, Al and I were always delighted to have Karen's friends at our home! Her friends knew, that besides being a Psychologist, I was a Hypnotherapist a fact which fascinated them...They often shared their problems with me and I loved to work with them (Free of charge!) After receiving their parents consent... In the following years, these former Teens, got married had kids and delighted me with an occasional visit ...Through out the years, after Al's passing Karen X would invite these friends to celebrate my birthday at our home, together with few of Albie and my friends:xX"Those who are still Ticking!" (As Al used to say) After considering several options for the party, Karen and I decided to have a "Five O'clock Tea", like the one I was introduced to, in my youth, during my first trip to England...
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| . Shira on Mother's day |
Marcia and Shira playing "Twins" |
With Karen on Shira's 80's birthday |
With Etel |
Al's cousin Marcia, was a year younger then me... We always felt more like Sisters, then"Cousins in Law"...The two of us had a lot in common: We were bouth teachers who loved to laugh,were avid Readers', enjoyed Intellectual Discussions', Classical Music,Theater, Movies and were sharing a similar playful (a 'bit childish') Sense of Humor...After settling in California, Al and I convince Marcia, to move from New Jersey to LA, where she became a 'Loving Aunt' to four years old Karen and was our closest Family Member! We celebrated together all the holidays and Birth day parties;. We were delighted to have a family member living near us, beside the friends we made in Los Angeles.We were able to "Import" Al's younger brother Steve (who just graduated from Law school) and several years later Nephew Glen Deitsch, from new Jersey, who was happy to settle in Sunny California... We finally had a 'Small Family' to share with us Holidays, Anniversaries and other happy events...Years later Cousin Marcia's small family of three, left us to settle in Miami, to take care of her aging parents...We kept in touch by phone, emails and and visits back and fourth, but it was not the same as having them close by
Years later, I called Marcia, to ask if she could "Please come and help me, with the celebration of my 80's birthday"... Her answer was very short:"Love To! Marcia was able to find in L.A, a restaurant which was serving (and delivering) Authentic English "High Tea"... Besides Tea, the menu offered small cakes named "Scones and Crumpets" which we jokingly named; "Stones and Trumpets"...There was a variety of 'Open face sandwiches', as well as cookies and cakes... For this Special Occasion, I used the 'Fine China' Al and I received as our Wedding Gifts, which amazingly, survived our six moves: Puerto Rico Atlanta, Augusta, Miami and Los Angeles which would be our final destination...
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This party gave me the opportunity, to invite 'who ever was Left' , from our old friends...As well as a few previous clients, I befriended through out the years (in spite of the fact that:"Psychologists are not supposed to befriend their Clients"...)"Other guests were a few of Karen's friends, among them her best friend Alison, from fourth grade; whom I nicknamed "My second daughter!" The "High Tea" was delivered to our house, which was decorated with colorful flowers from our garden...
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I also arranged for a Workshop about the "Power of Positive Thinking" which was given by Dr Ethel. Marcia ordered colorful hats, decorated with paper flowers,which the guests tried on and exchanged between them: "In order to match the colors of our outfits": The hats made the house look like a lovely "Garden of Women"... It was the first party I hosted without Al (my husband and best friend and couldn't help feeling sad; wishing he was there with us in spirit...My pain lifted, as I looked through the window at my granddaughter Eliya and her best friend, shirking with joy, as they were running in the garden, chasing butterflies with 'Moses' barking and running close behind.. For some reason, this memory is my Sweetest Memory from that day... I have to admit that after the gusts left I began to feel lonley and a bit sad... It was not easy admitting (even to myself) that I am getting old...X"I can't believe I am Eighty I don't think I look a day older then sixty, right?" I asked my image in the mirror:X"Maybe even younger!x What do you think? But I recived no answetr... I wounder why?
THE END
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