Learn To Be Lonely

This film upon viewing was a pleasant discovery.  Had heard all the buzz and knew it would be up for several Academy Awards.  The other day I revisited the hilarious comedy from the late 90s, Dick, starring Kirstin Dunst and Michelle Williams.  I kept trying to remember where I had heard and seen Michelle Williams until...duh!...she was the star of My Week With Marilyn.

The story is about the filming of The Prince and the Showgirl in which she would be working with Laurence Olivier.  She arrives in London amidst the fanfare and flash photo ops with her husband of the time, Arthur Miller.  But the story revolves around a young man who wants to get into the motion picture industry, Colin Clark.  He wrote about this week with Marilyn whilst Arthur Miller left London for a week.  Colin is to get Marilyn a place to stay and just take orders from the higher-ups.

Colin meets Marilyn and eventually becomes her friend.  She sees a side of Marilyn that few have seen...a young woman who just wants to live a nice life away from the glamour and glitz.  The featurette on the DVD mentions that Marilyn Monroe was a character...and I believe that- how she would play with the camera and the adoring fans.  The real Marilyn wanted a family.  She is, I think, a sympathetic character.  Hollywood just dictated what she should do and be.  The week Colin and Marilyn spent they did things as friends would; I'm sure love was blooming as well.

Meanwhile, London is getting a taste of the actress as she arrives late on the set.  Vivian Leigh, Olivier's wife, is jealous; Judi Dench's character is that of an established British actress who sees in Marilyn a star wanting to become an actress.  Colin has a young girlfriend who works in wardrobe.  She feels that Colin is slowly headed towards Marilyn.

Needless to say, it is an engaging work of cinema.  It was nice to see it in the privacy of my home and "being" with the characters.  Marilyn Monroe is an icon; as Elton John sang in his song, "you seemed to live your life like a candle in the wind."  And the week demonstrated that.  It's a shame she died so young.  Composer Alexander Desplat wrote a beautiful theme for Marilyn- it tugs at your heart.  

See it and learn more about this wonderful week that I am sure Marilyn treasured till the day she died.

Baruch ata hashem

Today I was priveleged to share in a Seder meal with my dear friend Dan and his wonderful family.  In fact, it was an honor to sit next to the patriarch, his dad Jerome, and his older brother, Ben.  Truly a lovely family...his sister Rebecca, sister-in-law Nancy, niece and nephew,  and of course his remarkable mom, Jane.  Oh, how I miss family gatherings and especially meals.  Arrived late due to a prior committment (Masters in Ed class in San Ramon).

The repast was delish!  Matzoh ball soup in a mushrom broth, gefilte fish made with salmon- to die for!  A very, very spicy and hot horseradish.  A wonderfully wicked charoset, and a scrumptious salad and a dish that caused a great discussion- grain or grass.  Quinoa, I think.  Desserts were unleavened cookies and a dark chocolate cake that would rival any restaurant dessert!

The best part was sharing this meal with my friend and his family- hopefully one day to be known as friends as well.  Truth be known, since I got there late and couldn't sing "Dayenu" - I actually wanted to burst in song with "Yeverechacha."  Perhaps next year, huh?

Thank you Dan and family for making me feel very welcome!  God's blessings upon you and may She guide and protect you all in your travels, endeavours, and get-togethers.  L'chaim!

Rest In Peace Dear Heinz

It's funny how people come into our lives and  friendships develop.  Who would of told me back in 2006 that whilst in a chatroom on AOL I would meet and become a friend with this incredible gentleman?  Penpalships are not supposed to last long, but we wrote each other faithfully on a weekly basis.  Heinz Bunger, born after WWII in Germany; immigrated to the United States where he worked at the Copley Hotel in Boston, Massachusetts.
In his emails I learned how thirsted for knowledge of the WWII years, as growing up in Germany, children were discouraged to ask about those years.
While working in Boston, he would meet luminaries from the world of politics, sports and entertainment.
Upon retiring he moved to Florida.  As I said, we met in an AOL chatroom and became good friends.
He was thrilled to learn that in the summer of 2006 I was beginning to learn German, his native language.  He'd write to encourage and not give up.  Let me tall you- German is not an easy language.  But Heinz helped me with my attempting and mangling of his language.
He loved amusement parks; had season tickets to Busch Gardens in Florida and loved to ride the roller coasters.
Sadly, his life came to an end due to a heart attack.  He was taking care of a roommate who is dying- he's actually in hospice care and morphine.  The last email from him mentioned friends we meet and how we develop what becomes love...not the mushy, sexual, etc. type...but love between friends.  I got the feeling that he worried about living alone; he's at rest now.  Last year he had complications with the prostate.  I never met him physically nor even chatted on the phone- just chats online.  But he became a wonderful friend and I will miss his emails lots.  Oh, his favorite character was the Hallmark "Maxine."
Rest in peace, meine freund.

Welcome to the United States

Today my friend Ismael came to spend his holiday in the United States.  Unlike other Spaniards who spend holiday on the East Coast, he came to the West Coast.  I am getting to meet a pen pal after almost a year of communicating via emails.  I am hoping to write about his impressions of California.  There is so much to see and so little time.  Does the "good neighbor" policy still work?  Highlights I've planned...SoCal, Sonoma county fair, San Jose, Solvang, maybe Universal Studios.  And of course movies and introducing him to the wonderful, diverse cuisine our state has to offer- pupusas, nacatamales, chow fun, pho, and traditional American fare- meat and taters!   Bienvenido mi querido amigo Ismael.  Que pases buen tiempo en los United!!

New Ways To Dream

Just a short entry to say hello and thanks for a wonderful week of thought provoking questions, answers, ideas, laughter...you get the idea...to the new "gang" I've met.  So, here is a shout out to...

JTC, CSH, MG and EF.  I enjoy the challenges you post in your answers and questions.  You've all been surprisingly good to me!

See you online!  Hugs!

"If I wanna see helicopters, I'll go to the airport

 I took the book and read my way through 

 Les Misera-bleah!"  

 from the song "I Hate Musicals" from the cult hit, Ruthless!

OK...so I misquoted the lyrics!  

Dinner With A Friend

The last day of April brought a pleasant surprise,

Dinner with a friend-

Shakes, burgers and fries

The place is a landmark

A dive, perhaps, to others

But when you're with a friend

It's a five star joint.

A drive-in

In its heyday

Crowded on weekends

Now it competes with golden arches,

Royalty, little girls and toys in boxes-

But still the locals flock and order

The crowds may not be many

But the food is just as good

                                                              Cause it's not the food, nor the drink-

                                                              But the dinner with a friend

The food becomes a background

To pleasant conversation

From politics to who's pitching on the mound;

To use a napkin would be an abomination

An interruption to a mouth watering sensation.

Laughter abounds

In mid discussion

A laughter that relieves tension

Both inner and outward

A friend who listens intently

And does not care if you're right or wrong

Time goes by so fast

When in company of a friend

Time to get nostalgic

Oh- will this ever end?

Can't go back to the past, it's true

Friends come and go

A terrible adieu

And new friends come

You hope they stay

But all the time in the world

Cannot conquer the one I cherish

And that's the time I spend on

Dinner with a friend

OK- enough of the sentimentality.  But, I had a great dinner with a friend and I just got nostalgic thinking of old times.  I miss my friends, the living ones who have moved to other locales and the ones resting in peace.  But it is the blossoming of a new friendship that adds that certain je ne sais quois- the extra spice, flavor, texture to what could otherwise be a lonely dinner.  I thank my friend and look forward to many, many more dinners.  And what about dinner and a "B-movie!"

May I take your order please?

Friends Forever!

Lucy and Ethel...perhaps television's most enduring friends.  Oh, the arguments they got into; the schemes Lucy got poor Ethel involved in...then the inevitable tears between them.  And what about the friendship as Lucille Ball and Vivian Vance?  Oh, that friendship lasted until the death of Miss Vance.  So, what does this Hollywood friendship have to do with today's post?

Once in a while, sentimentalism hits.  In elementary school and high school, everyone has lots of friends.  The older one gets, the circle of friends diminishes until you have a few dear treasures you can count on.  I consider myself lucky with the friends I have.  Some have moved on, as my grade school friend Frank, to heaven.  You never know how much you miss a friend until you have to give a eulogy.  That was a tough one!  There are friends who are always there and offer you everything...material help and spiritual help.  I consider myself so lucky and wealthy in that I have good friends surrounding me.  My friends in SoCal...we've gone through a lot of hell and moments of hilarity...I miss them living here in NorCal.  And what can I say about my co-workers...the sisters I never had- Lynn and Dorothy.  We may have our differences, but deep down inside we know there is love holding us all together.  And since the beginning of the year, new friendships have been made and will hopefully continue to grow. And then there are those who the hand of friendship has been offered and hopefully will be taken.  Writing in blogs is something that is cathartic.  I have no idea who reads them, besides the friends I nag to read it.  But, I hope that if you have read this entry, you come to the realization that you must have some good friends in your life.  Hug them and tell them how much you appreciate and love them.  Sometimes it is too late to even say goodbye!

"Amigos para siempre means you'll always be my friend...

 Friends for life, not just a summer or a spring,

 Amigos para siempre."