Tuesday, February 28, 2012

"The return of the native." (Floridian, that is)

.....OK, everyone. I will not be able to resist writing a blog entry from time to time in the event I think it would be of interest.  The latest publication is called "Red Baron's Condo Blog" and it covers the dates from Aug.14,2011 to Feb.24,2012. I made a mistake I believe for not naming them all the same up to Vol.X so that people who are interested in reading these books would be able to follow the dates involved.  Otherwise the dates are hit and miss by the titles I"ve given the entries.  Well, it's too late now.  


.....What's brightened my day is that I got communication from Jim Zurer and Peter Kehrig who, I guess, have been reading this blog.  And I want to thank Phil Bergovoy, Ruth Grimsley, Joel Ross, Mike Herbstman, Ellen Bliss Jaeger, Bob Fox, and I hope I didn't leave anyone out.  If you write a comment to this post, I'll be sure to immortalize you in my next posting.  .....  Yesterday, on my 88th birthday, RH+ took me out to dinner and  bought me a 2lb. lobster!  You wouldn't think you could get lobsters in a Chinese Restaurant, but I've found they prepare lobsters the best.  I'll be back, friends; I'm working on my science fiction novel.  I haven't a clue as to where it's going; I'll just carry it along.  I plan to be the oldest person on Earth to have won a Pulitzer Prize for novel writing.  Meanwhile all my books are on   http://lulu.com/spotlight/norrho1
Stay well, I'll be back.

Sunday, February 26, 2012

"I lived a life that's full; I've traveled each and every highway."

.....Well, here it is.  Tomorrow is my 88th birthday; so I've been blessed with a long life, with many happy days, and many with strife.  I have survived most everything.  I have done most everything.  I have succeeded in most everything.  Perhaps I will succeed in reaching 90.  Maybe I'll have a big surprise party.  In my life, the biggest success that I've had is the four children I raised to be what they are today--successful and happy, and who are bonded to each other.  In many families, the siblings are at loggerheads.  Not in mine.  And for that I feel grateful that I've lived long enough to see that.  


.....Right now, I am discouraged about my condition.  I have neuropathy--I feel that I am walking with rocks under my toes, so that each step I take with my walker or cane is painful.  Also, I'm getting pain in my left hip where I had surgery, so I'm going to need an orthopedist.  Other than these annoyances,  I'm feeling pretty good; I don't let them interfere with what i want to do or go where I want--or need to go.  RH+ is a big help when I need her, but I do not have to call on her very often.  I can do most things for myself--except tie shoelaces!  I realize that most of my problems are a product of aging; but there is nothing I can do about that except to take on whatever comes along: I will not "...go gentle into that good night".


.....Friends, I really need to take a hiatus from writing this blog.  Today, I published the tenth book of posts; over 600 of them, and 2,263 pages that I've turned into ten books, some of which are being sold on Amazon.  I publish them as an addendum to my "Memoirs".  The blog takes up where the "Memoirs" leaves off--in August, 2007.  That's five years folks!  And for those of you who are curious--it doesn't cost me a penny to publish a book.  The only cost that I have occurs when I buy one.  This is awesome.  I know people who have spent a small fortune to have their book published.  The online company that publishes my books is called "Lulu".  But, honestly, I need to back off from this blog for awhile...I'm getting a bit stale.  So, stay happy and healthy until I get back--if I ever do.  Vaya con Dios.

Monday, February 20, 2012

The Creative Generation

.....Today I used my cane to go to breakfast at a place called "Brooklyn Bagel".  They have the best bagels and the best bottled water which I buy by the case.  I don't know where this water originates, but they claim it is "Brooklyn water". Whatever.  I drink gallons of it. Using the cane is kind of scary because I'm pretty wobbly with it, and I can only use it for very short distances--but at least I'm back to the old days when I used a cane all the time.  I remember Bobby buying me one after leaving a wound care clinic in Virginia a few years ago. 

.....Speaking of Bobby moving in with his girlfriend, Michelle, I got a newsy email from Hannah today which told of her moving in with her boyfriend, Jonathan.  I suppose it's a good way to save money by joining hands. These are tough times for educated young people to find jobs commensurate with their education. But they must not give up until they are able to find a job which they enjoy coming to each day. If they work hard enough at it, it will come.  Hannah sent me a picture of a heart which she created out of lard!  It is being shown in Europe at an art show, and is the talk of the town.  Like her brother, she is extremely creative, and RH+ and I are very proud of her and her brother, Adam.  I know that Hannah and I have not had a normal relationship, but I am happy that we are now, at least, communicating.  The detente is over, and I planned it that way by sending her a little Valentine's gift trusting that it would elicit a granddaughterly response...which it did.

.....I've been busy the last couple of days, sort of "rewriting" a script I was given by the author of a show that will be forthcoming next year, subject to the approval of the Board. It's kind of fun playing with the names of the characters, and rewriting some of the dialogue so that it will be funny.  After all, it is a comedy. It's a takeoff of "The Wizard of Oz".  The author named it, "The Wizard of Voz" which is rather bland and not designed to sell tickets. I changed it to "It's a Helluva Life!". The whole play takes place in Hades. Speaking of writing, I would like to take a hiatus from this blog and do some work on trying to write a novel...I have doubts about my ability to accomplish that goal.  But I am running out of my desire to continue with blogging.  After all, I've been at it since August, 2007.  Well, time will tell.

Sunday, February 19, 2012

Birthdays in February: Washington, Lincoln, the Baroness and The Baron

.....Well, I made my speech to many students of mine who were holding their 55th reunion, and who are much older than they were when in the class of '57.  I doubt that there will be a 60th reunion...for obvious reasons. Well, now what?  Surprisingly, I was asked by one of the members of the Drama Workshop to look over the script he has written for the next "in-house" show, and to see what I could do to improve on it.  I saw many things that needed improvement--with the title, with the names of the characters, with the songs he has chosen, and with the dialogue.  I have already begun to work on it, and I am happy to be helping him with it.  When we had a meeting about it the other day, he said he would put my name on the playbill as the co-author.  I do not think I want that.  He had originally asked me to be the director, and apparently has changed his mind because he thought I might intimidate the actors.  So, now I'm to be an "adviser" or a "consultant", neither of which I will mind doing.  It will get me out of the house.  He is making a mistake, however, by not allowing me to be a traditional director...nor anyone else. These actors will need it.

.....Last night we went to the Bonefish Grill with Rhoda's daughter, son-in-law and his mother, and Allyson (14) Rho's granddaughter, who are here for Presidents' week--as are a million other visitors to the sunny southland where our restaurants are now overcrowded and noisy, and our roadways are at a virtual standstill with rented cars. It was one of the few places that we could, at least, get a reservation--but not before 8pm.  We didn't get seated until 8:30pm.  The Bonefish Grill is an upscale seafood restaurant where I could not find much to my liking on a menu stacked with fish.  I'm not thrilled with fish, but fortunately there was a steak dish which I ordered.  We split the bill, Jeff gave the tip, and all I had to pay was $100.  Stove sales are very rare in Palm Beach. There was no charge for the water or the lemon which came with the iced tea.

.....Tonight there is a show at the clubhouse that begins at 7pm--which means we must have a very early dinner if we are to find a decent parking space.  Tonight, we may have to go to a fast food place like McDonald's.  Who knows?  During Presidents' Week, McDonald's may charge for the water and the iced tea.  Luckily, I have a credit card.

Wednesday, February 15, 2012

"It is the nature of a political party in this country to avoid a great change." (Trollope)

.....I don't understand the American government at this point in the history of our country.  Nothing gets done because of an outdated political system fomenting a chasm between two parties with two different agendas.  We have a president who is of the Democratic Party and a Congress with a Senate and a House who bicker and spar with each other like Ali and Forman at the "Rumble in the Jungle".  That's what our Congress is--a jungle with politicians swinging like apes in the trees going nowhere.  This is the year 2012, 236 years removed from the "founding fathers" who were old men with white wigs, and who wrote a constitution establishing a government which ostensibly was good for that time...but apparently not for this time because it isn't working.  If it were not so egregious, it would be laughable.  It is time for a new kind of government that will work for the people of the 21st Century.  It is apparently time to forget the founding grandfathers and to find some new founders.


.....We are still ten months away from the next presidential election, and the two parties are bickering and inflaming the electorate about each other with derogatory and insulting commercials on television, print media, Facebook, Twitter, iPhones,  and what-not--technology that did not exist in 1776.  The Republican Party's would-be nominees for the Presidency are even defaming each other.  There will be ten wasted months of no legislation that will move this country forward.  So, lf the American people elect a President on the basis of their trust in him to do what he says he is going to do, then give him the power to do it in his first four years in office.  Let him have the power to order Congress to pass the legislation he has promised, without his having to depend upon them to approve of it.  Let these members of Congress continue to represent their constituents by advising the president of their own ideas for moving the country forward.   The American people have had their say at the polls.  Let their president have the necessary power to do their bidding.  That's a step forward for a new kind of Democracy for our times.  Call me crazy, but that's my vision for a government that will not make me feel like calling 911.

Tuesday, February 14, 2012

Speech to reunion 55 of the North Shore H.S. Class of 1957

.....Phil, my soul friend has suggested that my speech to the class of '57 at North Shore H.S. in Glen Head, Long Island.  And I always follow what he so wisely suggests; so here it is.  (And don't forget to read the blog I wrote today that succeeds this)



REUNION ADDRESS—CLASS OF ‘57, North Shore High School,Saturday Feb.12, 2012

…..Where’s the teleprompter, Wally?  I thought there would be a teleprompter for a 45 minute speech.  Well I suppose I have to use old fashioned paper…so this address will take no longer than 12-15 minutes.  Less if I speak fast.

….. Well boys and girls Welcome to Homeroom…You’re 30 years late…you should Get to bed a bit earlier…I’m sure most of you have not met my wife, Rhoda. (She gets up).  We married a year after I retired in 1982 & moved to Florida.  She is an amazing woman.  So here we all are…far from Sea Cliff and Glen Head and NSHS, a school for the ages…no, Wally, not for the aged…I said for the ages…. Speaking of ages,   I’ll be 88 in a couple of weeks.  People have told me I look young for 88….  In these days I’d rather be 40 and look old. What I would be interested in learning from you  this evening is in what ways did your education at North Shore impact and shape your lives…If it did.

…..When I received Ned’s email with an invitation to be a guest at your reunion I was delighted… and honored.  Amazed that finally there would be a reunion of  NSHS grads  that would meet in Florida, and… delighted that I would get to meet once again all grown up students from North Shore whom  I recognized immediately tonite… by reading your name tags   I was also invited by Wally Kaufman to come loaded with words of profound wisdom. Indeed he suggested that I be “wise, profound, and funny…”a daunting challenge.  I don’t know how wise I am at this point in my life.  I’ve forgotten 3/4s of it…— Although, fortunately, I did recall enough to publish an autobiography…which you can buy on Amazon. I can use the royalties. …Now I think I have started trying to be funny, and I will evaluate my success if I heard a few giggles; so wisdom will have had to wait.

….Well enough of that. Now comes the wisdom part and you can be the judge of its profundity. .….. I was 33 years old when I met your shining morning faces in class, in the hallways, or in the smoke filled bathrooms. And as the years changed… the aroma of the smoke also changed.  As you are, no doubt well aware.  Of course, for some of you I did not enjoy the pleasure of having been your teacher.  No matter, I miss teaching & I miss all of you.  High school has to be one of the most exciting and happiest time of your life…and also, perhaps, the most frustrating…and boring.  I don’t know how you could sit for 45 minutes hearing Mr. Matthews spouting Latin, or Dr. Hartman teaching something called Social Studies which probably presaged Facebook.  In high school the priority is that you get an education.  And learning is something you should be doing all your life.  The more you learn the greater the  quality of richness and joy of living .

…..Now, I suppose that when you first spied me wandering the hallways in bewilderment, trying to find my classroom in a new building, you wondered what species I claimed to belong to and what planet did I drop from. I could read the curiosity in your eyes.  Who was this guy, anyway?

…..Well when my students were well seated in class, I told them who I was, and that I was a warrior, and I made it quite clear early on that you were there for an education & that I would accept nothing less from you in that regard than ruthless personal standards of excellence, and for the most part that’s what you gave me. And I learned that precept in order to survive combat in WWII;  in war, neglect excellence at your peril;  It was Aristotle who said, We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence, then, is not an act but a habit."  When  we returned from a combat mission, we had an immediate debriefing, and each member of the crew had to stand up and tell what mistakes he had made.  The goal of any mission was flawless execution.  So if you had to write a paper, that should have been your goal as well.  I stayed the course and made my classes understand that.

…..At one time some student who no doubt heard me read exerpts from Milton’s “Paradise Lost”  placed a sign above my doorway reading, “Abandon all hope, ye who enter here”. (There was some truth in that.)I demanded excellence and challenged you to provide it.  Four years passed quickly & some of you went off to college and some of you simply joined the work force or went to Viet Nam. And you raised families and had your careers.  And here you are.  As for myself, I committed myself to inspire you and mesmerize you with Chaucer, Byron, Shelley, Keats, and Shakespeare. But some of my students weren’t so much mesmerized as they were sleepy in class.

  This is all good and natural and another stage in your life.  Mine too. I’m a teacher and I will never stop teaching. You can do more to enrich your life; take a hiatus from the tv and the pc—if excellence is a habit, so is learning and only the things above you can lift you up.  Florida has some excellent museums & theaters…you can learn something from them.  You can read books about historical events and about ancient pagan eras.  You can read about  WW1, WWII, the Civil and Revolutionary wars, and biographies of great men and women such as Ben Franklin, Jefferson, Alexander Hamilton our first treasurer and Helen Keller and Eleanor Roosevelt and Anne Frank.  You can read about Einstein and how he has affected science and the world.  Here in Florida as you get older, you are doing things that entertertain you, but what are you doing to exercise your brain?  If Aristotle says that excellence is a habit, I say so is learning.  I have  written and published 11 books in my eighties, I have taught Shakespeare classes to senior students, I have performed in leading roles in several musicals from Gilbert & Sullivan to Broadway classics, like Fiddler on the Roof, and My Fair Lady as examples. I am not sitting around degenerating.

…..But.....Make no mistake--I am no Don Quixote tilting at windmills, nor Gulliver confronting the Yahoos; nor Sir Gawain seeking the Green Knight, nor David confronting Goliath.  But what I am, I am--like Ulysses, who facing old age, yearned once more to explore worlds he'd never seen, and do things he had never done…this despite his reunion with his wife, Penelope, after 20 years. (Poor Penelope, I don’t think they had divorce lawyers in those days).  But as I have said, learning is a habit.  It should be for you to seek; after all you are North Shore graduates=and I consider you still in my class.

 …..Ulyssey’s goal was “To follow knowledge”…wherever it could be found. And that’s what education and life is all about. Striving, seeking, finding and never yielding to its pain and disappointments, and as Hamlet calls them-- the “slings and arrows of outrageous fortune” which surely will come in every human life.  Learning helps to survive anything.….. The Pierian Spring in pagan times was known as the source of knowledge, and Alexander Pope said ”…a little learning is a dangerous thing; drink deep, or taste not the Pierian spring.”  My friends it is an honor to be here and I am greatful for the opportunity to see you  once again.  Stay well. And God bless you.

"I will drink life to the lees" (Tennyson)

.....I am still basking in the experience I had at the reunion of North Shore H.S. Class of '57.  Before and after my speech people I had in my classes whom I failed to recognize, mostly because they were from RH+'s generation, (...she was the only one I recognized) told me how I had affected their lives by my teaching of English literature and Creative Writing.  They told me how I had inspired them to pursue excellence in everything they did, and how their college education was a snap compared to what they had learned from me.  I knew I had an affect on a few former students...but not so many as I learned from the reunion.  Now, I had only been teaching for four years so what can I say about  the students in my classes as I began to improve as the years rolled on?  I am fascinated by what I have learned about my teaching, and I am humbled by it.


.....Now, to change the subject, for I have nothing more I can say about it; I don't know the words to describe it.  Today, I have graduated myself from the three-wheel walker to the cane that Bobby bought for me a few years ago.  I plan only to use a cane from now on.  It's one of the goals I vowed to reach if you've been reading this blog.  But it's not the last goal.  I am eventually going to ditch the cane and train for the marathon I will run when I'm 90.  After that, I have no plans.  I've been asked by a few students and friends to send them a video of the speech I made.  I haven't the equipment needed for a video, and I no longer take pictures.  But I still have an old fashioned camera and a roll of Kodak film which lie unused.  Nor do I have a phone to take pictures.  A phone is used for talking, I learned.  Nor do I use Facebook or Twitter or Linked, though I believe I signed up for them at one time.  But, as you know, I do use a computer which I love.


.....I am happy about where I have gone so far this year; the last was a horror, and I'm about all over it and as Hamlet would say ...who would these fardel's bear; and the Baroness is about over all her issues from the past year.  And who knows what the next chapter will be about?  Will have to check our Kindles.

Sunday, February 12, 2012

"It requires more courage to suffer than to die." (Napoleon)

.....Last night I went to the 55th Reunion of the class of 1957 of North Shore H.S. in Glen Head, NY which was held in Atlantis here in Florida.  Of course, all of the former students who were in my class were in their late '60s or early '70s and it was kind of weird.  I was the honored guest and Rho and I were picked up and brought back by a couple of ex "students" who now live in Boynton Beach.  When I was invited to be their honored guest I was stunned and amazed that I had been remembered as their teacher after 55 years!  (I can't remember a single teacher from my high school.)  Naturally, I had to write a speech, and I was asked by Wally Kaufman (a brilliant student and the author of several books) to address the group by being "funny, wise, and profound," a challenging command.  I found it daunting to write something to a group whom I only could remember by reading their name tags...except that they weren't wearing their name tags.  But many of them introduced themselves, and I remembered some but not all by their names.  

.....We had a fine dinner; the choices were a chicken dish, mahi mahi, and prime rib.  Rho and I ordered the prime rib.  There was a cash bar before the meal and Rho ordered some wine and I a Pina Colada.  The waiter said, "Fifteen dollars." As I had the cash in my hand at my seat, one of the gals came up and said, "No, no you are not to pay  for anything."  I thought, well indeed, I'm an "honored" guest.  We had a salad before the main dish, and dessert and coffee or tea afterward.  I was given a sterling introduction most of which I didn't think I deserved.  But I got up anyway to the lectern and complained that there was no teleprompter.  The speech was very well received, and took about 12-15 minutes...too long to print here.  If anyone would care to read it, send me an e-mail at norrho1@comcast.net and I'll send it out in an attachment.  RH+, the Baroness and I really enjoyed the evening and the many compliments I received.  I must have been very good in the classroom to deserve this kind of attention.

.....Well, the good news is that I did not need to use my walker last night.  Especially under the circumstances.  I was able to walk with my cane to the car and when I was dropped off at the restaurant.  I've been in pain ever since I broke my hips and took a couple of bad falls, and also suffered severely with a sore on my foot which refused to heal because of the poor circulation in my legs.  Because of it I had to use the hyperbaric process for about seven weeks.  The first time I broke a hip I spent five weeks in rehabilitation in Whitehall; the second time about seven weeks.  We're still paying off for that one.  After each occasion I had therapists coming to the house a couple of times a week.  And I had an aid driving me to the wound care center each week so that Rhoda would not have to do it.  She had her own agenda. and the aid then helped both of us live our lives the way we needed to.  But during all this misery, I vowed to myself that I was strong enough to get through it as I survived a war.  I wanted to rid myself of the scooter and the walker as best I could and get back to simply use a cane, and I did it.  Of course, I can only use it now for short distances--but still I can use it.  It was my goal, and I've always been pretty good at reaching my goals.  I'm ready now for the next chapter whatever it may be.

Wednesday, February 8, 2012

"Education commences on the mother's knee". (Anonymous)

....For dinner tonight I had a cup of chicken noodle soup, two crackers with butter, two mallomars and a glass of water.  The day was kind of busy.  First the cleaning ladies were to come at 2:30 and we had to get away from them.  Luckily we had some things to do.  First I had an appointment at the Wound Care Center and we were not there two long.  Since my 9 month ordeal with a painful hip and a painful heel sore, I now am pain free.  The hip has healed as well as the sore.  I'm able to wear shoes now.  So, in light of the situation I was "discharged" from the wound care center, and I do not intend to go back.  After leaving, we went to The Brooklyn Bagel restaurant; she had lunch and I had breakfast.  It was relaxing, and we had a nice chat.  From there we went to the post office to mail a pair of slippers that I bought online and I sent them back--too small.  Them on to the Men's Wear store to pick up two jackets that fit me, and I have to wear one of them on Saturday night.  Then on to the flea market where RH+ had to buy some lipsticks or something like that.  Then to home.  

.....We were going to have blintzes for dinner, but that didn't work out because we were invited to a party that a neighbor was giving in light of the fact that Gary had his last chemo treatment for cancer and so he is cancer free.  We had some franks in a blanket, chopped liver on crackers, and champagne.  And because of our late lunch at 2:00pm, and the party we didn't feel very hungry for the blintzes.  So that's why we only had the soup, crackers, mallomars, and ice water.  I really don't care; I enjoyed my dinner. 

.....Right now, I am writing a speech which I have to make on Saturday night, for the reunion of the class of '57.  Students from other classes from North Shore H.S. who reside in Florida were also invited.  I suppose these "students" must be in their late 60's and early 70's and I am finding it difficult to know what I can say to them.  But when I finish it and read it on Saturday, I will tell you what happened and how the speech was accepted, and then I will print it in this blog next week.  I will tell them that education made us what we are.

Monday, February 6, 2012

"Life is a bowl of cherries" Let's dine.

.....Here it is--Feb. 6 and I didn't realize that my last posting was Jan.31.  I can't even tell you what I have done since then because I can't remember.  Don't forget that this disability comes with the latter stage of one's life.  I'll just chat with you about what I can recall.  I do recall that Rhoda had a bad time last week and had to be hospitalized for sever leg cramps. It turned out that she was dehydrated.  But she is home now and doing fine.  As for me, I am getting around pretty good I would say.  It's been a very long hall to get to where I am now.  I do need a walker to get around; it's one of those three wheelers.  I'm hoping that in due time I can ditch it and use a cane.  I'm pretty slim now, and the clothes that I wore before my disability do not fit me.  I've gone done three sizes, but I feel pretty good about that--except that it will cost me to buy a new wardrobe with pants that fit.


.....On this coming Thursday Robin will be coming in for the day.  I have to go to the VA to get new glasses, so we'll chat while driving there.  It's about 3o miles but on the Florida Turnpike it is only about 35 minutes away.  We'll  have a good time, I'm sure.  I do have some mementos which she might like to take home with her.  


.....I'm about finished with the speech I will make at the 1957 class reunion.  I've been asked by Wally Kaufman to be wise, profound, and funny...a daunting challenge.  I have to recall all the wisdom I may have had, the profundity, and some good parent-teacher-student jokes.  Here's one: Mother: "What did you learn in school today?  Student: Not enough I have to go back tomorrow."  Well, of course, when you read it it probably will not invoke laughter.  Sorry.  I got an email comment today for a blog from Wallie and I'd like to share it with you: 


I should add that students at Sea Cliff were so wrapped up in being teenagers that we didn't investigate our new English teacher/soccer coach. We didn't know he had just been fired, and we never knew till a few years ago that he had also spent a few years firing upon our WWII enemies. What concerned us was the rather concentrated flak we received from his intellectual guns and his no-nonsense coaching. He was one of those young teachers who came to Sea Cliff in the early 50s and whom art teacher Kitty Strohe called the "cocktail teachers" as opposed to the "cocoa teachers." 
For the first time we had classes in World Literature and in creative writing. 
Pundits have called our generation "The Silent Generation." After doing a 422 page history of our class (1957) and school, I realized that what we could more aptly be called the Creative Generation. That began as it had for most Americans with creating our own games, competitions, and hobbies out of what we had at hand. Sandy Gleichmann's brother Alan organized a coed tackle football team, The Backyard Terrors and we played in his backyard. Dave Schweers and I made a trampoline out of discarded bed springs and put it over a hole in the sand at the end of Maple Ave. So we were ready for the real creative release came with the influx of new young and different teachers. Doc was one of the important ones.
He says in a recent blog he is always ready for a new challenge. His primary value as a teacher and coach was that he was always ready to issue a new challenge and demand that we meet it.


.....Sure does make me feel good.  Things like this work to take a guy out of depression.