Recovering Nicely

“You can believe what you like, but you MUST learn to be tolerant.  That means respecting other people’s convictions.” --Tone Jansson, THE SUMMER BOOK 

Way back in 1985 when PRINCE released that song "1999" I vowed to play it frequently in the year 1999, so I am doing so. I can't describe the feeling back in the mid-1980s when I was an avid bicyclist. I had my SONY headphones on as I would ride and when "1999" came on randomly I would accelerate and FEEL SO GOOD and HAPPY. It was exhilarating to the max! It still is to this day.

This week is Internet 99 conference calls with INTEL, and LUCENT on April 14th; CISCO and RNWK: REAL NETWORKS on Thursday, April 15th; WORLDCOM on Friday, April 16th.  I plan to listen to these calls.  The Internet and the World Wide Web aka WWW is where it’s at right now. 

Gloria thought of us by sending a beautiful card from the National Gallery.  It’s a detail from a 1620 painting by Cognoscenti called FLEMISH: 

4/14/99 

Hi Sweetheart, 

Our calendar is as follows: 

4/30:  LA Antiques Show 6:30-9pm 

5/2: LA Serenata de Garibaldi 6pm 

5/11: Enigma Variations at the Mark Taper Theater 8pm. 

I want to get tickets to LULU at the Pacific Resident Theater for 5/6 or 5/7.  Confirm if you can go, please! 

Love, 

Gloria 

From one of my dear Charles Schwab & Co. Clients.  I would often see her parents, Ben and Vicky Sapriel.   They loved to visit me and I loved their company.  She was having an Open House on April 25th.  I persuaded Alan to attend: 

Dear Michael, 

Maria Luisa is her visiting from Italy and we are doing an Open House celebration and water balancing demonstration.  WE both would love to see you and reconnect.  Feel free to bring a guest   Hope you can come.  Daniella Sapriel: 

Sunday, April 25th , 2-8pm, Enterra Institute, 3240 Ellenda Ave.  

Pls RSVP to Daniella or Maria Luisa, 310-474-0907.  

April 16, 1999 

Dearest Cousin Michael, 

Just thought I’d let you know how everything is.  Ruben is safe and sound thanks to the wonderful surgeons that worked on him.  Went into surgery on the 9th of April, as I told you. They, the doctors, removed a baseball sized tumor surrounding the carotid artery and Thank God it was benign!  Ruben stayed 3 days in ICU and two more in the private room but is home now, recovering nicely.  Can’t tell you how much stress was building up!  I’m just glad it’s in the past.  I always thought I was at my very best under pressure.  I don’t know anymore.  Anyway, thought I’d let you know.  I’ll be writing a little lengthier later on but for now Take Care and May God Bless you always.  Give my love to your grandmother, my Aunt Genevive and your mom. 

Love you, 

Your Cousin, 

Marie Antoinette 

Alan and I attended the Bat Mitzvah of Leslie Fischman.  Alan is a longtime friend of Dr. Ron Fischman.  His wife, Cora, is sweet, too.  We attended the event and it was quite the party. Upon our arrival home I had another card from my cousin, Marie Antoinette:  

04/17/99 

Dearest Michael, 

I was browsing in a card shop recently and this one made me think of you.  

You have been such a sweetheart, keeping in close touch that I just want you to know how much that means to me.  I’m truly grateful for getting to know a cousin like you.  You're really a very special person. 

May God Bless you always, Michael. 

Love Your Cousin, 

Marie Antoinette 

On Sunday, April 18th we had a simple BBQ at home and our two guests included John Tuzziano and Herb Braha.  John is a longtime friend of mine.  Herb is a longtime friend of Alan’s.  It made for some easy going, interesting conversation about many subjects like the latest movies, the world wide web and living life without stress. 

Gloria (Alan’s mom) is having gum surgery on Tuesday, April 20th. It’s a reminder to ALL to not only take care of your teeth but pay attention to your gums, also.  Floss and use Go-Betweens (those little brushes that fit into the grooves of your teeth that keep your gums healthy).  If you gums bleed you are NOT doing a good job!  Maybe after Gloria’s surgery she should find a little pond with greenery to recuperate.  That would help for recovering nicely. 

“Give me a mountain meadow and you can have the metropolises of the world.  I would rather chase butterflies on the Truckee meadows than compete for position and fees and fame in any city.  Big frog in a little pond?  That suits me.” --Charles McGlashan, the psychiatrist’s maternal great-grandfather, as read in the book THE NAZI AND THE PSYCHIATRIST by Jack El-Hai