World thru Brown Eyes

We were shocked some months ago to learn of the sudden death of my cousin Rick Soffer at age 66.  The family gathered in Rochester where Rick had lived,  and several of us spoke at his very moving memorial service. Since childhood my redheaded cousin had suffered a debilitating mental illness.  His devoted parents Mary June and Milton did all they could to see that Rick had the best care,  and his last years were spent as a resident at the Rochester Psychiatric Center. Every year on his...

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I first heard the Kenny Loggins lyric “Celebrate Me Home” at a Lifespring retreat my husband and I attended many years ago.  Part of the human potential movement,  Lifespring was, as I remember,  a kinder and gentler version of Werner Erhart’s California-based program known as EST. After that first Lifespring weekend we went back to take what was called “the advanced course”.   Although our adolescent son told his friends we had joined a cult,  those weekends...

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Last year on this blog I wrote about my friend and former teaching colleague David F and his passion for sports,  especially NCAA basketball.   (See MR OCTOBER)   Sadly David died some months later,  much too soon. Jane Addams Vocational HS in the South Bronx where David and I met,  and where I worked for almost 30 years,  was historically an all-girls school.  When by mandate all the city’s vocational high schools became co-ed,  Jane Addams continued to attract a large majority...

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I happen to be a tea drinker,  but I do like the smell of coffee brewing,  and when the coffee smells especially good I think of my mother-in-law Hermine. My mother was a very good cook,   but Hermine was an extraordinary one.   I,  on the other hand,  never prided myself much on my own culinary skills.   (See COOKING WITH GAS,  Oct 26, 2013.) I did try however,  and over the years turned out meals for our family of three with no memorable disasters.  In fact I once made a roast...

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