Update 12-10-02


Hi,

Five notes, in the order they arrived.

From Barbara Blitfield Pech to Jane Ruzow Tiell:  Just a quick note to say mazel tov on your new grandson -- what a wonderful way to celebrate Thanksgiving.  What part of Florida were you visiting, by the way?  I am just home from O-town -- that would be Orlando to the rest of you -- where it was a brisk 41 degrees.  Meanwhile, at home in Miami, we have been enjoying our best kept winter secret:  daytime temperatures in the mid-60s, with nighttime lows only in the 50s.  As always, there are plenty of good rooms and "winter rates" at the Pech Palace.  All drop-ins are always welcome, and extra special attention is always given to Valley Stream South friends.  So, come on down y'all -- anytime.

From Robert Fiveson:  In regard to Irene Augustin Wehn's large, sideways photos -- an effective, but not especially high-tech solution, is to move further away from the computer and lie on your side while viewing them.
      Also, a bit of exciting news: my Extreme Conditions: Obsessive Compulsive Disorder was selected for screening in competition at the upcoming Beijing International Science Festival.  I have been asked to attend and provide an introduction before the screening, and I am taking my fourteen-year-old son. We leave Saturday,  December 7th, and if I wasn't going with Josh, I would consider this just another lonely business trip. The Festival is also providing us with tours of Beijing, the Great Wall, the Forbidden City, as well as a deluxe river cruise up the Yangtze to the Three River Gorge project (the largest hydroelectric project in the history of humanity) and two days in Shanghai!  If I get a tattoo while there, I'll send photos.

From Roz Minksy Bobrow:  Happy Holidays to all.  We, too, just became new grandparents.  Our beautiful new granddaughter's name is Esperanza Garschina Bobrow.  It was exciting to receive the call of her arrival at a Women's League for Conservative Judaism convention in Philadelphia.  At the meeting were Marilyn Horowitz Goldhammer -- for other reasons than the convention itself -- and Linda Greenberg Zucker, who was a convention delegate like me!  What a small world we live in.  I thank them both for sharing in my excitement!
      Also, Mr. Gibson, you were an amazing man in the 1960s and still are!  Thank you for your wisdom and the introduction to opera.  I still love it!

From Jean Cohen Oklan:  Mr. Gibson, you had a huge influence on me as a student and that has continued on into my adult life.  When I attended South, I don't believe there were any black students.  You were the one!  You not only gave me a wonderful music background, but also taught me tolerance and understanding.  
      All of the kids who attended Brooklyn Avenue and had Miss Gear as their music teacher sang a good portion
of Stephen Foster's tunes including "Ol' Black Joe" and "Massa in the Cold, Cold Ground."  My class also performed a full-blown Minstrel Show.  I understand how politically incorrect this was and don't know how my classmates perceived the songs and show, but I became very interested in other people's cultures.
      Decades after having you as a teacher, I realized how poor my son's music education was compared to mine.  My son is a jazz drummer, and he had to seek his music education outside of his school.  I remember your classes introducing me to opera, show tunes, and jazz as if it were yesterday.  The first time I heard you play jazz, I wasn't quite sure whether I liked it.  Now, I can't go a day without sneaking a CD from my son's collection.  I had a front row seat in your room and have a wonderful memory of you playing the piano -- what a great picture!  Thank you for being there.
      Also, I was hoping Miss Rinaldi would have joined in on the reunion website.  Does anyone have any information on her whereabouts?  I have some grammar questions I would like to run by her!

Finally, Eric Hilton has sent in all the words to his family's version of "Santa Claus Is Coming To Town" redirected to celebrate Hanukah Harry.  Since today is about the 12th day of Hanukah, and a little late for singing door-to-door, I'll just give you my favorite verses.  As already mentioned, you can get the entire tone poem directly from Eric at the_photomaker@yahoo.com.  He'd like the mail.
 
      (Written by the Family Hilton while stuck on the Throgs Neck Bridge in a snow storm)

      "He doesn't have a reindeer.
      His suit is black, not red.
      He drives his new Mercedes,
      'Cause he doesn't own a sled... oy!

      Close your eyes, get to sleep.
      Count cheesecakes instead of sheep.
      Harry H is coming to town.

      Leave coffee, on your rooftop.
      Make it fresh, or he won't stop
      Harry H is coming,
      We know that he’s coming,
      Harry H is coming to you."

      (P.S. I’d like a Harley, too!)

The home page address:  hometown.aol.com/falcons1965a


Rich