Update 6-1-04


Hi,

 First, in no particular order, assorted notes that accompanied checks sent for Booker's music award:

From Jay Kinder: I am very happy to contribute. The number of Jeopardy questions I answered over the last twenty years, concerning music, symphonies, and opera, make the contribution alone worth it. I am also contributing because I have seen too many teachers just put in their time and make the same money as dedicated teachers. The good teachers need to be recognized.

From Peggy Cooper Schwartz: I'm enclosing, with pleasure, my check for this year's Booker Gibson Award. What a wonderful idea this is!

From Zelda White Nichols: I wish this could be more. How can you put a value on such wonderful lessons learned?

From Carol Ewig Duran: It's my pleasure to send a little money for such a nice cause.

From Robin Seader Cottmeyer: I certainly concur with our classmates -- this is long overdue! Booker was one of my favorite teachers (except when he made me take the chewing gum out of my mouth and sit with it on my nose for the entire class) and he certainly fostered my ongoing appreciation of music. I still frequent the opera, love Broadway, love classic rock from our era, and, of course, I can't get enough of good jazz. OK, I admit it: I'm a concert junkie and am rapidly going broke -- have you seen the price of tickets lately? Anyway, I'd like to think of the enclosed contribution as my long-overdue payment for a ticket I was fortunate enough to hold back in 1964-65, a ticket to the classroom of Booker Gibson.

From Ken Ulric, '64: I spoke with Booker last week -- after almost 40 years! Why doesn't anyone seem to age, until you see them?

From Denise Frango Baxter: It is so nice to see how excited Booker is. We have made him a happy man.

Also, from Peter Shapiro, '62: You don't know me, but I was in the Class of '62, and I'm a longtime friend of Emily Kleinman from South and Hofstra, where I graduated in '66. Em sent me most of your e-mail about the Booker Gibson Music Award.
     Thanks for doing something to recognize one of the good guys. I called to talk with Booker about a year ago, and I like to think that he actually remembered me among the many. I was also a South High band member. As a person who appreciates all sorts of music, especially classical, but not rap, Gibson helped broaden my views at the time to jazz and opera. So I support the effort to help musically-talented kids.
     Well, enough about that for the moment; the main reason I contacted you is to let you know that I'd like to contribute a little to the fund. Secondly, the check won't have to travel that far, because I live in Sherman Oaks, having moved here in 1980. I work in Van Nuys, as Vice President of Human Resources for Electro Rent Corp. We rent, among other things, electronic equipment and computers.
Hope someone takes some digital pix on the 9th and sends a few out to interested parties, like me.

[Rich -- I wrote Peter, thanking him and adding: I've asked Robert Fiveson, who's presenting the first Vince Tampio award, to make sure pictures of Booker and the two award winners get to me. Robert's reliable, so they will, and they'll quickly be posted on our home page.]

Next, as long as we're on the subject, a brief awards update: New supporters -- Linda Cohen Greenseid, Jay Kinder, Alan Finder. That's in addition to: Robin Seader Cottmeyer, Marilyn Horowitz Goldhammer, Ellen Epstein Silver, Lynn Nudelman Villagran, Alison Altman, Carol Ewig Duran, Zelda White Nichols, Neil Guberman, Rich Eisbrouch, Peggy Cooper Schwartz, Marc Fishman, Robin Feit Baker, Robert Fiveson, Barnet Kellman, Ken and Laura (Waxman) Ulric, Nancy Garfield, Booker and Frances Gibson, Amy Lieberman, and Steve Cohen.
     It's interesting that Vince's award is being supported by a small group who've pledged to contribute annually, and Booker's, mainly by a larger group of one-time donators. I can't give you accurate totals yet, because the checks keep coming in, but the awards are comfortably covered for this year, with enough left to pay for the plaques. The money for each award is kept separately.
     Again, the presentation is at South on Wednesday, June 9th, at 7:00 PM. Stop by to see them old hallowed halls.

Related, from Denise Frango Baxter: I think you should remind everyone more, and give them your address each time.

[Rich -- Denise has to be doing volunteer work for public radio. But contributions will always be welcome, and my mailing address is: 23030 Dolorosa Street, Woodland Hills, California 91367.]

Third, several medical follow-ups, initially from Allen Moss: Thanks Neil for sharing. The reality is that we are now in the age group where issues like heredity and life style become so much more influential in our health. If I can share the "soapbox" with you for a moment, I'd like to remind our classmates to become informed and aggressive consumers when it comes to picking a doctor who will be responsible for your yearly examinations and potential referrals to specialists. In this age of PPOs and HMOs, there are many doctors who are not as thorough as they should be. Don't be shy about asking your doctors lots of questions, and, as a consumer, subscribing to some great monthly health letters which are out there.
     I've been getting the "University of California Wellness Letter" and the "Tufts University Health and Wellness Letter" for about 20 years now. They are excellently researched and informative and carry NO advertising. What's so important about them is that they talk about the latest diagnostic screenings and exams which can be utilized through your Primary Care Physician. Aside from the typical blood tests, they have raised my consciousness about PSA tests and High Stress C-Reactive Protein tests -- both are designed to give you and your doctor potential indications of trouble. Although not foolproof, they have certainly proven to be extremely helpful. More and more information is also appearing in the literature about women and their risk for stroke and heart attack, more so than before. And, of course, the whole issue of diet, not smoking, and regular exercise has pretty much become a no-brainer.
     Glad you are back at the top of your form, Neil. Look forward to seeing you in 2005!

Next, from Jerry Bittman: I just got through reading this week's newsletter. It just proves the old slogan is right -- you can't tell a book by its cover. Seeing Neil Guberman at the reunion was great. You looked at him and saw a picture of health. But we never know what is going on in the insides of our body. Here is the advice I want to share with my classmates.
     It was 10 years ago today, on June 1st, that I suffered the first of my 7 heart attacks. It was also the last time I smoked a cigarette. For 25 years, I smoked 3 packs a day. Forty-one months ago, the doctors in Florida gave me no more than 24 months to live. At the time, my heart was functioning at 10% of its capabilities. Last June 3rd, I FINALLY decided to try and change my life around. I've lost 55 pounds, and I work out 6 times a week. Two weeks ago, I had a nuclear stress test like Neil had, and my heart is now working at 32% of its capabilities. My doctor says it is a miracle.
     I am not sharing this information for a pat on the back, but rather to tell everybody it is NOT too late. Goobs, there are a lot of things I would like to share with you and anybody else who would like to hear from somebody who went through this. I've also done volunteer work in a hospital, talking to heart patients. Goobs, or anybody else, feel free to call me at: 308-236-6966.

From Linda Cohen Greenseid: This is a note to Barbara Blitfield Pech -- Thank you, Barbara, for keeping us updated on women's health issues. I do appreciate it. I don't know why I thought the drive-thru mastectomy medical treatment was already rectified, but your recent e-mail let me know that work still has to be done. I've just logged in regarding the ovarian cancer stamp, and I welcome all other info that you have to pass on.

And from Barbara: Just a quick note. First, I will be at the ever-lovely "Robin's Hamish Hacienda" this coming weekend, and I hope to visit with a few "old" also known as "dear" friends -- details and gossip to follow. Next, I can't thank Neil enough for the very important experience that he shared with us, as we are beginning to reach the age where taking our good health for granted is not always the best way. How many of us have similar family histories and are making every effort not to repeat our parents' problems? The best way, first, is to do a base line stress test, and then do whatever the doctor says. Also, (eek) listen to Jerry Bittman. I had an incident late last year, and called Jerry for his medical opinion. His first and last words to me were, "GET OFF THE PHONE RIGHT NOW AND CALL 911! Don't you know that most people die from their first heart attack because they won't admit that they COULD be having one?" I did call, did go to the hospital, and was admitted. Thankfully, I was released the next day, after extensive tests. I am now under care, and I will continue to monitor myself, via diet, exercise, and necessary medication. It's a small price to pay to stay healthy.

[Rich, again -- There are some other, backlogged Internet forwards, which we'll get to by summer, when people are otherwise distracted and filler is needed. But, this week, I'd like to finish with something from Steve Spector. Steve knows I'm planning to do some writing on my vacation, and he offered a suggestion.]

From Steve: A story line: Once upon a time an individual with a computer and a little time on his hands began a search for his former high school classmates. He began an e-mail report to his classmates as he went along. Three years later, his list was larger, his reports were still going out weekly, and because his voice was stable, calm, and eminently polite, he continued to get responses.
People wrote him with their stories, their hopes, plans, loves, failures, illnesses, and fears. He and his classmates time-traveled, back and forth, with their stories from high school to the present. As they trusted his voice more, they were more forthcoming with the details of their lives, and this actually recreated the class from the disparate lives scattered across the country.
     All the stories and plots, of course, will be brought together at an impending reunion. Hell, the damn thing writes itself. Boomers, reunions, and women readers run the publishing business. Love and redemption rules. I'll look for you on Book Chat, before the movie options.

[Rich -- As I just wrote Steve: Thanks, but I think writing about this, even as fiction, would undermine whatever trust people have put in me to edit and pass on these messages. Also, I've kept the newsletters going because it's fun, and it's easy. And I'd hate anyone to think there's any other reason. Still, there are a lot of creative people out there, and if someone needs a TV movie ...]

The home page: hometown.aol.com/vssouth65


Rich