Update 2-21-12

Hi,

First, two notes on language:

From Emily Kleinman Schreiber:  Madame Vamvakis!  The name brings on nightmares!  Just like Amy, I endured her class out of stubbornness, because I knew she didn't want me to stay beyond French 2.  I'm amazed that some "kids" actually liked her.  She ruined my overall average every marking period; those first-thing-in-the morning quizzes killed me.  But I got a 94 in the French 3 Regents!

From Tom Romano:  I agree with Amy Miller about how demanding Mrs. Vamvakis was as a French teacher. We always had one hour of homework a night.  For some reason, Mrs. Vamvakis was no longer at South for our junior and senior year, my French III and French IV.  I cannot remember those teachers' names, but French III was taught by a young woman, and French IV was taught by an older man.  We heard about President Kennedy's assassination during seventh period French III.  I remember the teacher told us to close our books, put our heads down, and pray.

Next, a note on typing, from Claire Brush Reinhardt:  Thanks for the  mention in the newsletter, but my e-mail address is: reino @ optonline . net.  (Please delete the spaces.)  Even though I type it correctly -- with the o in reino -- for some unknown reason it comes out rein without the o, and I sometimes forget to check that.  At any rate, again, my address is:  reino @ optonline . net.  So if anyone has any contact information for class of '62 members, please pass it on to me for our 50th reunion mailing list.  Thanks. 

Then a reflection on aging, from Robert Fiveson:  About seniors being easy to catch -- last month was my fourth anniversary living in Panama.  I have loved every moment.  My wife, on the other hand, has hated every moment.  Recently, I asked her what she would do if I ever developed Alzheimer's.  She said she would immediately move to Sausalito, California, and tell me we were still in Panama.  Clever girl. 

[Rich -- Robert also has a new Panamanian pilot's license, so he's fairly clever himself.  Congratulations, Robert.]

Some coming attractions, from Barbara Blitfield Pech:  A few weeks ago, my choir started rehearsing for a video that one of our Grammy Award-winning members is producing for his next album and for youtube.  We are approximately 20 members strong, and we recorded our parts on a bright and unseasonably warm day, wearing choir robes, and with sun and dust directly in our eyes.  Of course, we were outside, to enhance the moment and make us stage "hot and crazy."
    Over then next weeks, the video will be edited and, I hope, Photo-Shopped.  Of course, a link will be sent to you and posted on Facebook, so we can share our first 15 minutes of fame -- before we go viral, with all your help.

Indirectly, from Paulinda Schimmel, by way of Facebook:  If you happen to be in Los Angeles on April 26th, the Ovarian Cancer Circle -- inspired by Paulinda's late daughter Robin Babbini -- is sponsoring "A Night of Comedy and Charity" co-sponsored by The Comedy Store and the city of West Hollywood.  It stars "popular stand-up comedian and actor Larry Miller" and promises "a terrifc evening of fun, food, and a silent auction."  For more information, go to: theovariancancercircle . org  (Please delete the spaces.)
    The Ovarian Cancer Circle is a non-profit organization based in Los Angeles committed to creating an ever-expanding ring of networking, education, and support for women of all ages, their extended families, and their friends who are affected by ovarian cancer.  A recent fundraiser, Dance to the Decades, raised $8,000.

Also on Facebook, Barnet Kellman is mentioning a petition:  The Algonquin Hotel -- Don't Close the Oak Room.
    The history of the Oak Room at the Algonquin began in 1939, when it opened as a nightclub.  It went dark during World War II, but reopened in 1980.  For over three decades, the Oak Room has been home to many of the world's finest musical artists.  It is our history, our musical and literary history. 
    To read more about it and to sign petition, use any search engine with the words "Oak Room Petition." 
It takes no time to sign the petition, and so far, almost 2,000 people have.  Once you're done, please ask your friends to sign, too.  Thank you.

Finally, a note from my sister Marilyn Eisbrouch:  Just thought I'd let you know that a few weeks ago, my daughter Hally mentioned her memories of me reading the children's book Tal to her, and she asked to see it.  So I loaned it to her, with strict instructions to take care of it and return it.  But then, unbeknown to her, I checked Amazon, and was thrilled to get a copy for 25 cents, plus $3.99 postage.  It was hardcover, so the money was well worth it for each of us to have our own copy.  See, how the joy of reading goes around -- from your interest in Tal, to mine in fourth grade, to us all wanting our own copies.  Thanks, again!  I still think of some of the stories and love them.   

From me to my sister:  That's interesting, about Tal.  I was thinking to use a bit of it  as filler in the newsletter someday, but it really only affects about 60 people -- Ruth Sussman's second grade students in 1953 and 1954 -- if she read the book to the class before mine.  I think my year was her last year of teaching, and she must have been pregnant at the end of the school year.  Do you mind if I use your note in the newsletter, with a bit of Tal?  Some people might remember it and might like a copy of the book.

From Marilyn again:  Sure, and tell them I used to read it to Hally to help her fall asleep.  I also used to tell her an "adapted" version of one of the stories, where I called "the cloud" "Fluff-a-Puff" -- or something like it -- and extended the story over many versions.  I liked the story about the old king and immortality -- the shapes of snow - crescents, etc. -- and one about giants, which I read in college once for Oral Interp.  I have to read the book again now, because can't remember anything else.  But I do remember that I loved the story of Tal himself, the description of him, the black stone which he hid in, Noom-zor-Noom -- and his name! -- Millitinkle and the Alice in Wonderland type of pills that either made Tal too little or too big to get where he wanted to go  Also, the way he found his parents!  I also remember that I kept your copy of Tal so long, as an adult, that you finally sent for my own copy. 
    I actually bought two copies this time, since I've noticed that some favorite old books are going for $80-to-over-$100 now, if they're available at all.  So I grabbed a second copy for $3.57 plus the $3.99 postage.  I'll use that as for a gift.

And a bit from the beginning of Tal.  It was written by Paul Fenimore Cooper and originally copyrighted in 1929: 
    Far away on the other side of the sea there once was a village called Martoona.  It was built on a steep hillside at the foot of some high mountains.  Below the village was a wide, sandy beach -- then the sea.  All the houses in the village were white with red tile roofs, and the streets were steep and narrow and were paved with big cobblestones.  There was a marketplace where the people bought and sold; there was a blacksmith's shop, a tinker's shop, and an cobbler's shop.  But most of the men spent their time fishing, for the sea was full of the most wonderful fish.  And ships from all over the world came to Martoona to load with fish, for which the captains paid big prices.  So the people in the village made a good living and were happy.
    In Martoona there was a poor boy named Tal.  At least, that was the name the people in the village gave him.  He really did not have any name of his own because he had no father or mother, and no one knew where he came from.  Of course there were many stories about how he had come to Martoona.  Some said he had been left by the captain of a boat.  Some said that a bird had brought him.  And others said that he had been washed up on the beach in a cradle.  But all these were just stories -- that's all.  The truth is that one evening Tal was not there, and the next morning he was.  More than that no one really knew...

The South '65 e-mail addresses: reunionclass65 . blogspot . com

The South '65 photo site: picasaweb . google . com / SouthHS65

Again, please delete the spaces.


Rich