It is not flesh and blood but the heart which makes us fathers and sons. PDF
Preview It is not flesh and blood but the heart which makes us fathers and sons.
for residents of the jewish home of san francisco JUNE 2015 “It is not flesh and blood but the heart which makes us fathers and sons.” ~ Johann Schiller, poet, playwright, philosopher FATHER’S DAY, SUNDAY, JUNE 21 Enjoy music by Merav Singer during this extra-special cocktail hour. 2:00 p.m., F1 coffee bar CONTENTS JUNE 2015 2 8 MEMORIES HAPPENINGS AT HOME More tales of pup Petertje and Hansje, the kitten Outrageous fashion show Rudy Hooremans 11 A GOOD FRIEND, REGARDLESS OF AGE 3 DANNY Achieve student Natasha Alvarado reflects on Ellen Marks-Hinkle volunteering at the Jewish Home 4 12 HOW TO KEEP ON TRUCKIN’ ALONG OUT & ABOUT Bernice Hunold Doing the de Young 5 14 COME SHOP AT SERRAMONTE COUNCIL OF RESIDENTS Victor Mashbein, resident, May meeting minutes and Judy Tomsic, volunteer 15 IN MEMORY 5 INCONCLUSIVE TRAVEL PLANS 16 WIT & HUMOR Submitted by Edie Sadewitz Seeing the funny (Jewish) side of life 6 EPILOGUE TO HAVE A LITTLE FAITH: 17 RESIDENTS’ BIRTHDAYS A TRUE STORY BY MITCH ALBOM June celebrants Excerpt from Albom’s story of two clergymen, 18 both of whom left a significant mark on their BRAVO! communities Employees of the month ~ June 7 QUOTES TO LIVE BY Courtesy of Phyllis Wolf AT HOME contents are for the benefit of residents SUBMIT TO AT HOME! of the Jewish Home. At Home is based on the E-mail submissions by the 15th: tradition of free expression; submissions made Ilana Glaun: [email protected] by residents should be viewed as not necessarily HANDWRITTEN SUBMISSIONS to staff or representing the opinion, position or policies of switchboard by the 15th, or ask recreation staff the Home. for assistance. EDITING without approval of the author is a staff editor: Ilana Glaun reserved right, due to space and time constraints. designer: Michael Wickler Only content written or submitted by those connected with the Home will be accepted. 1 JEWISH HOME SAN FRANCISCO RESIDENTS WRITE MORE TALES OF PUP PETERTJE AND Rudy Hooremans HANSJE, THE KITTEN as he spotted us, he would bark, jump down, and race to the top of the stairs to greet us. ADAPTED FROM MEMORIES By Rudy Hooremans One day, Mevrouw Hofland was coming from Amersfoort to visit us. Tante To sent me out to One Saturday afternoon I called Petertje to buy a piece of beefsteak for dinner (meat was still go for a walk with me. I sure didn’t have to very scarce). While Tante To was in the kitchen, she temporarily laid the piece of meat on the counter call twice! I put on his leash and we were off. as she got out the frying pan. While her back was Soon we were out of the city of The Hague, turned, Hansje the cat jumped up, grabbed the walking in the triangular area between meat, and raced out. Tante shrieked, I came running, The Hague, Rotterdam and the Hoek Van and she told me what had happened. Hansje – Holland, where most of the Netherland’s knowing full well that he had done something vegetables were being grown in glass naughty – hid under Leo’s desk in the living room. hothouses. Since there was no automobile I couldn’t quite reach him, so when Tante came traffic, just some bicycles, I let Petertje off hobbling in I asked her for her cane and, with the his leash and he had a great time running hook, I dragged the cat out, the meat still firmly back and forth and investigating everything. clenched in his teeth. On the way back, when I passed a fish stand, I picked up a cod head for Tante To, While I held Hansje’s neck still, Tante pulled the something she had mentioned that she liked. meat out of his mouth. We cut off the small piece that had teeth marks in it and Tante fried When we finally returned home, around 5 o’clock, it. If Mevrouw Hofland had known about this Petertje slurped down a full bowl of water, then little misadventure, she would never have eaten plopped down and didn’t get up until the next the meat! morning. He was exhausted! Whenever Petertje needed a bath, I would heat Tante To was delighted with her fish head, which water in the kitchen, pour it into a little washtub, she boiled, and then picked and ate every last piece put on a grey work coat, and go looking for the of flesh from the bones. dog. As soon as he caught sight of me in the coat, Petertje knew what was going to happen and he’d Every day, when the time came near to when either hide under Leo’s bed – of course to no avail. cousin Leo and I were about to come home from work, Petertje would jump onto the benchseat in Read more of Rudy’s memories in the next issue the bay window and look down the street. As soon of At Home. 2 AT HOME JUNE 2015 Ellen Marks-Hinkle DANNY By Ellen Marks-Hinkle Danny has been such a wonderful, thoughtful and loving son He works so hard, as does his older sister Caroline They both have a work ethic that they’ve developed on their own (Of course they’ve had family members to watch, whose good qualities have shone) Danny has his serious side, but he’s always a ton of laughter and fun He’s been making me laugh so hard – even when he was a little boy Even the way he played with his toys (He mostly had Tonka trucks and before he went to sleep He lined up his trucks under his crib) Then it was time for dinner and one very large bib! Both Caroline and Danny have helped me through my times of strife And have taught me how to live and understand the lighter side of life I’m going to spend my birthday and Mother’s Day at Danny’s house When I’m at Danny and Steff’s, my son creeps up behind me Then surprises me by giving me a squeeze And I squeal like a mouse As if I’ve been captured – lovingly – inside their house My son, you’ve succeeded in all areas of your life You’re hard-working, you’ve found Stephanie, the true love of your life So now, Please stand up and take a bow! ~Love forever, Mom. 3 JEWISH HOME SAN FRANCISCO RESIDENTS WRITE Bernice Hunold Photo by Ray Hunold I haven’t mentioned the green room, where you HOW TO KEEP ON wait surrounded by brightly dressed, laughing TRUCKIN’ ALONG performers helping themselves to fresh fruit and veggies, and rounds of bread spread with By Bernice Hunold delectable mysteries. There were only healthy things to eat there, but the audience (God bless ’em) All you have to do is to get the San had wonderful cakes, too. Francisco Jewish Community Center (JCC) Best of all in the green room was a screen on which to put you on stage in a talent show. you could watch and hear all performers. I have seen the JCC’s beautiful building from various viewpoints. I have been in their audience, and that’s After the show I went to greet anyone who had fine. However, the really fabulous place to be is in come at my invitation. There were only four front of the audience on that big, grand stage. Wow! people I spotted, and one rushed toward me with a gift of brownies from the table. He knew that It’s been many long years since I performed as a was my favorite food. Another greeted me with storyteller. Oh, I’ve told stories to people here, but amazement, telling me how good I was, since she sometimes the audience seems to have other things had never heard me outside the Jewish Home. I on their mind. Storytelling is a two-way street. You didn’t spot anyone else in the mad dash for the tell; the audience responds. You sort of warm up, bus that the Jewish Home had hired for us, and in “rocking” back and forth with the audience until you which the other performers from the Home were reach the point of talking as if they were across the waiting. There was Nina Vayn, the Russian singer, dinner table from you. They laugh with you, they her accordion accompanist, good, reliable, talented cry with you. They feel with you. That’s the two-way Olga Lavault (recreation therapist at the Home), and street of storytelling. on-call Activities staff member Zinaida Markenzon, who was a gracious translator from Russian The experience brings you back to life, and you are to English. thanking the JCC for this joy. Here’s to the JCC! 4 AT HOME JUNE 2015 Victor Mashbein Edie Sadewitz COME SHOP AT INCONCLUSIVE SERRAMONTE TRAVEL PLANS By Victor Mashbein, resident, Submitted by Edie Sadewitz and Judy Tomsic, volunteer I have been in many places, but I’ve The third Monday of every month, the never been in Cahoots. Apparently, Jewish Home van heads off to a shopping you can’t go alone. You have to center just a short drive away. Christian, be in Cahoots with someone. the friendly and expert driver, can I’ve also never been in Cognito. I hear no one safely take three wheelchairs and three recognizes you there. ambulatory residents, plus volunteers. I have, however, been in Sane. They don’t have an What can you do at Serramonte Shopping airport, you have to be driven there. I have made Center? You can buy a gift for your children or several trips there, thanks to my partner, work, and grandchildren, purchase some perfume to attract politicians who affect my life. a sweetie, enjoy food or just a cup of coffee at the food court, interact with other shoppers, and I would like to go to Conclusions, but you have view beautiful window displays. The possibilities to jump, and I’m not too much on physical are endless, and there’s bound to be something activity anymore. that catches your eye – whether you’re a man or a woman. I have also been in Doubt. That is a sad place to go, and I try not to visit there too often. Residents who have participated in these shopping outings recommend that you take a break from your I’ve been in Flexible, but only when it was very usual routine and spend one morning a month at important to stand firm. Serramonte Shopping Center. The Target store alone will likely meet most of your needs, with aisle after Sometimes I’m in Capable, and I go there more aisle of necessities and treats. often as I’m getting older. So sign up with Suzy Scragg, resident programs One of my favorite places to be is in Suspense. It coordinator, and find yourself having a good really gets the adrenalin flowing and pumps up the time out! old heart. At my age I need all the stimuli I can get! 5 JEWISH HOME SAN FRANCISCO Editor’s note: Below is the epilogue to “Have a Little Faith: A True Story” by Mitch Albom. In this work, we meet two clergymen – Rabbi Albert Lewis (“The Reb”), who was hired to be the rabbi in Albom’s hometown synagogue straight from the seminary and where he stayed for the rest of his career, and Henry Covington, a reformed drug addict and criminal who is now the pastor at I Am My Brother’s Keeper church. Both these individuals left a significant mark on their communities. EPILOGUE One last memory. This was not long before the Reb passed away. He was talking about heaven and suddenly, for some reason, I had a notion. What if you only get five minutes with God? Okay, I said. That still leaves you a minute. “Five minutes?” he said. “All right. In that final minute, I would say, ‘Look, Lord, I’ve done X amount of good stuff on earth. I have “Five minutes,” I said. God is a busy God. Here’s your tried to follow your teachings and to pass them on. I slice of heaven. Five minutes alone with the Lord have loved my family. I’ve been part of a community. and then, poof, on you go to whatever happens And I have been, I think, fairly good to people. next. “‘So, Heavenly Father, for all this, what is my reward?” “And in those five minutes?” he asked, intrigued. And what do you think God will say? In those five minutes, you can ask anything you want. He smiled. “Ah. Okay” “He’ll say, ‘Reward? What reward? That’s what you were supposed to do!’” He pushed back into the chair, as if consulting the air around him. I laughed and he laughed, and he bounced his palms on his thighs and our noise filled the house. “First I would say, ‘Do me a favor, God in heaven, And I think, at that moment, we could have been if you can, members of my family who need help, anywhere, anybody, any culture, any faith – a please show them the way on earth. Guide them teacher and a student exploring what life is all a little.’” about and delighting in the discovery. Okay, that’s a minute. In the beginning, there was a question. In the end, the question gets answered. God sings, we hum “The next three minutes, I’d say, ‘Lord, give these to along, and there are many melodies, but it’s all one someone who’s suffering and requires your love song – one same, wonderful, human song. and counseling.’” I am in love with hope. You’d give up three minutes? “If someone truly needs it, yes.” 6 AT HOME JUNE 2015 Phyllis Wolf QUOTES TO LIVE BY Courtesy of Phyllis Wolf “Love is the soul’s light.” – Rumi, 13th century mystic poet Make a point of coming by for Masquerade’s beautiful – and bargain – $5.00 jewelry and accessory sale “Great minds WHEN: Monday and Tuesday, June 15 and 16; discuss ideas. 8:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. Average minds WHERE: Goodman Building Lobby discuss events. Small minds WHY: Reason #1 – All proceeds from the sale discuss people.” benefit residents’ programs and services. – Eleanor Roosevelt Reason #2 – Everyone should treat themselves, or a loved one, or a dear friend to a lovely adornment or to something fine to accessorize that favorite outfit. “Learn as if you’ll live forever.” – Mahatma Gandhi 7 JEWISH HOME SAN FRANCISCO HAPPENINGS AT HOME OUTRAGEOUS FASHION SHOW What makes for an outrageous fashion show? First, there needs to be a suitable (or, given the spirit of the event, should that be unsuitable?) occasion. And that would be celebrating National Nursing Home Week. Next, the enthusiasm, zest for life, fun- loving spirit of residents, staff, volunteers, patients, and family members to take part, and, of course, the costuming of the “models.” All the above were present and in place on May 12, when the lobby of the Goodman Building showcased showstoppers who had raided their closets or picked through the prop box to deck themselves in outfits outrageous or outre, in good taste and questionable! Debbie Dressler, her daughter Jane, and Let’s hear it for the Vs! That’s V for Mark Vinogradsky, four-legged friend sashay down the runway. recreation coordinator, and V for Nina Vayn. Their pairing? A summer’s day in China, naturally. 8 AT HOME JUNE 2015
Description:The list of books you might like
