July 7, 2009
This week was a little different, because Dani is leaving for Washington D.C. tomorrow. She is starting her job in a few weeks, and needs time to get organized in her new apartment. So, we planned to meet grandma and grandpa for lunch today. Dani chose Di Pescaro, and then Anat and Sevonne joined us too, which made it into a party.
I thought Dani already had her security clearance for the Department of Transportation and Security, which is her first client from Deloitte, but she explained to us that she had finished filling the lengthy forms but won’t hear back from them for a while. The G’s came late, so Sevonne waited until they arrive to tell stories about the Hindi/Philippine wedding she attended in Michigan this past weekend. She had a beautiful sari made, and all the friends wore them, but they needed help in tying them in the special way. Her hand was still painted in swirls from the Henna ceremony, which she absolutely loved. She said the food was amazing, and there were four parties, each with a different theme and for a different purpose. The one thing Sevonne did not enjoy was the two hours of speeches at the actual wedding.
We talked about our custom of doing those long speeches and toasts at the rehearsal dinner. Dani commented that we probably talk about weddings more than most families, even though no one even has a boyfriend. I thought it was good to talk about, so that everyone is clear about expectations and even has an understanding about what is good or bad about the different ways of putting on these events. Becky brought up the idea of a destination wedding in good old Colorado Springs, an idea Grandma did not like.
Gabie was with us for lunch, and hardly spoke, except that when Grandpa told him he should come to the Banner Family Council meeting, he immediately said that he had plans to go to Nickel City. We all laughed a lot throughout the meal, and I started feeling sad that these days of hanging out with all three of my children are no longer going to be easy to arrange now that Dani is moving to D.C.
Today was the family council meeting, at Pete Miller’s in Wheeling. David was in charge of organizing it, and he had already sent out an agenda and a worksheet for the kids to fill out with ideas about their own values and what values we as a family should hold. Just when we were about to leave for the lunch meeting, Gabie asked for a ride to Northbrook Court to meet his friends and go to a movie. Later in the day, the Cohen girls expressed surprise that I allowed it, because their mother never let them hang out at a mall. I said that was funny because I’m pretty sure I remember Janet spending a lot of time with different groups of girls hanging out at Old Orchard.
So, we started with imitations; whoever did the best imitation of a family member got a prize. Anat had a few not friendly-spirited imitations of Janet and me, but Matt won with a brilliant monologue in which he slipped from one person to the next, ending with an impression of Joe, who often puts his head down on the table and goes to sleep at family events. He won the Starbucks gift card that Emily tried to steal as they were leaving.
David had everyone talk about our values as a family, and divided us into groups to remember incidents that displayed values we want to emphasize. First though, he sent Grandma and Grandpa home, because our family business consultant, Joe Atrachan, who has very white teeth in his faculty picture, told us that this is the best way to have a meeting. Grandma was not happy with the arrangement and had to be told several times that it was Joe’s idea, not David’s. In any case, they ended up having to leave because Grandma had an appointment.
In talking about the second generation, and how the younger cousins don’t really feel a part of everything, Cindy suggested that the big cousins call the little ones on occasion. The big cousins have these cousins’ dinners, and Sevonne spoke for the group in saying that it has been a huge bonding experience and that all their friends are jealous about all the fun the cousins have together.
We talked about the idea of the next council meeting, should we have another family vacation, should it be a lunch? David appointed different people to research things like where our charitable donations should go, where we should next meet and other family oriented questions.
Once again, there was a lot of laughter, and a lot of good eating (although they didn’t love the restaurant as much as others).
Tuesday, July 7, 2009
Thursday, June 4, 2009
June 3, 2009
It’s the day before Sevonne’s 27th birthday, and she is leaving for a couple weeks of fun in California. Becky and Sevonne talked about the trip, and who she’s going to visit, all in Orange County. Grandma kept asking her questions about things in LA, and Sevonne kept saying that she’s not going to LA, but Grandma couldn’t understand someone going to LA, right next to LA, and not going to LA. Sevonne explained that she was visiting several different friends who were all in Orange County.
Sevonne will be back on June 16, and we talked about doing a Shabbat dinner that Friday. Anyway, Sevonne chose Hole in the Wall, so I got several emails from family members worried about getting a table, worried about waiting etc…but Sevonne offered to go early and arrange the table, which is what happened. You know who you are; now that I’m organizing a law center, I can certainly organize a family lunch!
Matt told us that he is searching for a replacement car, and found a2002 Audi A4 with 35,000 miles; I think that’s one of the cars Dani likes. He asked about selling the Mustang to Emily, but Milton made it clear that she has not gotten the expected grades, and they won’t be helping her buy the car or pay for insurance. At our end of the table we all felt bad for Emily, because she is so smart and could be getting wonderful grades. We joked about finding a good mentor who might be able to motivate her. Meanwhile she finished finals and thought she did okay. Her boyfriend Grant came along to lunch, but as usual we didn’t hear a word from him (not his fault this time since they were at the other end of the table).
Matt told us about taking handicapped people sailing this summer, and how he just bought a new super-sonic life vest (Marty understood the nuances but the rest of us just nodded politely). He also told a funny story about wanting to date Jen Lev, who is about 3 years older than him, and how she did a shoulder move that he demonstrated to all of us. We laughed that she is out of his league.
Ibby told a story about running into the Levs when they were in Italy, and how actually they ran into two Glencoe families, which is pretty funny. Ibby’s stories led to remembrances of other ‘running into people in different locations’ stories.
David came since it was Sevonne’s birthday celebration, and went for a while to the other end of the table to chat with Milton and Emily. Matt assured the table that he was indeed going to take Gabe, Joe, and Sam to a day of paintballing, and this time he is going to give us enough notice. Marty said, “You mean this time you might call us at 11:00?” Last week he called at noon to go right then!
Marty told us that Joe has decided to transfer to Elm Place; he has a couple of friends also transferring from Schechter. Some of us had hoped he would stay through middle school, but as Marty said, it was Joe’s decision.
Somehow we got onto a discussion of stupid criminals; because Matt asked if Gabie still has his bb gun. I told a story I’d read in the paper about a nanny who used a bb gun to stop a robber and make him wait until police came. The best story was about the robber who got locked in the garage and had to eat dog food but couldn’t get out. He was arrested for home invasion, but then he sued the family because there wasn’t a way for him to get out of their garage. And he won!
Sevonne emailed everyone today: Thank you everyone for making lunch so fun! Can't tell you how good it feels to have you celebrating life... I'm sure you know :) Missed those who couldn't be there. Love you!!!
It’s the day before Sevonne’s 27th birthday, and she is leaving for a couple weeks of fun in California. Becky and Sevonne talked about the trip, and who she’s going to visit, all in Orange County. Grandma kept asking her questions about things in LA, and Sevonne kept saying that she’s not going to LA, but Grandma couldn’t understand someone going to LA, right next to LA, and not going to LA. Sevonne explained that she was visiting several different friends who were all in Orange County.
Sevonne will be back on June 16, and we talked about doing a Shabbat dinner that Friday. Anyway, Sevonne chose Hole in the Wall, so I got several emails from family members worried about getting a table, worried about waiting etc…but Sevonne offered to go early and arrange the table, which is what happened. You know who you are; now that I’m organizing a law center, I can certainly organize a family lunch!
Matt told us that he is searching for a replacement car, and found a2002 Audi A4 with 35,000 miles; I think that’s one of the cars Dani likes. He asked about selling the Mustang to Emily, but Milton made it clear that she has not gotten the expected grades, and they won’t be helping her buy the car or pay for insurance. At our end of the table we all felt bad for Emily, because she is so smart and could be getting wonderful grades. We joked about finding a good mentor who might be able to motivate her. Meanwhile she finished finals and thought she did okay. Her boyfriend Grant came along to lunch, but as usual we didn’t hear a word from him (not his fault this time since they were at the other end of the table).
Matt told us about taking handicapped people sailing this summer, and how he just bought a new super-sonic life vest (Marty understood the nuances but the rest of us just nodded politely). He also told a funny story about wanting to date Jen Lev, who is about 3 years older than him, and how she did a shoulder move that he demonstrated to all of us. We laughed that she is out of his league.
Ibby told a story about running into the Levs when they were in Italy, and how actually they ran into two Glencoe families, which is pretty funny. Ibby’s stories led to remembrances of other ‘running into people in different locations’ stories.
David came since it was Sevonne’s birthday celebration, and went for a while to the other end of the table to chat with Milton and Emily. Matt assured the table that he was indeed going to take Gabe, Joe, and Sam to a day of paintballing, and this time he is going to give us enough notice. Marty said, “You mean this time you might call us at 11:00?” Last week he called at noon to go right then!
Marty told us that Joe has decided to transfer to Elm Place; he has a couple of friends also transferring from Schechter. Some of us had hoped he would stay through middle school, but as Marty said, it was Joe’s decision.
Somehow we got onto a discussion of stupid criminals; because Matt asked if Gabie still has his bb gun. I told a story I’d read in the paper about a nanny who used a bb gun to stop a robber and make him wait until police came. The best story was about the robber who got locked in the garage and had to eat dog food but couldn’t get out. He was arrested for home invasion, but then he sued the family because there wasn’t a way for him to get out of their garage. And he won!
Sevonne emailed everyone today: Thank you everyone for making lunch so fun! Can't tell you how good it feels to have you celebrating life... I'm sure you know :) Missed those who couldn't be there. Love you!!!
Thursday, May 14, 2009
Lunch will have more sizzle when Anat finishes her semester.
May 6, 2009
Malka Weiss (Uri and Nate’s mom, from Cleveland) joined us today; this was her first visit to Chicago since Asher died. She is such a lovely person, and I hope she enjoyed chatting with all of us at Max and Benny’s. She told us a bit about what’s happening with the Weiss girls; they all came home during her visit, and the twins are going traveling through Europe. Jessie is going back to NYC to get back to auditioning.
Sevonne jumped into telling about Jamie and Andrew; they bought a magnificent condo in Bucktown about which she waxed rhapsodic for awhile. High ceilings, three bedrooms, giant porch, gorgeous, etc…Andrew is back working for his father, Jamie still doesn’t have a job. Jonathan has been working in real estate with his dad’s firm, and we didn’t talk about Michael except to acknowledge that he’s getting married.
Milt asked Sevonne about Zach; he told Ibby that they’re going through a rough patch, but Sevonne says she told him it was over. She repeated my vision of her slumping at a desk when she’s at Tel Aviv U next year, and suddenly seeing a cute guy, so she sits up straight. Then she gets into a relationship with him, but there are hurdles to overcome.
Malka and Grandma were talking about the old county, and it turns out that Malka can’t remember the name of the concentration camp her father was in. Grandma said that some of the other cousins have also forgotten such things. Grandma and Grandpa saw an old guy from the next table whom they knew, but they couldn’t remember his name, until Grandma got it. He had been friends with Bob Pohn, Grandpa’s childhood friend. They’re probably around the same age, but that table of old guys looked like they were in their 90’s, and made Grandpa and Grandma look much younger.
Milton informed us that Ibby’s grandmother, GGMa, who was 104, died in her sleep on Thursday. He said, “She had 102 good years.” We all expressed surprise, and Malka asked, why are you surprised? We replied that we thought she’d live forever.
Milton also told us about their college visit to Indiana for Emily. She loved it, and they agreed that it is beautiful down there. Emily wants someplace warmer than Chicago (it’s about 10 degrees warmer; when David and I were there we were absolutely delighted to wear light sweaters even though it was still freezing in Chicago). Indiana is her first choice, and then he told us some of her safety schools, plus she talks about Miami of Ohio, but Milton thinks that’s just to please Ibby. Mom asked about Illinois, and Milt said she can’t get in; when she hasn’t liked a teacher, she has stopped working in that class, and so she doesn’t have a stellar grade point average.
Sevonne told us that she has a lot of work with her computer today, and tomorrow morning she is going to a JNF breakfast. Marty’s friend is chair of the event, and Sevonne tried to convince Marty to join her at the breakfast; Mark Spitz is speaking. We tried to remember if he was or wasn’t the first Jewish swimmer to win the gold medal. Someone remarked that he set records only now broken by Olympic medalist Michael Phelps.
I explained that I can’t go to the breakfast because tomorrow I’m taking the 4:30pm train downtown. We have a lecture by one of David’s brilliant professors downtown, which we’re leaving early to take a cab down to the Ritz Carlton where we are joining our friends James and Aviva at a dinner honoring the outgoing president of Hebrew University.
It’s a tough night for us to go out since we’re leaving early Friday morning to go to Dani’s graduation in Washington D.C. I told everyone that we plan to go to one of the museums on Friday, and then we all go out to dinner(Raphi will be there, along with his nephew, and the nephew’s wife and baby). The ceremony takes place Saturday morning (Marty asked me if we planned to go to shul afterwards), followed by a reception. That afternoon we’ll all congregate at Dani’s house; she and her roomies have organized a catered dinner for all the families. Becky flies in at about 5:30 and will take a cab to the house, so we’ll all be together (including their father). Sunday morning Dani has arranged a brunch, after which we’ll have almost all day until our flight…maybe we’ll try to come home earlier if it’s raining as forecast.
Janet reminded the boys what they’re all giving Dani for her graduation. Sevonne remembered a pile of cash that she used for months and months afterwards, always feeling like it was free money. We are helping Dani buy a new car, and we’re giving her the beginnings of a graduate school fund that we saved over the years. From now on, we’re saving for her wedding.
Marty ordered three desserts, and they were all way better than expected, because I really dislike this restaurant and hope we don’t return (except for the desserts). I had the veggie burger, and it was just nothing; last time I couldn’t eat the omelet it was so awful. Marty had ordered a key lime pie, but a guy from the kitchen came out with instructions written on a dollar bill, and told us they were out of it. Marty ordered cherry pie instead, but Grandpa had to confirm his chocolate cake was still coming. The guy was clearly challenged, and of course an extra piece of cake was delivered.
May 13, 2009
Gabie was home because he missed the seventh grade Washington trip. We were actually already in Washington for Dani’s graduation this past weekend, so it didn’t make sense for him to go. We are having a lovely week of hanging out and doing nothing much. Gabie wanted to meet at Kamahachi, but because it’s Milton’s 50th birthday, he got to choose.
So, we met again at Bravo in the Glen, and Matt had just come home from college, Sevonne was there, and everyone else. Matt spent a lot of time kind of wrestling with Gabie, but he also took a few minutes now and again to massage my neck with his iron hands. There was a lot of talk about cars, and he isn’t sure about his summer plans, so I told him he can spend some time with Becky.
Grandpa was sitting across from both boys, and Marty was there also, but he left early with plans to pick up lots of Homer ice cream to celebrate at the office. Grandpa told the boys about a Nature channel show he’d seen that he very much liked, about renewable forms of energy. Gabie likes that sort of thing so he was actually engaged in the discussion.
Milt and Ibby told us a little about their weekend away, and all the plans for celebrating, that do not include a party. They’re having these gatherings, and we’re all getting together for a barbeque on Sunday night, and then they’re going with another couple to Oregon in a few weeks. They told a story about being on vacation somewhere west and it was warm and nice when suddenly the temperature fell 40 degrees and a storm was in full swing. They went back to the hotel and cuddled, but when they called home, Mom and Dad were at the beach with the kids. I was very sad that the restaurant didn’t do anything except put out a card; I’d asked for something with a candle, and they just forgot. I told the manager that we weren’t coming back to celebrate anything. But we unusually did not order any desserts since Marty was getting all that Homer’s ice cream for the office
Malka Weiss (Uri and Nate’s mom, from Cleveland) joined us today; this was her first visit to Chicago since Asher died. She is such a lovely person, and I hope she enjoyed chatting with all of us at Max and Benny’s. She told us a bit about what’s happening with the Weiss girls; they all came home during her visit, and the twins are going traveling through Europe. Jessie is going back to NYC to get back to auditioning.
Sevonne jumped into telling about Jamie and Andrew; they bought a magnificent condo in Bucktown about which she waxed rhapsodic for awhile. High ceilings, three bedrooms, giant porch, gorgeous, etc…Andrew is back working for his father, Jamie still doesn’t have a job. Jonathan has been working in real estate with his dad’s firm, and we didn’t talk about Michael except to acknowledge that he’s getting married.
Milt asked Sevonne about Zach; he told Ibby that they’re going through a rough patch, but Sevonne says she told him it was over. She repeated my vision of her slumping at a desk when she’s at Tel Aviv U next year, and suddenly seeing a cute guy, so she sits up straight. Then she gets into a relationship with him, but there are hurdles to overcome.
Malka and Grandma were talking about the old county, and it turns out that Malka can’t remember the name of the concentration camp her father was in. Grandma said that some of the other cousins have also forgotten such things. Grandma and Grandpa saw an old guy from the next table whom they knew, but they couldn’t remember his name, until Grandma got it. He had been friends with Bob Pohn, Grandpa’s childhood friend. They’re probably around the same age, but that table of old guys looked like they were in their 90’s, and made Grandpa and Grandma look much younger.
Milton informed us that Ibby’s grandmother, GGMa, who was 104, died in her sleep on Thursday. He said, “She had 102 good years.” We all expressed surprise, and Malka asked, why are you surprised? We replied that we thought she’d live forever.
Milton also told us about their college visit to Indiana for Emily. She loved it, and they agreed that it is beautiful down there. Emily wants someplace warmer than Chicago (it’s about 10 degrees warmer; when David and I were there we were absolutely delighted to wear light sweaters even though it was still freezing in Chicago). Indiana is her first choice, and then he told us some of her safety schools, plus she talks about Miami of Ohio, but Milton thinks that’s just to please Ibby. Mom asked about Illinois, and Milt said she can’t get in; when she hasn’t liked a teacher, she has stopped working in that class, and so she doesn’t have a stellar grade point average.
Sevonne told us that she has a lot of work with her computer today, and tomorrow morning she is going to a JNF breakfast. Marty’s friend is chair of the event, and Sevonne tried to convince Marty to join her at the breakfast; Mark Spitz is speaking. We tried to remember if he was or wasn’t the first Jewish swimmer to win the gold medal. Someone remarked that he set records only now broken by Olympic medalist Michael Phelps.
I explained that I can’t go to the breakfast because tomorrow I’m taking the 4:30pm train downtown. We have a lecture by one of David’s brilliant professors downtown, which we’re leaving early to take a cab down to the Ritz Carlton where we are joining our friends James and Aviva at a dinner honoring the outgoing president of Hebrew University.
It’s a tough night for us to go out since we’re leaving early Friday morning to go to Dani’s graduation in Washington D.C. I told everyone that we plan to go to one of the museums on Friday, and then we all go out to dinner(Raphi will be there, along with his nephew, and the nephew’s wife and baby). The ceremony takes place Saturday morning (Marty asked me if we planned to go to shul afterwards), followed by a reception. That afternoon we’ll all congregate at Dani’s house; she and her roomies have organized a catered dinner for all the families. Becky flies in at about 5:30 and will take a cab to the house, so we’ll all be together (including their father). Sunday morning Dani has arranged a brunch, after which we’ll have almost all day until our flight…maybe we’ll try to come home earlier if it’s raining as forecast.
Janet reminded the boys what they’re all giving Dani for her graduation. Sevonne remembered a pile of cash that she used for months and months afterwards, always feeling like it was free money. We are helping Dani buy a new car, and we’re giving her the beginnings of a graduate school fund that we saved over the years. From now on, we’re saving for her wedding.
Marty ordered three desserts, and they were all way better than expected, because I really dislike this restaurant and hope we don’t return (except for the desserts). I had the veggie burger, and it was just nothing; last time I couldn’t eat the omelet it was so awful. Marty had ordered a key lime pie, but a guy from the kitchen came out with instructions written on a dollar bill, and told us they were out of it. Marty ordered cherry pie instead, but Grandpa had to confirm his chocolate cake was still coming. The guy was clearly challenged, and of course an extra piece of cake was delivered.
May 13, 2009
Gabie was home because he missed the seventh grade Washington trip. We were actually already in Washington for Dani’s graduation this past weekend, so it didn’t make sense for him to go. We are having a lovely week of hanging out and doing nothing much. Gabie wanted to meet at Kamahachi, but because it’s Milton’s 50th birthday, he got to choose.
So, we met again at Bravo in the Glen, and Matt had just come home from college, Sevonne was there, and everyone else. Matt spent a lot of time kind of wrestling with Gabie, but he also took a few minutes now and again to massage my neck with his iron hands. There was a lot of talk about cars, and he isn’t sure about his summer plans, so I told him he can spend some time with Becky.
Grandpa was sitting across from both boys, and Marty was there also, but he left early with plans to pick up lots of Homer ice cream to celebrate at the office. Grandpa told the boys about a Nature channel show he’d seen that he very much liked, about renewable forms of energy. Gabie likes that sort of thing so he was actually engaged in the discussion.
Milt and Ibby told us a little about their weekend away, and all the plans for celebrating, that do not include a party. They’re having these gatherings, and we’re all getting together for a barbeque on Sunday night, and then they’re going with another couple to Oregon in a few weeks. They told a story about being on vacation somewhere west and it was warm and nice when suddenly the temperature fell 40 degrees and a storm was in full swing. They went back to the hotel and cuddled, but when they called home, Mom and Dad were at the beach with the kids. I was very sad that the restaurant didn’t do anything except put out a card; I’d asked for something with a candle, and they just forgot. I told the manager that we weren’t coming back to celebrate anything. But we unusually did not order any desserts since Marty was getting all that Homer’s ice cream for the office
Thursday, April 2, 2009
Final Break Up
April 2, 2009
We made a plan to meet at a new Thai place, but then just before lunch Sevonne told me that she would keep us company but wasn’t planning to eat that food. So I contacted everyone and we went, as is becoming usual, to EggShell on Lake-Cook.
Right away, we started discussing Sevonne’s recent and what she calls final breakup with the man Ibby had fixed her up with. We all liked him, and they’d already broken up but got back together. He is now in Connecticut doing a residency, and Sevonne wondered why she didn’t want to spend more time out there, but it became clear that even if she waits for him to come back to Chicago in five years, he might never be the partner she wanted. He didn’t give her the solid support she wants in a partner.
We talked about how hard it is; we all know single people who are struggling to find the right one. Sevonne refuses to try J-date; she wants to meet someone in a more romantic way, not by computer. And all of us sat around the table thinking how beautiful Sevonne is, and how surprising it is that she hasn’t been swept off her feet already. She informed us that she might do her MBA at Tel Aviv University, where she’s been offered a generous scholarship. It’s a pilot program, so there will be some cachet for being in the first group to get the degree. She doesn’t think she’ll make the best connections for business, but she’ll have a wonderful time, and it’s not far from the beach!
Milton told us about the surgery he’s going to have next Friday: it’s towards his neck, and he thinks he caused it by having the computer screen in a position that forced him to keep his head pushed forward for long periods of time. I’m writing this on the couch with my head resting back against the pillows and my computer on my knees. No chance of hurting myself, but I do feel sleepy a lot while writing.
David said that Milton is hoping to fly to a board meeting just 10 days after his surgery. I told him that it was really iffy…that he should give himself more time to recover. Milton said that in any case it depends on Sheldon Cohen, the board member who just found out that he has prostate cancer. They know that with chemo and treatment there is now a 98% recovery rate for that, but he has to figure out the right treatment. So the meeting isn’t definite. David hopes it’s moved because he has his final French exam that night after the meeting, and he’d have to fly back from Atlanta or wherever it’s being held.
We were all happy to have Ibby with us; she tells us that Matt might work at Grossinger’s Auto Dealership this summer. He loves cars; Milt told a story about him recognizing almost an entire parking lot of cars from a window up above. I mentioned that the only thing he doesn’t recognize is the color of the car, and then we discussed color blindness. Mom says she realized that Milton was color blind when he came home in a pink shirt, but when she asked why he bought it, he answered that it was gray. Milton says he realized he was color blind when we argued about the color of the balloons in our kitchen wallpaper.
What balloons? Janet never remembers anything about our childhood, and I definitely know there weren’t balloons in that kitchen on Knox. Mom confirmed, but Milton still remembers the story that way. Ibby said that her grandmother and mother were both confused about color, and told a story in which they all saw the same tile as a different color, but only she was right, according to the back of the tile.
Marty told us that he and Cindy are applying Janet and my advice to Sarah; just like we did with our girls, they are letting her know about the kind of freedom she will have if she gets A’s. They also told her about what kind of surveillance she’ll be under if she does not get the grades. Mom said she thinks they are being wonderful parents, especially because of how they let each kid choose the paint color for their room. Marty told a funny story about Joey choosing black, but then agreeing to a gray. They told him it looks like a prison cell, and now that’s what he calls his bedroom.
They’re still not sure about Schechter for next year, but Janet and I didn’t have time to do the high pressure spiel about how valuable it will be, about how our girls all got into honors classes in high school etc. Marty did share that one of their friends’ daughters, graduating from Schechter, got into the Academy at Glenbrook North, which is very prestigious and accepts only students with great language skills and at least one extra language.
We all confirmed the time (6:00PM) for both seders next week; Mom’s on Wednesday and our house on Thursday. We won’t be able to meet for lunch until the third week, because it will still be Pesach. Then if we meet at Eggshell, pancakes and omelettes will taste wonderful.
We made a plan to meet at a new Thai place, but then just before lunch Sevonne told me that she would keep us company but wasn’t planning to eat that food. So I contacted everyone and we went, as is becoming usual, to EggShell on Lake-Cook.
Right away, we started discussing Sevonne’s recent and what she calls final breakup with the man Ibby had fixed her up with. We all liked him, and they’d already broken up but got back together. He is now in Connecticut doing a residency, and Sevonne wondered why she didn’t want to spend more time out there, but it became clear that even if she waits for him to come back to Chicago in five years, he might never be the partner she wanted. He didn’t give her the solid support she wants in a partner.
We talked about how hard it is; we all know single people who are struggling to find the right one. Sevonne refuses to try J-date; she wants to meet someone in a more romantic way, not by computer. And all of us sat around the table thinking how beautiful Sevonne is, and how surprising it is that she hasn’t been swept off her feet already. She informed us that she might do her MBA at Tel Aviv University, where she’s been offered a generous scholarship. It’s a pilot program, so there will be some cachet for being in the first group to get the degree. She doesn’t think she’ll make the best connections for business, but she’ll have a wonderful time, and it’s not far from the beach!
Milton told us about the surgery he’s going to have next Friday: it’s towards his neck, and he thinks he caused it by having the computer screen in a position that forced him to keep his head pushed forward for long periods of time. I’m writing this on the couch with my head resting back against the pillows and my computer on my knees. No chance of hurting myself, but I do feel sleepy a lot while writing.
David said that Milton is hoping to fly to a board meeting just 10 days after his surgery. I told him that it was really iffy…that he should give himself more time to recover. Milton said that in any case it depends on Sheldon Cohen, the board member who just found out that he has prostate cancer. They know that with chemo and treatment there is now a 98% recovery rate for that, but he has to figure out the right treatment. So the meeting isn’t definite. David hopes it’s moved because he has his final French exam that night after the meeting, and he’d have to fly back from Atlanta or wherever it’s being held.
We were all happy to have Ibby with us; she tells us that Matt might work at Grossinger’s Auto Dealership this summer. He loves cars; Milt told a story about him recognizing almost an entire parking lot of cars from a window up above. I mentioned that the only thing he doesn’t recognize is the color of the car, and then we discussed color blindness. Mom says she realized that Milton was color blind when he came home in a pink shirt, but when she asked why he bought it, he answered that it was gray. Milton says he realized he was color blind when we argued about the color of the balloons in our kitchen wallpaper.
What balloons? Janet never remembers anything about our childhood, and I definitely know there weren’t balloons in that kitchen on Knox. Mom confirmed, but Milton still remembers the story that way. Ibby said that her grandmother and mother were both confused about color, and told a story in which they all saw the same tile as a different color, but only she was right, according to the back of the tile.
Marty told us that he and Cindy are applying Janet and my advice to Sarah; just like we did with our girls, they are letting her know about the kind of freedom she will have if she gets A’s. They also told her about what kind of surveillance she’ll be under if she does not get the grades. Mom said she thinks they are being wonderful parents, especially because of how they let each kid choose the paint color for their room. Marty told a funny story about Joey choosing black, but then agreeing to a gray. They told him it looks like a prison cell, and now that’s what he calls his bedroom.
They’re still not sure about Schechter for next year, but Janet and I didn’t have time to do the high pressure spiel about how valuable it will be, about how our girls all got into honors classes in high school etc. Marty did share that one of their friends’ daughters, graduating from Schechter, got into the Academy at Glenbrook North, which is very prestigious and accepts only students with great language skills and at least one extra language.
We all confirmed the time (6:00PM) for both seders next week; Mom’s on Wednesday and our house on Thursday. We won’t be able to meet for lunch until the third week, because it will still be Pesach. Then if we meet at Eggshell, pancakes and omelettes will taste wonderful.
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