Wednesday, November 22, 2023

Why are we feeling Sad and Happy Thanksgiving!

I get many surveys to fill out being a Jewish educator.  I just filled out one from Tablet, an online magazine and the last question was a one word fill in the blank how do you feel.  I wrote in SAD.  Since October 7, our world has changed.  The destruction of that one day physically and spiritually to Am Yisrael, the Jewish people is incalculable.  We will be trying to put back the pieces of the destrution for at least the rest of my life.  The upsurge of antisemitism all over the world, especially in the US and on our college campuses is unbelievable and even sadder to witness.  I did this article for my synagogue, Makom.  If you need some books to read, movies to watch take a look.  Some of them are oldies but goodies and some of them are new.  

I continue to find joy in my family, my children, grandchildren and husband.  Thankful for my mom and my sister and her family for celebrating Thanksgiving with us.  The one holiday I don't work, well not at the synagogue.

Thanksgiving 2014



Bulletin Article December 2023

 In a world dominated by 24-hour news cycles and the constant flow of information on social media platforms, it's easy to become overwhelmed, especially about the war in Israel. When it comes to understanding a complex and nuanced country like Israel, relying solely on TV news or social media does not provide the depth and context needed. I encourage you to look at vetted sources, articles, books and even videos, for a more comprehensive and informed perspective on current events in Israel.

 

Reading allows for a more in-depth exploration of Israel's history, culture, and politics. It is not always easy to find well-researched materials, but it will allow for a more comprehensive picture of the country. Israel has a rich and complex history that cannot be fully captured in brief news segments. The sound bites we see on television do not give us the insight into the roots of the Israeli-Arab conflict.    

 

Reading also exposes individuals to a diverse range of perspectives and opinions. Unlike the often-polarized narratives presented in news broadcasts or on social media, books written by different authors provide a more balanced view, allowing readers to form their own informed opinions. TV news and social media are driven by the need for high ratings and engagement, as I mentioned, and this results in sensationalized reporting.

 

In a world where information is often reduced to soundbites and headlines, taking the time to read about Israel provides a valuable opportunity for a more nuanced and informed understanding. So, the next time you're tempted to rely solely on TV news or social media, consider picking up a book or find a well-researched article for a more comprehensive view on Israel.  Also, novels about Israel give you a more nuanced view as well and maybe easier to digest.  There are not books about this war but there are many books  and novels about Israel.

 

Don’t know of any books to read about Israel?  Here are just a few.  I have also added some movies as well. Check out our library for many of these books and more. 

 

Books

NON-FICTION



·   Soldier of Peace: The Life of Yitzhak Rabin by Dan Kurzman

·   Letters to My Palestinian Neighbor By Yossi Klein Halevi

·   Israel by Noa Tishby



·   The Lemon Tree: An Arab, a Jew, and the Heart of the Middle East by Sandy Tolan

        Like Dreamers: The Story of the Israeli Paratroopers Who Reunited Jerusalem and                Divided a Nation: Yossi Klein Halevi

        The Story of Israel: Sir Martin Gilbert

        Israel, a History: Martin Gilbert

        Letters to Auntie Fiori: The 5,000-Year History of the Jewish People and their Faith:                 Martin Gilbert

        A History of Israel from the Rise of Zionism to Our Time: Howard M. Sachar.  

        The People on the Street: A Writer's View of Israel by Linda Grant.  

        One Palestine Complete: Tom Segev

 

NOVELS:

      Exodus by Leon Uris

      The Source by James Michener

  The Family Orchard by Nomi Eve
  Exodus by Leon Uris
  Hope Valley by Ner-David, Haviva 
  The Man Who Sold Air in the Holy Land by Omer Friedlander

       The Yellow Wind by David Grossman

        The Seven Good Years by Etgar Keret

        Jerusalem by Larry Collins and Dominique Lapierre. 

        A Tale of Love and Darkness by Amos Oz

        To the end of the Land by David Grossman

        Waking Lions by Ayalet Gundar Goshen

        Second Person Singular by Sayad Kashua

 

Young Adult Novels

         A bottle in the Gaza Sea by ValĂ©rie Zenatti, 

        All the rivers by Dorit Rabinyan

        Next Year in Israel by Sarah Bridgeton

Movies:

·   Exodus with Paul Newman

·   Golda with Helen Mirren

·   Oslo, 2021

·   Maktub, from 2017 dark humor




Thursday, May 11, 2023

Sharsheret Honoree D'var


This week I was honored as a Champion of Sharsheret.  If you have never heard of Sharsheret take a read here.  It was a wonderful evening for a fantastic cause. Thank you to everyone who donated and worked so hard on this evening. Here is my D'var Torah for the evening. 

Sharsheret May 10, 2023 5783


This week’s Torah portions, Behar-Bechukotai (from the Mountain and by my decrees) are rich with lessons that you’ll notice if you’re paying attention, but for the d’var Torah I am sharing tonight -- I’d like to turn to a practice that I have thought of frequently in these last five years --  Sefrot Ha-Omer, the counting of the Omer.  Tonight is the 35th day of the Omer, 5 weeks, --×”ַיּוֹם ×—ֲמִשָּׁ×” וּשְׁלֹשִׁים יוֹם שֶׁ×”ֵם ×—ֲמִשָּׁ×” שָׁבוּעוֹת לָעֹֽמֶר.

Hayom chamishah ushloshim yom shehem chamishah shavuot la-omer.

As I thought about being in Sefirot Ha-Omer I realized that cancer patients do quite a bit of counting. You can ask any survivor here and they will be able to tell you how many years/months/weeks or days they have been either in treatment or declared NED, No Evidence of disease. We count how many treatments we have yet to go and how many we have been through. We count the procedures we have had, the operations, infusions and other medical treatments. Our counting is medical, but also, like the Omer, meditative as we walk this journey.


I was diagnosed with ovarian cancer in November 2018 and from that date I began counting -- that is 4 years 11 months and 2 weeks of living with cancer. That diagnosis changed many things in my life and in the lives of my family and friends. For me, living out the winding journey of my cancer diagnosis, I recognize how precious each day, each season, each year can be.  I count them with joy. While some journeys are about introspection, this one -- like the communal act of counting the Omer -- has focused my gaze on the power of those around me, and tonight I’d like to share how the power of community has come to life for me during the past few years.

I made a decision when I was first diagnosed to share my journey through a blog. Feel free to check out InoneEhrlich where you can read my whole story. Jewish practice, by tradition, is communal and it was on my blog that I first mentioned that beyond good wishes, another way of supporting me, family, friends, and people who are going through cancer is through fulfilling the obligations from Eilu d’varim sh’ain l’hem shiru, which we say in our daily morning prayers. Unlike the Omer, and unlike the careful application of lifesaving drugs like tamoxafin, these are the things you can do WITHOUT measure: going to services, studying, committing deeds of loving kindness and visiting the sick.  This form of Tzedakah or gimilut chasadim brought comfort to my family and myself -- beyond measure and without count. 

I always caution people NOT TO GOOGLE ovarian cancer, or any other cancer.  The one place I ALWAYS tell everyone to google is Sharsheret.  Sharsheret, Hebrew for "chain".  We know that due to a higher prevalence of a BRCA mutation, Ashkenazi Jews have a higher risk of developing not just breast and ovarian cancer but also other cancers.  Knowledge is power, especially when it means catching cancer early. I am so glad to thank Sharsheret for all their help and support over the past 4 and half years. They matched me with a mentor, sent information, scarves and makeup to me.  This year I am proud to say I was asked to be on the long term strategic planning committee for Sharsheret and am able to give back with my time and energy.

In the summer of 2019, after 7 months of treatment and 3 sessions of chemo, surgery, 5 more sessions of chemo, I was able to ring the bell and was pronounced NED. I was glad to have that part of the counting over -- and a new part of my counting began. Though luckily, I was able to kick off a new season of counting reunited with my annual 2 weeks of rejuvenation at the URJ Summer camp, Olin Sang Ruby Union Institute. As part of this new season of counting, I decided to do a personal mitzvah and went to the Mikveh, the Jewish ritual bath after getting the good news.  The mikvah attendant prepared personal healing prayers for me and as the water washed over me, I cried. Like finishing counting the Omer, I felt a sense of completion -- and at the same time, I felt I had brushed up against my mortality and kept going -- all while counting.


Fast forward to May 2023. We are here together to raise money for such a good cause. It has been 3 years, 11 months and 2 weeks  in my journey since I rang the bell. Since I was diagnosed we have added two grandchildren to our family, both great additions and a wonderful way to keep counting in our family.  My father also died last year of pancreatic cancer, which I believe will eventually be listed as a “Jewish cancer” the same as breast and ovarian cancer.  While subtraction, his death is another soul we must count.

My family was with me for every counting and  journey marker.  Either Arthur, my husband, or my kids, Ethan and Lital, took me to my 8 hour chemo appointments. Jonathan made sure we had groceries and clean clothes. Thank you. I would be remiss if I did not thank Sharsheret for carefully planning tonight’s gala NOT to be on a night when the Boston Celtics are scheduled to play in the playoffs.  

Thank you to everyone who is here this evening.  I want to especially thank All the Rabbis, Cantors and Educators who are here this evening from the Reform community who support me all year long. With your support and interest Sharsheret will continue to serve our community and grow from strength to strength.

And now for the part of the evening where we need to do MORE counting and not just the Omer.  The Steinberg’s and I have laid out for you our connection to Sharsheret and we know many of you have made generous contributions in honor of us to Sharsheret and this evening.  IF however you were looking for ONE MORE chance to donate, we have the opportunity for YOU.  Please take out your phones, and text “CHAIN” to 50155 to send your donation. 

 Instructions are on the screens above!

Sharsheret’s financial subsidies help cover the cost of life changing services – 3D nipple tattoos, cold caps, and human hair wigs, or cancer related life necessities, like mortgage or rent payments, car repairs, or groceries. Sharsheret has received "seed" money for these subsidies to help women who call, and now we are looking to raise another $25k to meet the demand. As a woman who called, I am happy to speak with you personally if you’d like to hear more about how meaningful that support is. 

 

Every bit helps, you can send 18 which is the numerical equivalent Chai or life, Double chai, 10 times Chai is also great --

for those of you who's counting acumen skipped over multiplication, 10 TIMES Chai is 180, and to do 100 Times Chai, you just add a zero.

If you do not want to donate via text, staff is walking up and down the aisles with pledge cards, just raise your hand!

(pause)

While you are pulling out your phones and I am sure SOME of you have checkbooks still I want to share where your dollars will go –

The average subsidy that Sharsheret provides is $2,500. If we raise $25,000 tonight, we can help 10 women in need.

(pause)

Last fall a woman called Sharsheret because her car had broken down and she could not pay the mechanic’s bill, and without a car she could not drive to and from chemotherapy. Through Sharsheret’s financial subsidies Sharsheret was able to directly pay the mechanic $2,000, and the next week she was able to drive to treatment. If you choose to donate $2,000 tonight, you can sponsor the next woman who is in need.

(pause)

Every day new women call Sharsheret in need of a human hair wig during treatment. Each wig is valued at $750. If you choose to donate an additional $750 tonight, you will provide a wig to a woman in need.

(pause)

A quick note - if you’re having technical difficulties, don’t be shy! Raise your hand and a Sharsheret representative will come over and help you. This is too important to let technology get in the way!

I want to tell you about a woman who called Sharsheret last month who was hitting hard financial times due to her diagnosis – Sharsheret was able to support her by sending $500 for groceries for her family. If you and the person next to you each donate the $250 tonight, you can be the sponsor for the next woman who is in need.

(pause)

Last but not least – you may not know this but today is Eve’s birthday. She has spent the last 5 years dedicated to Sharsheret. For those of you who haven’t texted yet, let’s pledge $36 to celebrate Eve, our fearless leader in Chicago!

(pause)

We have hit 9,000 already tonight!!!!

Right now we have a waiting list of 15 women in the queue to receive financial subsidies from Sharsheret.

If we can reach our $25,000 goal, we can help the first 10 women move off of the wait list.

 

Sharsheret is an organization which was started by one woman connecting to another for support – 22 years later, how far we have come.  The money we raise tonight will help each woman and in addition her family, when she  picks up the phone to call Sharsheret, and will help us look into the future and as we learn more about cancer, who it affects and how we can help.

(If you got this far in my d'var and want to donate click here.)

With your support,  I know that support will be on the other end of that line when they call. Kein yehi ratzon. May it be God’s Will





Wednesday, May 25, 2022

Joke lists and this picture would have made it on!

My Dad, Jerry Michaels, Z'L had a great sense of humor.  He sent out different curated lists of jokes to family and friends.  Some of the grandkids were thrilled when they graduated to the more salacious jokes that Dad sent out.  Arthur's friends were also surprised that he was on the "dirty Joke" list when he shared it out to his friends and family.  


Dad loved sending out these jokes and was even happier when people would respond to his jokes.  He would comment to me that he spent time and effort on these emails and didn't always hear back from some of the recipients.  


Now I am not saying that Dad would have brought the paperclips shown below but I am Not saying he would Not have bought them.  I know that  he would have thought these were hilarious and he would have sent it out on one of his joke lists, or on more than one Joke list.  Thanks to Shira for sending this on to us!



Sheloshim is the Hebrew word for 30 and it is also the first prescribed mourning time and to find out how we did sheloshim and what Wendy and I said please look below.  We continue to miss Dad and as we tell stories and send jokes we keep his memory alive.

 From Sheloshim - Words From Wendy and Vanessa


Wendy: It has been thirty days since our dad and Mom’s husband, Jerrold, Jerry Michaels died. Sheloshim, the Hebrew word for thirty, commemorates the death of a loved one and the first stage of Jewish mourning. During Sheloshim you come across many firsts: the first Shabbat dinner without dad, the first Pesach, Passover seder, and even his birthday. On April 21, 15 days after he died, Jerry would have turned 89 years old.  


Vanessa: This week’s Torah portion Emor from Vayikra, Leviticus, teaches us about the laws regulating our lives and the way sacrifices by the priests should be presented. (21:1-22:33) Special dates within the Jewish calendar are also named and described: the Sabbath, Rosh Hashanah, Yom Kippur, and the Pilgrimage Festivals of Pesach, Shavuot, and Sukkot. (23:1-44)


Vanessa:  We are in the time of Sefirot HaOmer, the counting of the Omer which is 49 days from Pesach to Shavuot, the giving of the Torah. The period of counting the Omer is a time of semi-mourning, during which traditional Jewish custom forbids haircuts, shaving and parties with dancing. So whether we were in Sheloshim or not, it is still a time of mourning. Tonight will be the 23rd day of counting the Omer, and we add the seven days prior from Dad’s funeral to get thirty for Sheloshim. 


Wendy: The name of this week’s portion, Emor, means speak, and we are here this evening to speak about, mourn, and celebrate our dad.


Wendy: In brief, Dad was born in 1933 on the south side of Chicago. He was confirmed at South Shore Temple, went to the University of Illinois for a BA in Psychology, received his Doctor of Veterinary Medicine, and most importantly met and married our mom, Marian Lee. He then bought a veterinary practice in Crystal Lake, a small town of 5,000 people in Northern Illinois, when they moved there  in 1959.  But these are just the milestones you can see from the outside. 


Vanessa: He was a wonderful father and husband, worked round the clock at his veterinary practice where he began with visiting farms as well as pets. Fox Valley Animal Hospital  is where he worked and mentored generations of Doctors and staff.  Dad also loved reading and learning. He had a great sense of humor, well, most of his jokes were funny. He definitely would be tickled that this week’s Torah portion also covers the laws of profanity. And probably have more than a few questions about that for the Rabbi. 


Wendy: We were lucky to have so much time with Dad. In the last three weeks of his life, the three of us, Mom, Vanessa and I, took care of Jerry. It was a gift of time. We were back together in the house where we grew up, and where Mom and Dad lived for over 55 years.


Vanessa: During Sheloshim as we continue to incorporate grief into our daily lives, there are still memories and sadness for all of us. It is very difficult to do the last load of laundry with Dad’s clothes, to see his swim bag which he used daily until the very end, to view his messy desk filled with files and his notes on Shakespeare, and to wonder what to do with all of his many books and belongings. Dad went swimming every day, and I have just resumed my daily swim at our local JCC. At the pool, I am reminded of Dad.


Wendy: Dad was an avid stock trader and investor. I now have his all-important little black book of stock picks. Interestingly, when I looked at the first page of the book, it said, “Managing Atopica” 10-10-14.  I thought  this must be about some special investment portfolio. But as I read more closely, I realized they were pages of notes from a veterinary seminar he had attended. It was actually about managing different types of canine dermatitis. A perfect example of how we never questioned his very different interests that were a natural part of him.  


Wendy: I’m amazed at how he stayed on top of everything. Just the week before he died, he was watching his treasured Jim Cramer stock market show and putting handwritten entries into his half-filled black book, researching his upcoming Great books session on Hamlet, and busy thinking about his grandkids and great-granddaughter’s legacies. I hope to complete many of the empty pages in his book with my own calculations, stock analysis, and thoughts on the world. 


Vanessa: There is something oddly comforting to doing things by the numbers. Our sadness is not mathematical, it comes in waves and we know it will ebb and flow as time goes by. But we are comforted by the ways Jewish mourning grounds us in time, and allows us to stay tethered to our lives even in death. We are also comforted and grateful for everyone who is with us here tonight. 


Wendy: 
Thank you for coming here, especially those who took a plane flight here or
drove down Highway 55.  We also thank our zoomers too. We know today is Mother’s Day and we appreciate you sharing your time with all of us. We welcome all of you to stay and eat after our service and to share more memories about Jerry.  And I really mean eat, we ordered enough to make Jerry proud, he would have wanted to treat all of you to dinner.  Ok Maybe at Steak and Shake.  (Sorry Zoomers, we will treat you when we see you in person.) Thank you everyone for all your love and support over the last few months.  




Monday, May 9, 2022

Sheloshim, 30 days after the Funeral, Dr. Jerrold "Jerry" Michaels Z"L

When you go into see your dentist and he says how are you doing do you respond, Oh my Dad died 30 days ago?  It has been a hard few months?  30 is significant because Sheloshim, the Hebrew word for thirty, commemorates the death of a loved one and the first stage of Jewish mourning.  Dad died right before Pesach, in fact we only did Shiva for 5 days since the next 2 nights were Seder.  Dad is buried outside of Chicago and Shiva was in Crystal Lake, and at my house.  Wendy had Sheloshim in St. Louis and her friends were there to comfort her and our family.  Here are the words that Wendy and I spoke at the funeral.  Our children wrote beautiful pieces to Dad and I will publish them later this week.  I also have our words from Sheloshim.  I KNOW you are not supposed to thank people around anything connected to the funeral.  I can tell you that the outpouring of support from our friends, family and our different communities was overwhelming.  We are so glad to be a part of so many caring and loving communities.  


(NOTE: Wendy and I read this together paragraph by paragraph at the funeral)

If my dad walked into this room right now, I think he would look around and say, why is everyone here?  Why did HE come?  I don’t know everyone here.  This is for me?  Can’t be. We know there would have been some much saltier and humorous exclamations as well.  Many people describe Dad as a real character. He was funny, appreciated a good joke, or a bad one, and no matter the situation, would tell you what was on his mind. 


The Early Years

Jerry Michaels was born in 1933 on the south side of Chicago to Florence and Lee. He was a proud Alum of O’Keefe Grade School and Hyde Park High School. We know some of his school friends are even here with us today. Next on the educational journey was the University of Illinois where he earned a BA in psychology, enjoying philosophy classes on the side, and a BS in veterinary medicine, and finally a Doctor of Veterinary Medicine.  


The highlight of his University of Illinois career, however, was hardly in the classroom. Sophomore year of college, Jerry met our mom, Marian, or Marian Lee as we call her in the family. Dad was on the IC train back to Champaign from Chicago when a friend from Hyde Park High School, and Social Chair of the Ivria House where mom lived, asked him, “Would you go for a drink with Marian?” Little did he know, “one drink” would be multiple beers, all of which Marian downed with ease. My dad couldn't keep up. Dad was a hit at Ivria with his cashmere sweaters, his sharp wit and his piano playing of Blue Moon. It was because of Dad that I learned to play piano. Marian and Jerry continued the relationship. And on January 30, 1955 they were married. The rest as they say is history. 67 years of it. 


Veterinary school and Fox Valley Animal Hospital

After veterinary school Marian and Jerry moved to Homewood, Illinois for a year where he worked as a vet and welcomed their first daughter. Jerry then bought a Crystal Lake veterinary practice in May of 1959. Soon after, he welcomed his, admittedly less loud, second daughter. He was a large and small animal doctor for six years before deciding to move his practice exclusively to small animals, after thoughtful counsel with a client, a cow, who kicked him in the leg and broke his bone. He decided he would be sticking to dogs and cats and other small pets after that. We won’t mention the occasional snake, hamsters or birds.


Who knew that a city boy whose only interaction with animals was the book “Lad A Dog,” by Albert Payson Terhune, and whose only pet was a goldfish, would decide to go to veterinary school. He could never have imagined, growing up on the south shore of Chicago, that he would end up knee deep in muck vaccinating sheep and calving cows.


I don’t think we realized how hard our dad worked until we were able to look back at our childhood as adults. You hear so much today about work life balance. Our dad worked as a single practitioner for the first 25 years of his career. He had weekday, weeknight and weekend office hours. In my fourth grade essay, very clearly titled  “I Want to be a Veterinarian,” I wrote, “Even on his day off he must feed and take out his animals.” A lot of wisdom there from a fourth grader who idolized her dad.  Over the years, he hired more veterinarians, vet techs, and caring office management. He retired only seven years ago at the age of 82.  


Having a family in Crystal Lake

Our family always gets questions about living in Crystal Lake because we were one of just a few Jewish families who lived there. Mom and Dad made sure we attended synagogue in Elgin.  Dad even learned Hebrew to have an aliyah at first Vanessa’s and then Wendy’s Bat Mitzvah Dad jumped in and became a very active participant in community life.  During these years dad also served on the board of the Crystal Lake Chamber of Commerce, was a member of Crystal Lake Kiwanis Club, and was a leading member of the Great Books Club. This group was his great love and he was scheduled to lead a session on Hamlet this Tuesday. 


The Tornado

Almost 57 years ago to the day, the four of us were sitting in our living room when the sky darkened. I called out to dad that our curtains were being sucked out of windows that had been painted shut, he dragged the whole family into the basement. Before we made it to the bottom of the stairs a tornado leveled our home. When Dad finally went back upstairs, all he saw was blue sky. Mom and Dad lost everything, but together, with Jerry’s tenacity, they remained  resilient. 

 

Athlete

Athlete may not be the first word that comes to mind when you think of Jerry Michaels, but Dad swam every day. He loved this routine, and as soon as the health club opened back up after being closed for the pandemic, he was the first one in the pool.

Dad loved to watch our family grow. He would be so proud to know that his five grandchildren are participating in today’s service. Esme, his exuberant great granddaughter,  my granddaughter who he saw even through the pandemic, is nearby, and he loved watching videos and facetiming with her.


Dad was generous not just to the many organizations including political, Jewish, and of course his scholarship fund at the University of Illinois, College of Veterinary Medicine, but to his family.  Education was very important to Dad. He was the first in his family to graduate from college and have an advanced degree. What a legacy of two daughters with advanced degrees and five grandchildren who have graduated college. Dad was also generous in making sure his grandchildren had no college debt. You will hear from them today.  

Our family trips were legendary, at least in our own minds. We laughed, toured and saw so many exciting places that opened our eyes to the world. There were also some less than perfect memories, like when all eleven of us had to put on wet suits for a boating excursion in Hawaii, and when we found ourselves in the midst of a high surf, all Dad could say was “get me out of this thing!” With him, all memories, no matter what, could be retold with humor. 

Over the years when I would visit my parents, I would park myself at their house for the duration.  Last Fall, my Dad, an avid film and TV show connoisseur, asked me if I had seen the series “After Life” by the British comic and actor Ricky Gervais.  I said I hadn’t.  My Dad had already watched two seasons, but liked it so much, wanted to re-watch with me.  We both were spellbound by the clever dialogue, funny jokes, and heartbreaking scenes.  The show is about a husband who loses his wife and has to go on living in the topsy turvy world her absence left for him.  The last season began in January of this year.  When I came up at the beginning of February, my dad said, in a somewhat annoyed tone, I’ve been waiting to start watching so let's go. We watched together with Mom as Ricky Gervais imperfectly navigated grief with humor.  I feel very grateful that we watched to the last episode.  I’m going to take the show, and our time spent watching it together, with me. 


Our mom’s mom, Grandma Hetty, used to tell everyone that you should have Mazel, luck, in life and Mazel in death. Dad was seriously ill for just a short time. We are blessed to have spent the last two weeks with him and mom. On his last morning we were able to read letters to him from all five grandchildren. He laughed, he commented, and of course, he critiqued. We couldn’t be more grateful. What a gift. 


We want to thank our family, friends and all of our communities who have supported, cared and have been there for us.  

This week as you go back to your families and your communities, take a minute to call your parents, read a little Shakespeare and kiss your spouse. 

Think of Dad, we know he would be honored.  Dad, we love you.


“There are more things in heaven and earth, Horatio,

Than are dreamt of in our philosophy.”


(Hamlet, Act 1 Scene 5)



Jerry's Great Granddaughter, age 2 shoveling in his grave