The Old and the Young

Summer in Miami just slogs along --hotter than Hell, but with the occasional refreshing breeze. D2 left yesterday for the woods North of Toronto with her young man Jonathan and J's 2 little sisters; they're staying at J's older half sister's place for 5 days. D2 texted that it was 75 degrees and beautiful. I hope she brings some cooler weather back with her. D1 is reunited with her young man, Joel, and is therefore less bothered by the heat. Friday night the 2 young couples aquiesced to my company at happy hour on Brickell. After martini #3, I knew that driving home wasn't prudent, so D1 and Joel stored my man sized Buick in their building's garage, and I slooped home on Metrorail. D1 dropped the car off next to a South Miami house party yesterday, and I fetched the car on the way back from Miami Jewish. Ah, the olds...Wifey and I took the strange rescue dog there, to visit my father in law. We took him outside, under one of the ancient trees he loves so, and my Mom used to love, too. One of those lovely late afternoo0n breezes was blowing. Richard was in a talking mood, and he went on about his life in Pre War Poland. He talked about the 7 siblings his parents had; 4 made it through the Holocaust, and his parents were killed, too. But he talked about his happy childhood outside of Lodz, and the ways of life there. He told of his Oder River swims, and playing soccer. And then he thanked his brothers Lou and Harry -- for forcing him to survive -- making him keep walking when falling meant instant execution by the Nazis... I took the strange dog outside and waited for Wifey to leave, and she came late. It turned out that my in laws' long time family doc, Arnold Kane, was now a MJH resident. Wifey stopped to chat and thank him -- his quick diagnosis and insistance that my father in law immediately get heart surgery saved his life 25 years ago. Dr. Kane suffered a stroke years ago, and now spends his time at MJH reading voraciously and having visitors. His wife promised to visit my father in law. From there we stopped home and headed to a party for the young: a going away get together for my friend Mike's boy Chris --headed in a few weeks to freshman year at USC. Several of Chris's friends were there -- and it was terrific to be among their energy and happiness. Mike build a tiki bar off the back of his house - filled with antiques and knick knacks from his extensive collection. He also has an air conditioned shed packed with the effects of his extensive collections -- old Department 56 displays, Halloween decorations. The kids love to hang there and go through the old magazines and things. So life carries on --truly the young peoples' game. It's just nice to be around to be a part of it.