Freedom & Liberty for All. Yeah. Right.

On August 28, 1963 I rode the train to join the "March on Washington" and to hear Martin Luther King's, "I've Got a Dream" speech; although there was no name to this speech, of course, until after it was given. However, it was a week or two before schools opened again and I was a staunch supporter of civil rights, so I went...by myself. The experience was an other worldly one and led me to understand the difference between "freedom" and "liberty". In 1864, Lincoln's Emancipation Proclamation abandoned slavery in this nation and gave all slaves their liberty...but not their freedom. They were not free to walk on the same side of the street as whites, they were not free to sit in the front of buses, they were not free to drink from the same water fountains as whites, they were not free to use the same rest rooms as whites, they were not free to get into the college of their choice, they were not free to get decent, well-paying employment, they were not free to attend the same schools as white children, not free to run for political office--especially the Presidency, and more recently, not free to eat at Wendy's...and I could go on and on. Surely, slaves were liberated--they had their liberty, but not their freedom. But Dr. King dreamed that someday they would, indeed, be free. As it turned out, sadly I was absolutely the only teacher in my school district who was sufficiently motivated to join that movement on that day. And now, his dream is becoming a reality. We have a black man running for President of the United States. Can that be possible? In America? Certainly for the most part a racist nation?

I've heard some vicious comments about Barack Obama and I've received some scurrilous emails regarding his views on all sorts of issues, but I don't pay any attention to anything anyone says, or to anything anyone writes. I don't trust these self-proclaimed pundits, nor can I guess where they get their information. I will, however, pay attention to what Obama has to say, himself, in these days before the November election. I want to hear what he believes from his own lips, not from some prejudicial gossip or rumors. As for John McCain, I cannot vote for a 73 year old man who was a POW for several years. And I have no doubt that he still suffers from PTSD--because I am very familiar with the vagaries of that result from war injuries...whether physical or mental. Of the two, I believe Barack Obama, young and vigorous, and full of fresh ideas to be the best hope for this country. You may disapprove of my obstinate stand on this issue, but I really don't care what you think...this is my blog, and these are my opinions. If you have a different opinion, I don't have to respect it! You know the wimpy statement you often hear, "I don't agree with you, but I respect your opinion."

If you don't agree with someone, then you really don't respect their opinion. Say so! Something like, "Hey...I respect your right to an opinion, but you're full of hot air!" It'll make you feel better, not bitter.

"I am amazed, methinks, and lose my way among the thorns and dangers of this world." (King John)

I've often wondered why people write wills and in those wills they stipulate how they are dividing money among children or grandchildren. That is, besides all the other chatchkas a person has to leave after a lifetime of collecting. Why wait till you're in your grave before you dole out the cash (if there's any left) to the kids? I would think a person would like to be around to hear the squeals of delight and the appreciation one might or might not experience. You see the light? If you get no signs of appreciation, then when you write the will, don't leave them a blessed thing, except perhaps the bill for the funeral or the price of the police escort to the cemetery.

Before you write a will, you look around the house and see all the articles that sit on the shelves or decorate the walls. You check out your clothing closet and chest of drawers, and books, and Lladros and Swarovskies, and WWII medals, and you think you could never decide who's going to get what. The problem doubles when you are in a second marriage, and the wife also has her own children and grandchildren. How will they fit in to these wills? Whose money is in the bank, and will it be enough for the survivor to live on once the pensions and compensations disappear? All this is designed to give one a big headache, and motivation to run to the drug store for Tylenols, Advils, and Xanaxes. You do know that once both of you die, the apartment passes on to the children who can either "time share" it or sell it and split the money. Hopefully that doesn't happen very soon because the housing market is way down, and homes are losing their value.

This afternoon I got a call from Gloria Slobin asking me to take a part she has for me in the show she is writing. After My Fair Lady I decided that I was finished as a performer, because I was losing the mobility required to move around the stage. Not only that, but I was not looking forward to 9 A.M rehearsals any longer. Now, I certainly was not being a prima donna waiting for someone to ask me to be in a show, so Gloria's call was a huge surprise to me. When I told her I'd rather not do any more shows, she seemed terribly disappointed, and that bothered me. I hate to say no to her and her husband, Bob Slobin because they are such fine people...and friends. So, I suggested that she try to find some new talent for that part, and Gloria said she wanted some "old" talent. We departed the call with nothing resolved. However, I am resolved to "will" some "inheritance" to my kids before I die...but not before Feb. 10, 2010.

"He that wants money, means, and content is without three good friends." (AYLI)

Wonder of wonders! Unexpectedly today--primarily because I never got one before--I received my first ever royalty check for the sale of my books from my publisher, LULU!! I won't deny that it was a truly great feeling. I didn't know whether or not to laugh or cry; so since I didn't know, I didn't do either. I would ordinarily frame the check, but I simply can't afford to do that. Besides, it would be a little too self-serving, don't you think? I now have moved up Lulu's book sale list to 16,000 something. Well it's a lot better than being down to 25, 000. I'm not Ernest Hemingway, you know. And speaking of Hemingway, Rhoda and I are planning a drive to Key West toward the end of this month--depending on the weather of course. Both of us have been to Key West before. I was there in 1942 and we both were there on excursions off our cruise ships. However, neither of us has ever taken the drive down there, and it should be a lot of fun--Atlantic Ocean on one side; Gulf of Mexico on the other. Although Key West is not the same as Maine where you can have lobster, there are stone crabs and conch soup--and coconuts.

Rhoda and I have thankfully recovered from our recent illnesses--she with pneumonia, and I with Restroom Runs. Not fully recovered, mind you, but about 90%. We do need a little vacation time. Maybe I'll even get my tattoo refurbished down there--although a fresh tattoo on an old arm might not look so good. Speaking of lobsters, Rhoda and several women from our building have gone out tonight to La Luna for dinner--buy one lobster, get one free. Trust women to find a bargain. So where does that leave me? It leaves me trying to decide what I'm going to do for dinner. Perhaps some spaghetti and butter or to Flakowitz for cheese blintzes--or to Massimo's for lasagna. Why not all three! Robin and all my other kids are currently on a cruise through the waters of Eastern Canada and she just sent a picture of them all sitting at a table having their desserts--baked Alaska and strawberry frostees. Well, so I'm alone. I'm good company. And besides, I can cash my royalty check. Wish someone was around to take my picture.