One of the most solemn prayers we say on Yom Kippur is U'netaneh Tokef, written centuries ago. It is in many ways the highlight of the long service. Before we got to that during the service yesterday the synogogue's president congratulated everyone for having been inscribed in the book of life last year, which carried some sadness to it as not e …
The theory orfrelativity has always eluded me despite my best efforts to try to understand it. Now, finally I am getting some relief in the form of Walter Isaacson's 2007 biography of Einstein. He devotes a full chapter (the Miracle Year) to special relativity and does a great job. I am not hopelessly lost, in part because Einstein based his the …
Driving along in my car, having a pleasant conversation, suddenly Eve yelled "OWW!" She looked at the underside of her left forearm and there was a red mark, about a quarter inch, shaped somewhat like Puerto Rico. I tried to get a look at it but had to keep my eyes on the road. I thought maybe there was something she caught her arm on between t …
As June 21st roll around I have commented that the days are getting shorter and that winter is coming. It is not a welcome thought as summer is just getting underway and winter is not really coming and who wants to think about that. But here it is, still August, still summer, and the mail brought two unwelcome reminders. First came the first SK …
Yesterday was our annual - and final- fall drive to Syracuse to take Emily back to school. We took two cars since Emily keeps one up here, and also because she has 3,000 pairs of shoes that won't fit in one trunk. The girls drove together and I went solo, which I relished. I could keep my windows and sun roof open, and listen to whatever I want …
My son and daughter in law and another couple are camping near Lake George this weekend. He tells me after they park the car there is a canoe waiting for them by the shore. They have to pack the canoe with all of their equipment, and paddle to a small uninhaited island, and that is where they unload and set up camp and stay for the weekend. Th …
Bob has been one of my best friends since we met during our first year of college in 1972. When I moved to Chicago after we graduated, where he is from, we became even closer. We married within a year of each other, took vacations together, moved to the same suburb, and our first borns are less than a year apart. Then in 1982 I moved back to New …
We decided to go to the driving range to hit a bucket or two. It was hot, in the mid 90's and we were the only ones there, except for the guy driving around in circles in the little cart that picks up all of the hundreds of balls. Eve probably hasn't hit a golf ball in at least two years. So after half the bucket was empty, I felt very secure wh …
It was my first concert at the Barclay's Center, and I had to leave at intermission. As I walked out someone was standing by the doors and asked me if by any chance I had an extra unused ticket. It turns out that I did. At that point I was not interested in getting any money for my ticket. The show was great, and I was in the mood to be nice a …
The end of the Zimmerman trial is news of the day. Acquittal comes as no surprise given the testimony and the law of the State of Florida which puts the burden on the prosecution to prove beyond a reasonable doubt that self defense was not justified. There were no real witnesses, little evidence, and conflicting testimony on who screamed for hel …
The plane crash in San Francisco yesterday morning was an awful tragedy. From the photos, it seems as though it could have been much worse in terms of loss of life. It will also naturally aggravate the anxiety for those of us who have a fear of flying. I am a better flyer than I was years ago. Takeoff was the worst of it. I didn't mind the de …
In the car home last night, for no apparent reason, we started to remember old things. I am not talking about Fred. Things. Like the milkman who used to deliver our milk in a little box that we kept on the porch of our back door. I don't know why we didn't keep it by the front door, that porch was a lot bigger. We would get bottles of regular …
Two nights ago I sat outside on our small deck taking in the last light and fading blue sky. It was 8:30. I recalled a trip to the Canadian Rockies years ago when the high summer sun did not set until almost 10 pm. And this morning I woke up early to blazing sun streaming through the blinds. Nice.And then, as if I was hearing the music abruptly …
Continuing our Father's Day tradition, today is the Annual Father's Day Bernstein Cup Golf Tournament. We missed one year when my younger son was not in town, and though we tried to reschedule the round on a different day it never happened. So the new rule is that we play ON Father's Day, and whoever can't make it misses out. Harsh, but necess …
I was back in Home Depot on Monday returning the grates for my grill. I had bought the wrong size the day before. After making the exchange I decided to go down the lumber aisles. My grandfather and father owned a lumber company on West 18th Street and seeing and smelling the fresh wood reminded me of them and the days I spent there as a kid. O …
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