Did you ever notice in old black-and-white photographs how short the old people are? My mother was under 5 feet tall and my father just over 5 feet. Thus, it was grounds for rejoicing when I continued to grow into my 20s to my Apogee of 5 feet 9 3/4 inches. Now, however, approximately a half a century later I have receded to 5'7". It's not s …
Following up on last week's blog, I was honored last Friday by the Russo family Theresa Foundation. One of the honoree responsibilities is to help raise donations to the Foundation. I am very pleased to report that with the help of our Gotham Networking Tribe we broke the previous record by 25%. This was very satisfying and I thank everyone involv …
Tonight I will be honored by the Russo family Theresa Foundation. In the run-up to the event I've spent a lot of time thinking about what I'm going to say and am mindful of my son Alex's comments that my blogs and other utterances should have a serious impact and not be frivolous. In my comments I plan to thank Gotham as a whole and many indiv …
We traveled last weekend to the Berkshires to stay with old friends. It was our first visit in two years. So we had a lot of catching up to do. One of our friends' tongue in cheek "House Rules" is "Gossiping is encouraged, during your entire stay". Well, lots has happened in that 2 year interval and boy did we gossip. I must admit I love to gos …
I had the poignant experience of attending Gotham member Jack Friedman's funeral last Sunday. It was so well attended that the room was overflowing with humanity. My impression of the man was confirmed by the eulogies of his friends, relatives, wife and children. He was a very decent, friendly, nice, giving, collegial and potent man. Driving home, …
Do you remember the classic 1939 Judy Garland movie where they were off to see the Wizard on the yellow brick road and when they eventually found him he was a very ordinary little old man behind the screen? Very disappointing to say the least. Are you a Wizard of Oz?
I've had three knee operations at my neighborhood Glen Cove Hospital on Long Island. My wife and son have also had procedures there. We are all satisfied patients.I was turned on to Glen Cove Hospital by my good friend Dr. David Berger who is head of anesthesiology there.This great local hospital was founded before World War II to serve a blend of …
Call me old fashioned, but I much prefer my Television viewing with commercial interruptions. Not because I want to be pitched, but because I want (need) to rush into the bathroom and brush my teeth and do other things. On the other hand, viewing cable shows clear through upsets my ingrained habits, if not my circadian rhythm, and everything else. …
The following is from last year and it warrants repetition: If you drive you play it Salt and plows make it Tires and suspensions hate it How many more weeks to evade it?
Are you old enough to have seen early television's iconic children's program "Howdy Doody" (puppet) show? If you are, you may remember Princess Summerfall Winterspring. She was Native American and a good girl. Of course, her name was a play on our lauded 4 season northern weather. Well, my favorite number is 3 and I'm advocating a royal name chan …
We recently had a house guest who inspired the above title. She gave real life meaning to the expression "she gives as much as she takes". Prior to her arrival we were the appreciative recipients of a bountiful Zabar's Gift Basket (truly a fine artful lodger's touch). She lived in our guest room in the manner of an appreciative family member (witho …
In early March Gotham will reach the recognized good luck number of 18 years in age. The time has zoomed by as we have had so much fun in the exercise of our giving spirit which has boomerangedback with ample psychic compensation. Back in 1997 Nancy and I had a notion, but no plan and nary an expectation of what was to come. Fellow pioneers: 1) S …
My Friday With Fred blog appears in this space weekly and, theoretically, there is attendant deadline pressure. A deadline is a date or time on or before which something must be completed. When I was young I oft times failed to meet deadlines. As a consequence I paid many a price and learned my lesson. Now my reaction to a deadline is to stay ahe …
I was born in 1942 and some of my earliest trackable memories were about Jackie Robinson (his World altering debut-Rookie Year was in1947) and people exclaiming "As quick as Jackie Robinson". However, my first tangible memories were of "Uncle Miltie" in the late 40s and "I Love Lucy" in the early 50s. TV was new then and a sensation. We were even e …
Did you ever ponder how long you will live and how much time is left? I do and I try to trick myself by saying that I'm going to live to 100. Both my parents lived to 86 and neither was as physically fit as I work to be. So I like to believe I'm on track. Having said that another trick is to be in the moment and enjoy life to its fullest. But the …
Fridays With Fred
A perfect way to send you into your weekend