On Friday afternoon at 3:00 I sat in the Lowes movie theater on 68th St. and Broadway in New York City waiting for a movie.  We got there early, really early to avoid the cold winds.  We tried walking the 20 blocks from “the TREE” at Rockefeller Center, but there was no way.

Taxi!!

So after a short walk around the theater lobby and the purchase of a small bag of popcorn, we had our pick of seats  in an empty room but slowly, in the next 30 minutes, the theater filled.  Did anyone else, know anyone in movie’s cast?  Anyone else know Christopher Carley? I didn’t stand up to ask, but Tuvia assured me that the answer was probably NO!

I was nervous.  Chris had been in a recent Robert Redford flick.  A small part with a few lines and that was just fun to watch.  In the last decade he had debuted on Broadway, he had been seen in lots of Verizon commercials, even an episode of the Sopranos, and all of that was exciting but this movie, Gran Torino, starring and directed by Clint Eastwood, now that was a nailbitter!

The movie opens in the church.  Clint’s wife’s funeral and yes, Chris opens with the sermon and he looks young and full-faced, Spencer Tracey? And the movie begins and  I am on the edge of my seat where I remain  for the next two hours.  It’s all good but for most of the 2 hours I am holding my breath, always wanting more of Chris until the last few scenes where I begin to relax and feel that Chris has been given an amazing opportunity.

I wonder how I would be feeling in Chris’ shoes at 30 years old working opposite CLINT EASTWOOD, who at 78 is starring, directing,  composing the score and even singing the last tune of the film. And there’s Clint calling Chris “padre”, treating him like an adult. Chris, from my 8th grade English class…

It was a lot to take in and digest.  Chris was great!  The movie is important to be seen and with Clint as Walt, standing in cardboard form everywhere looking like a Dirty Harry from movies past, I’m sure this full theater is a preview of coming theater audiences when the film opens nationally on Christmas Day.

Chris has been sharing the process with me from the day he first read for the part.  On Saturday morning we had a long talk about the film now that I could contribute to the conversation.

There’s life-long learning, there’s life-long s-t relationships.  I have both!

What a profession, teaching!!!

Join us at Two Writing Teachers

I was scheduled check up on Friday at the dentist’s and I for one, don’t dread that visit. I’ve been with Dr. P for years and his bedside manner is perfect for me, but as both of us get older, I continue to ask him if he’s retiring. He keeps reassuring me that he won’t leave until he’s carried out on a stretcher. But recently he sold his business to his younger partner and stayed on as an employee for more freedom from the business aggravations. Nothing changed at first, but soon the name changed, the office went through a major renovation and finally the prices and rules changed.

Dr. P., who sees me for everything, asked me if I would try one of the dental hygienists on the request of his new boss who is not happy that a certified dentist is spending his time cleaning teeth. All I had to do was agree to see one of their hygienists, once and If I didn’t like the experience, given my long history with the office, I could return to my beloved dentist for my periodic cleanings etc. Okay, of course I’d try one even though my past with hygenists hasn’t been good, I wanted to be cooperative. Dr. P. introduced me to a very friendly young woman, someone he recommended and I set up an appointment with her.

Everything was okay, I missed my dentist and was annoyed that she tacked on extras to her service that were not included. Oh well, I scheduled another session with her, reluctantly.

I arrived early on Friday. The sun was shining, I had a new Obama button on my jacket and all was right with the world. As I entered she ushered me in to a flood of friendly questions and conversation. I shared my political excitement that we had a new president and new opportunities for a new chapter in American history. I’d been cautious during the campaign, careful to avoid uncomfortable confrontations with McCain supporters in offices, especially people that might be working on my mouth, but we have a new President-Elect, so let’s move on.

As she began to prepare me for the examination, she began to share her feelings of fear and the possible coming of “socialized medicine”. I was still able to converse and offered the Obama side of the picture. Soon the friendly tone disappeared as her hands entered my mouth and she began to share her feelings.

“What about those Hispanic immigrants? They are getting free medical care and they don’t pay taxes. And the Hasidem in Monsey, I’ve worked in clinics there. They get everything for free, even diapers. And there’s more to come. I’m very scared.”

What could I say? Her hands were still in my mouth. The red gel was numbing my gums now and she was not happy with me or my teeth. I wanted to bolt, but I waited, conflicted by what I was listening to. I could have chomped down on her fingers.

I feel for McCain supporters. I remember how it felt to be on that side of the fence but her comments were beyond disappointment. I’m Jewish but I was just as much incensed about her comments about other ethnic groups and I wasn’t doing anything to stop her. Finally Dr. P. arrived to check on me and talk about my need to see a periodontist.

I needed to get out of the office. He followed me outside and we talked about both issues. I left with lingering issues, wondering about the prejudice that remains strong here and everywhere.

I just got off the phone with Dr. P.  He has spoken with “her” and tried hard to reassure me that I’d be back with him once again. That’s all good.  I worry about the angry voters who are even more afraid than this young woman.  I pray that Barack has the iron-clad security.

I am writing my words for NaNoWriMo, I am remembering other eves of  presidential elections and I am feeling proud that I’m an American, poised to see our first Afro-American president elected in this country and to celebrate the event, I’m ready to travel to Washington and freeze as he is inaugurated.

I am writing my novel as I wait to vote in the morning, as the sun rises. I just finished my day’s word total.  I have committed to 1200 words, for 30 days of November. Day 3 is ending and I have 4822 words on paper, that’s 22 over what I need for today.

The totals do matter to me.  I am pushing to meet the word count. So many words to get down on the page has been expanding my sentences, my paragraphs, my conversations, ultimately, my characters.

I am good right now, familiar with my terrain but that will end soon and I wonder where I will take my girls, where they will take me would be a better way to consider this journey.

1600 words every day, wow, I wonder I will feel next Monday, the Monday after….

And beyond my challenge to write a novel, I’m wondering about Barack Obama, who lost  his grandmother early yesterday morning.  He is poised to win this election and his grandmother dies just one day too soon to see it happen- one day too soon for him to be able to call her, to thank her.

How frustrating!

But how exciting it will be for us to watch him grow into a president at a time in our history when we need someone different in a world poised for someone fresh and focused on the world of the future.  I can’t wait for tomorrow night.  I hope Tuvia and I are drinking the bottle of champaign I have the refrigerator for this event. He does want to celebrate with other Democrats tomorrow, but I would happy just to be quiet here with a warm fire.

I can’t wait!

See more at Two Teachers Writing

Last week for Rosh Hashonah we celebrated without the religious inspiration of a Jewish community in a synagogue. I would have donned a dress, stockings and appropriate shoes and joined Tuvia at the Hoboken synagogue but it didn’t happen this year. Tuvia didn’t insist and I didn’t push him. I even booked a one-on-one lesson at the Apple store on Tuesday morning and got to the gym for a workout.

We did enjoy a piece of Hilda’s honey cake on Tuesday afternoon with friends as we do each year. We did travel to Ellenville with a back seat filled with holiday foods catered by Harold’s of Paramus to share with my parents, a brother and his family. And the next day we did drive to Hoboken for lunch with Tuvia’s family, without stopping at the synagogue.

It did feel strange not to dramatically change our routine by sitting in a pew, praying with a community, listening to the rabbi’s sermon, observing the congregation and wondering about them.

Of course we will be there for Yom Kippur this week. I’ve missed some Yom Kippurs in a synagogue, but not since Tuvia. He needs to be present to honor his father. He continues to carry his father’s tallis with him even though he doesn’t wear it. Tuvia is not religious. His father was not religious, but somehow the synagogue is a place in the United States where Tuvia needs to be present.

If we were in Israel for this holiday, we would probably not visit a synagogue. Just being in Israel seems to be enough. And we will be In Israel for the holidays to come next week.

During this set of serious holidays I get to think deeply about my life, my family, our past and future. It makes me thoughtful, just something in the air…

For the last month I have been up and out of the house by 6:45 and I just couldn’t get to sit long enough for an episode for MM or Slices on Tuesday.  I didn’t even have time for my Word Count journal and something was missing.  Sure, during our writing project, I was able to write with out SI community of great teachers, many reconnecting with their writing lives for the first time in a long time.  As they connected, I wrote too, but my eyes were on the clock as I led most Writing Into the Day prompts and I loved the position, don’t get me wrong, you just can’t have it all.

And now I am back home, for a Monday morning able to write and it feels So good, delicious. The weather is working with me, a delicious August morning of cool breezes and I have a birthday arriving this week to celebrate on August 7, quietly.  Next year it’s a big one: 60 (OMG).  I wonder how I will usher in that one?  For now the celebration plans are on the back burner.

At this moment of calm, I have an hour or two to enjoy the morning and then we are off to Maine for the first time.  The first time.  Different from our trips to Israel.  That’s a known spot, but Maine, my camera is itching for new locations.

I don’t want to forget the SI we just ended.  I am hoping that our community stays connected and of course, we have blogs, a new one on ning.  Deb and Kevin joined.  Anyone else interested? http://writeon08.ning.com/

I don’t know if this writing counts as a memoir, but it is fun to write and get ready to post to the group that I’ve missed.  Thanks for your feedback on my SI pieces.  Working on them felt great.

Have a good one.  Tomorrow I will be in Rockland, Maine.

Bonnie