FUNERALS, MEMORIALS, CARS

Earlier today a member of our breezeway circle was laid to rest surrounded by a very loving family. In a sense Lou and Aurea represented those of us who admired Carmen.

It was over 27 years ago that I made the decision that I would never again go to a funeral, or memorial service, after attending that of my Aunt Flo, the first person who gave, and showed, me unconditional love. I knew that I wanted to remember her as she was and keep all those memories to myself. Selfish? Sure, but I have never regretted it and I came to believe that people I love who died became my angels and either sat on or looked over my shoulder giving me that unconditional love no matter what stupid things I may have done/do.

I may not attend your funeral and/or memorial but be assured that I will never forget you and will think of you often.

(John was fooling around with my camera and took some pictures of the 'breezeway roundtable', as he calls it, though no pictures of him or me and, of course, I said I wouldn't post the pictures so don't tell Dot, Caroline, Lou or Harlen.)

Though I love living here at Gateway the reality of old age, illness and death are always around. Just recently Carmen died, there was talk of the plug being pulled on Barbara's husband, Miguel, which means she will have to move into an assisted living facility and Liz is recovering from having half of her other lung removed--yes, she had half of her one lung removed awhile back--and Bill is in rehab while Jerry had a heart attack.

Living here you see how families treat their members--for instance, none of Bill's sons have come to see him though he has been at death's door a few times while Page moved here from California to be with her mother and you will never find a more loving group of children, grandchildren and great grandchildren than Carmen's brood. The thing is you won't know how your kids will react or be there, or not, when you need them. Sorry, folks, it is not a given that your loving family will be there for you--I have seen too many turn their backs on their parents for whatever reason.

Not that I am keeping count but in 28 hours and 16 minutes I will be picking Allen up at the airport--I am really looking forward to having Allen back but I'm not looking forward to not having his car 24/7. I really can'tIF I want or need it without worrying that it won't be available. :O)
complain as I do depend on him Wednesdays and Fridays to get errands done, go to movies, etc., and Cookie is kind enough to let me use her car every Thursday plus another day or two during the week when/if I need it. It's just that I will miss the freedom of having a car available 24/7

I NEED TO WIN THE LOTTO OR SUPERBALL!!!

THE OLD NEIGHBORHOOD WATERING HOLE

It always surprises me that with over 300 people living here at Gateway maybe, just maybe, 16 different people use it or have used it!

What gets me is if, due to economics as it does cost a lot to run it, they decide to fill in the pool, people would be screaming all over the place! Just last month a woman was complaining that it wasn't heated and now that it is naturally heated by the sun she still isn't here!

I will admit that the only thing I don't like about Florida is that you can't jump into a pool or the ocean to cool off as the water is as warm as the air temperature!

Among the many remarkable things about this pool is that it is built high and you can watch all the boats in Karen Bay--float on your back, look up at the sky and you can imagine you are on your own private estate--look across the Bay and you will see million dollar+ homes--it is living in luxury without paying the money OR the tax!

Maybe the few of us who do use the pool are better off if the rest don't--it is not crowded or noisy--come on down/over and join me!

IT'S A GREAT DAY IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD!

JULY 11, 2009 2 PM GATEWAY TERRACE APARTMENT'S SWIMMING POOL AT THE POINT OVERLOOKING KAREN BAY

A 'COOL' DAY--ONLY 89 DEGREES--NO RAIN

EVEN THE BIRDS, OUT OF THEIR CAGES, ARE HAVING A GREAT DAY!

HOPE YOU CAN SAY THE SAME!!!

"CHERI"---A MOVIE REVIEW

It's always a pleasure to just sit and watch Michelle Pfeiffer glide across the screen and she looks delightful in these early Twentieth century costumes with many gardens filled with blooms as her background. It is even better to watch her when she has a good role to play and plays across strong actors which she has neither in this film.

For a movie that has/shows a lot of sex this is a pretty sexless movie mainly due to Pfeiffer's co-star, Rupert Friend, who is too fey to convince as her lover. It's not that she plays a woman 50 years old to his man/child of 19 but that it seems as anincestuous relationship because her loving him doesn't make sense. His cheekbones compete with hers as does he beauty whereas someone more masculine, stronger, wouldhave made the movie more believable.

Kathy Bates, a strong actress in her own right, and all dressed and dolled up, is fine in her role but the writer misses a lot of chances, and laughs, not to mention fireworks, in her scenes with Pfeiffer and other courtesans, which the majority of women in this picture are and they certainly do well in their business.

The houses, the servants they have, the gardens, the clothes, not to mention the hotels and restaurants, are top grade and make for opulant scenes on the screen.

The director, Stephen Frears, obviously loves Pfeiffer's face and body, which the camera lingers over from all angles in all places from the bed to the garden, and, also that of Friend's whose bare buttocks are constantly exposed.

There is much to be admired in this film, to once again mention Pfeiffer, that it is too bad the movie is slow and the 'drama' doesn't pay off but it is the miscasting of the male lead that sinks the film.

so little time--so much pressure

So many things to do and so little time--before I turn around it will be time to go to the airport to pick Allen up. It really will be great to see him after two weeks but I have a load of things to get done while I have his car 24/7.

Started off today going to a podiatrist--my first time going to him--he was young and cute and, I guess, has a foot fetish--will have to go back to see him soon!

Though I didn't have an appointment I stopped by my primary doctor's office wanting to see where I/he stood with the shingles vaccine--looks like I am no closer than I was April 23rd--well, at least he is a good looking Hispanic man.

Next stop was to go to the car wash to get the car cleaned up. There is a heavy layer of dirt all over it that I have been trying to clean without any progress and even when it rained it didn't help but I couldn't find the particular car wash that Allen has a card for so I will have to find it tomorrow or Saturday.

After an hour of driving around looking for that place I decided to go ahead and do my food shopping so I went to Publix and Winn Dixie--each for different items though I had very little to buy as this week I went to the Pantry, got my HMO dozen frozen dinners, etc.

Got home just as the skies turned dark but, once again, the rain hit somewhere else. I did get to the breezeway to see the hospital bed, bed tray, oxygen, etc., being taken from our breezeway friend's apartment as she passed away this afternoon. A lovely lady, with a lovely family, who will be missed.

This evening I made a list of all the places I have to go and things to do such as checking Allen's place, getting his mail, watering his plants, going to the movies, finding that car wash,hitting 3 doctor's offices, etc. Who said retirement was easy?!?!?

BATH TUB, JUDY GARLAND, RUNNING AROUND, ETC.

What do bath tubs and Judy Garland have in common? Both were part of my day today!

I left my apartment around 1 PM to go to the "Pantry" and when I came home a few hours later I had a 'new' bath tub--'old folks proof'--LOL

I left the Pantry to go eye glass hunting. Making a long story short I wasn't sure when I got glasses last year or where (Who is old???) and vaguely remembered where the office was but after a few wrong turns I found it only to found out I wasn't due to get the new glasses until August.

In spite of all the media garbage the last few weeks JUDY GARLAND IS/WAS THE GREATEST ENTERTAINER OF THEM ALL!!! Watch her in movies, see her TV show, listen to her records you see/hear the talent but see her in person and you became the only one in the audience and she was performing just for you!

At 6 PM I watched a two hour documentary on TCM and I am still moved to tears listening to her sing "By Myself" or "Stormy Weather". Watch her monologue in "A Star Is Born" dressed in clown makeup poring her heart out in the dressing room and I dare you not to be moved.

At 28 it was thought her life, her career, was over but she would come back again and again and again--she would even joke about her comebacks once stating that when she came back from going to the ladie's room people would talk about another comeback.

Is it a coincidence that the week she died, and of her funeral, the Gay revolution at the Stonewall Inn took place in New York? With all the tragedies in her life, the abuses of studios and men towards her, her fierce determination to keep on going on, overcoming drug problems time and time again, loving her children above all and having a wicked sense of humor is there any doubt that she is and will always be a Gay Icon??

Only 6 days to go before I have to give Allen back his car though I am really looking forward to seeing him back home--do you think a little more brown nosing like that he might let me have the car a few extra days?!?!

NEW YORKERS, EX NEW YORKERS AND SOUTH FLORIDA

Most 'snowbirds' and most people who moved here permanently from the North are from New York. Guess who complains the most about South Florida? Yes, you are right, it is the ex New Yorkers. Everything is better in New York, more culture in New York (like they took advantage of it! LOL), everything is done better, more efficiently, faster in New York. This time of the year they complain about the heat in South Florida!! And they complain about the rain. DUH, folks--that's why it is called the 'rainy season'!

A typical South Floridian day--leave an air conditioned home to go to an air conditioned car to go to an air conditioned job or doctor's office or mall. After back into the air conditioned restaurant to go to an air conditioned movie, restaurant and/or home. Maybe, just maybe, they spent a total of twenty minutes in the heat.

I hear about 'dry' heat versus humidity. When it is 110 in the shade (like in Phoenix or New Orleans) dry heat is HOT and you will burn your hand on the car door handle.

Do New Yorkers forget the sweat box the city is during the summer months with all the buildings trapping the hot air in the streets and/or the smell of the tar melting? Do they forget the crowded cars, buses and/or trains, not to forget the time it took to get to Orchid Beach, Reis Park, Coney Island or Fire Island?. Do they forget the nights so hot they couldn't breath??

In South Florida they are a few minutes from the beach or a pool, which is very seldom crowded because it is too hot out!!! Okay, the ONLY complaint I have about living in South Florida is that you can't jump into the ocean or pool to cool off as many times the water is as hot as the air!!!Today the 'feels like' temperature is 101 but tonight I will be on the Point enjoying a great cross breeze.

And rainy days?? So what? It gives you time to catch up on indoor chores!!

Hey, New Yorkers, if you don't like it here there are airplanes, trains and buses leaving everyday plus there is the turnpike, I-95, Federal Highway and A1A ready to take you north.

Yours truly, on Miami Beach, in 1968, after losing 100 pounds!