After breaking my leg at Susan’s in June I spent months in various hospitals recovering. (Susan did everything right, I was the stupid one.) Doctors didn’t allow me to put any weight on that leg for 9 weeks. The day I was finally discharged and sent home, I fell again and broke my wrist! Before I knew it, I was back in hospital with a bright red wrist cast. Well, at least red is my favourite colour…
Son Rafi, who teaches, was off and spent months with me at hospital until he had to go back to work. Then, when I finally came home, his lovely wife, Chandra, came to spend three weeks with me. I kept asking her to cook Mexican food for me. Its a favourite of mine. She spoiled me and did.
Its worth noting I lost 10 pounds during my stays in hospitals. The food is indeed awful. I didn’t need the 10 pounds so I think I should thank them for that. The fabulous physiotherapists were most important in helping me recover.
SONAM, WHO WALKS WITH ME
At the start of 2024 I promised myself I’d walk at least 500 steps a day towards a goal of 3,000. It didn’t take long to surpass both.
I thank Sonam, who walks with me each day to see that I don’t get into trouble. We’re also always on the lookout for handsome guys. (Chuckle.)
If it snows, we don’t go. I’m not taking any chances. Having given up falling I’m presently looking for a new, less dangerous hobby. Perhaps Sky Diving???? Waddaya think????
I MANAGED 405 MILES YESTERDAY
I’ve been working again on my Exercycle and gradually building it up. I managed 4.05 miles yesterday. My goal is 6 miles, which I used to do before falling.
The ‘Joint Works’ exercises, both standing and sitting, are a regular to-do. (For Arthritis, which I have.) Again, bless Susan for making a video of me doing them which she put on YouTube. I can watch and do them whenever I want to.
I’m aware of the progress I’ve made, that now I can walk to Safeway AND shop as I walk up and down all the aisles without any concern. Yeah!!
Some readers have requested these ‘Joint Works’ exercises. I don’t know if you will HEAR my instructions, but you CAN easily follow what I do and join me.
The beautiful flowers in my San Francisco Family’s garden.
More flowers in their beautiful garden, what’s not to love????
Front: Son Rafi and beautiful me (Chuckle) Behind us: Gorgeous Chandra and their handsome son Remy.
Rafi knows how much I love hummingbirds. His garden full of flowers attracts many of these little creatures. He’ll snap a photo and send it off to me right away. Glorious!!
Happy New Year to each and every one who visits here. Thank you all for visiting my blog.
If I don’t include Germaine here, my San Francisco loved ones will never forgive me. Germain, they beloved dog, is very much a part of the family.
When my children were young I sang them many silly songs. If I didn’t know one which was appropriate, I wasn’t above making one up.
RAFI, YOURS TRULY, AND SUSAN…..
‘Do you have to sing about EVERYTHING??’ They’d complain.
Now that they are grown up, they are amused at all those old songs. Daughter Susan started things off by making videos of me singing a few of her old favourites.
She’s now gotten son Rafi and grandson Remy involved as well.
Doing these last three songs was an absolute blast. I couldn’t resist sharing them with you here. Son Rafi, who managed the sound left all the laughing in. (By the way, I believe, that’s something he teaches.) So, when the actual songs finish, keep them on. The fun we are having afterwards is hilarious.
It also pleases me that after I’m gone, as long as YouTube exists, my children will be able to watch them whenever they feel like it. Nice….
Here they are. I hope you enjoy them too.
PS: Dear Chandra is missing because while we were all being nutty, the poor girl was working.
My son Rafi sent me this photo (see left) of his garage freezer. In it he neatly stacks leftovers to be taken to work for his lunch. Beautifully organized. Impressive, no? I agree…
What a showoff! Does Rafi think his neat and oh-so wonderful-looking freezer is more exciting than mine? In his freezer, you can probably tell what’s in each and every neat container in each neat stack. No mystery! No excitement!!! No surprises! No nothin….
Take a peek into MY freezer. What do you see? Ah, you can’t make out anything? I know. Each package is double-wrapped in used plastic bags to keep better. Some of the used plastic bags are coloured so you can’t tell what’s in it. However, I am saving the world by reusing them, right? True, what is inside is always — a surprise!
MOM MURIEL’S FREEZER
I enjoy the mystery! Excitement, intrigue, surprise! Holy smokes! Look what I found!!! I didn’t know I had that! Wonder how old it is.
MOM MURIEL’S FREEZER TODAY. INTERESTING…
In my freezer you can reach for a package. What is it? Fish? Fowl? Meat? Tofu? Chicken livers? (High in iron according to my doctor.) Veggies? Fruit? Nobody knows — least of all me! It is always an adventure…
Did I buy it last week? Last month? Last year? Will it kill me? Am I ready for that? Heck, if I wake up tomorrow, I know I’ve survived another day of daring to eat food from MY freezer!!! Yeah!
CATHERINE AND LILY
It takes courage!!!
I need to acknowledge that this post would not have happened if not for my dear friend Catherine, shown here with her beloved Lily. Catherine somehow succeeded in teaching me how to take a photo with my I-Phone and transferring it to my computer. Believe me, I’m not good at this stuff and it wasn’t easy for her. Thank you Catherine!!!
SON RAFI, ME, AND DAUGHTER SUSAN. THEY MANAGED TO SURVIVE THE STUPID SONGS I SANG THEM WHEN THEY WERE KIDS
When my children were small, I sang them many silly songs. They’d usually complain ‘Mom, do you HAVE to sing a song about EVERYTHING???’ If the truth be known, if I didn’t already KNOW an applicable song, I’d make one up on the spot. I just enjoyed singing to those poor suffering young souls.
Someone must have put something in the water they drink because as adults both Rafi and Susan have asked me to tape those very same songs. Interesting…
I started to, but life is a busy adventure and I never got too far with the task. Susan decided to take things in hand and get things started, so on our last visit to her and Michael, she filmed these three ridiculous videos. I admit I’ve never had so much fun or laughed as much.
LEFT: NOTE MY FANCY HAIRDO. RIGHT: SUSAN EATING A DAIRY MILK CHOCOLATE I COULDN’T FIND. SHE HAD TO ORDER IT ONLINE.
It’s also nice to know that long after I’m gone, my children will have these absolutely stupid and awful videos of me in my old age singing a few of their favourites.
Lucky you! You can enjoy them too. Just click on the following.
You can also find them on YouTube and if we get millions of viewers, we’ll be rich. (Chuckle.)
Another birthday. Another hope that this one, at last, would bring me some wisdom. The night before I turned 86, a venerable age indeed, I crawled into bed hopeful. Surely it was time for wisdom to arrive, right???
The next morning I awoke without an iota more of that valuable stuff. Oh, well — perhaps it will happen next year.
SUSAN’S BIRTHDAY GREETING. YAHOO!
Meanwhile, daughter Susan sent me the above greeting for my special day. I enjoyed it so much, I had to share it with you lucky folks.
IS GRANDSON REMY TALL OR AM I SHORT???
Just visited loved ones in San Francisco who drove me to Nevada to visit daughter Susan and her Michael. Susan and I, as we often do, got into some mischief. Shall share some of that on my next post. Be patient…
As always, I was spoiled rotten by everyone and will be impossible for months to come.
Looks like grandson Remy keeps getting taller and taller and I keep getting shorter and shorter.
By the way, it is Susan’s birthday on August, 7th. If you can, wish HER a happy birthday.
It is Fathers’ Day. My son Rafi is a father — a devoted, loving father and I am proud of him. Surely, he and his lovely Chandra are raising a son who will also be a loving father.
RAFI AND SISTER SUSAN, WHO LOVED HIM BUT COULDN’T RESIST TRYING TO FOOL HIM OCCASIONALLY
RAFI AND HIS SOFT BROWN CURLS
I remember when I’d be pushing little Rafi, dressed in red overalls, in his stroller and strangers would comment: ‘What a beautiful little girl.’ He WAS pretty with his soft brown curls and it didn’t matter to me. I’d just say: ‘Thank you.’ (Red is still my favourite colour.)
When Rafi was very little, we didn’t have the fancy olives displayed in the grocery markets today. I used to buy black olives in cans. He’d push one on each finger and march around the kitchen thrilled with himself. I’d chuckle. He was so much fun.
I REMEMBER RAFI AS A HAPPY CHILD
His sister Susan loved him, but couldn’t help but take advantage of him occasionally. When he was about four, she told him a nickel was worth more than a dime because the nickel was bigger. She was offering to exchange her nickel for his dime. I overheard the transaction and scolded her. Rafi, always the peacemaker, insisted he was the one who wanted the nickel.
I wish my son Rafi, who has given me so much pleasure through the years, all the best on this day devoted to men like him. I am also proud of him and of all his accomplishments.
Please don’t interrupt, I’m deep in conversation. With whom? With myself of course. Yes I talk to myself — who else would listen as carefully and give me such expert advice — for free? Professionals charge by the hour.
Problem solving is important and requires extreme concentration. I haven’t lived all these years for nothing… Besides who is more familiar with the circumstances in my life and more capable of figuring out what to do?
I’m also a good listener, especially when I’m doing the talking. I may not always agree, but why argue? I want to hear what I have to say, so I pay total attention.
I DEBATED WELL AT SCHOOL
Am I bored? Insulted? Never! As a good debater (I did well on debating teams at school), when I don’t agree, you’d never hear ME make personal attacks. Not even when I debate myself. Personal attacks aren’t cool, I never say things like: ‘You don’t know what you’re talking about.’
LAUGHTER IS GOOD FOR THE SOUL.
Something I truly value is humour and I CAN, at times, be hilarious. I’m at my best when I make me laugh. Laughing is good for the soul, so I laugh often. It also makes me happy.
MY SON PUT THIS COMMENT ON THE PHOTO. WAS HE TELLING ME SOMETHING?
I’m known in my family for being a nut and appreciate their tolerance because it is certainly true.
Don’t you agree?????
HAPPY FATHERS DAY TO MY SON RAFI, THE BEST FATHER I KNOW!!!
My first love was a boy in my class at elementary school. His initials were ‘ME’. Mine were ‘MR’. What he saw in me I’ll never know, but he’d write our initials within a heart on the board for the whole class to see. And he wasn’t just teasing, we enjoyed each other.
He often invited me to play with him and his sister after school. Theirs was a child-oriented home with many games and books. I never forgot that and made sure my young children had them too.
THEY HAD MANY GAMES.
WE ENJOYED EACH OTHER.
When we were 10, he invited me to see ‘The Fun Parade’ with him at the Forum. We heard it on radio. (No one had TVs.) It wasn’t expensive — perhaps a dollar. We paid for our own tickets. There was a huge crowd, not much came to Montreal then.
At intermission, he jumped up like a Jack-in-the-box and announced: ‘I’m going to get you a hot dog and a coke.’ He didn’t ask, just ran off. I suppose his mom gave him money and told him to treat me. She must have been amused by the whole episode.
Unfortunately shortly after that, his family moved to Winnipeg. (That was long before computers or email.) I never saw or heard from him again. Did we ever kiss? Of course not!
DID WE EVER KISS??? OF COURSE NOT!
When daughter Susan asked for a story about when I was young, I checked Google and learned that he, like so many of my other old friends, had died. Looking at his photo, I tried to see the young boy in his adult face. I found it impossible.
However, I was pleased and not surprised he’d obviously had an involved and worthwhile life, a lengthy marriage, and a family that loved him.
Still going through my papers. Still finding things which I find interesting.
This poem was written by a very young daughter Susan and dated 2/14/80. I like it, although I’m sure Susan would write it very differently today.
AFTER THE RAIN
A singular droplet of crystalline water fell upon my brow, Drawing my face upwards to see if the sky would begin to Cry in earnest.
The heavenly shower began to pour around me; Washing away the sins of the world in a sporadic burst of Innumerable silver amulets. The horizon was clothed in dismal grey as the relentless Storm sent the nectar of the clouds crashing to earth in Wind-blown fury.
My consciousness soon became as drenched and distraught as The sparrow in the treetop, being thrashed about By his maker’s own discontentment. After the clouds had scoured the earth with efficient grace, They retreated to their mountaintop mansion, Allowing the sun to once again bathe the earth in brilliant, Warming rays.
A spectrum of colours danced across the heavens As the mist evaporated into clear, blue skies, Reflecting the light of life in it’s entirety, Radiance and joy were to be found everywhere: For even in the frail web of the spider, Translucent, shimmering specks of water gleamed like Diamonds on a string.
Beauty was granted a chance to show full face As the world responded to the precious gift the clouds Had bestowed upon the earth.
*P.S. Don’t be concerned if I don’t post for awhile. I’ll be busy with other things.
View from Over the Hill 