Nate's Birth

My first grandson, Nate David Gerstein, was born on March 9, 2007 (just turned 16) at Weill Cornell Medical Center on the upper east side of Manhattan.  And where was I at that memorable moment?  Not at the hospital.

When I was working in Manhattan (Seagram's and the Anti-Defamation League), I went to a dentist on Park Avenue.  He was the only male along with a harem of a number of women: hygienists, receptionists, assistants, bookkeepers, housekeepers, etc.

A few years after I stopped going to that dentist, I received a birthday gift from his office: a coupon for a free massage at an establishment nearby.  I saved the coupon for some time in the future.  

The future occurred in 2007.  My daughter Rachel was about to give birth for the first time.  I was at the hospital waiting for my first grandchild (sex unknown).  

I was told by Rachel's doctor that the birth would not occur for many hours and I should find something to occupy my time.  I followed this advice.

Since the massage establishment was not far from the hospital, I thought this would be a good time to use my birthday present.  So off I went.

I don't remember too much about the massage, only what happened afterwards.  I called Bonita (my ex-wife and Rachel's mother) to find out what was happening.  Well, it had already happened.  I missed the birth of Nate, my first grandson.  Mother and child doing fine, no thanks to me.  

Over the years, this event has become a family joke.  But, this error was not my fault.  To quote Rick from Casablanca, "I was misinformed."     

McLintock!

 McLintock! is a 1963 Western film starring John Wayne, his son Patrick, Maureen O'Hara and Stephanie Powers.

In the film, G. W. McLintock (John Wayne) is a wealthy rancher estranged (for unexplained reasons) from his wife Katherine (O'Hara).  Their daughter Becky (Powers) is returning home after finishing college in the East.  G. W. hires a young man named Dev (Patrick Wayne) to work on his ranch.

Katherine returns to the ranch as well to try to convince Becky to return with her back East.  There is friction between G. W. and Katherine as he would prefer Becky stay at his ranch.

Dev and Becky get into an argument when he accuses her of being a "trollop" for kissing her boyfriend before they are engaged.  With G. W.'s permission, Dev spanks Becky with a coal shovel.  

Later,  frustrated with her behavior, G. W. spanks his wife as well.  He was encouraged to do so by one of his friends with the following quote:  

"My father used to say, you raise your voice, (if) it doesn't do any good, it's time to raise your hand.  Talk to her (G. W.'s wife)?  Talking won't do any good."

This may have been good advice sixty years ago, but not today.  Hitting a woman?  No, no, no.  Because of this, McLintock! is my least favorite John Wayne movie.

This reminds me of a quote from the late actor Sean Connery about slapping women.  "(Women) can't leave it alone.  They want to have the last word and you give them the last word.  But they're not happy with the last word.  They want to say it again, and get into a really provocative situation.  Then, I think it's absolutely right (to slap a woman)."  Really?  

Abraham's Son, Chapter 14

 INT. KITCHEN OF ABRAHAM'S HOUSE - NIGHT

ABRAHAM makes popcorn in preparation for watching movie on TCM.

INT. LIVING ROOM OF ABRAHAM'S HOUSE - NIGHT

ABRAHAM sits, eats popcorn and watches 1989 film Field of Dreams with Kevin Costner (as Ray Kinsella).  

RAY KINSELLA (O.S.):  Dad...you wanna have a catch?

ABRAHAM turns off TV at end of film, takes empty bowl of popcorn to kitchen and then starts heading to his bedroom.  There is a knock on his front door.  ABRAHAM looks at his watch.  It is about 10:30 PM.  He is surprised somebody would arrive at such a late hour.  ABRAHAM walks to door and calls out.

ABRAHAM:  Who is it?

SARA (O.S.):  SARA.

ABRAHAM slowly opens front door.  The two of them stare at each other in silence for a moment.  Finally...

SARA:  I'm ovulating.

ABRAHAM is shocked by what she said.

SARA:  Can I come in?

ABRAHAM steps aside and gestures to SARA his permission for her to enter house.  She steps in and walks toward area where they had their discussion the previous Thursday.  

ABRAHAM:  Have a seat.

They both sit.

SARA:  Sorry for what I said last week.  I was rude.  I coulda just said no.  (pause)  You've been very nice to me from the start.  Treated me like a friend.  I didn't treat you like a friend last week.  (pause)  I've been doin' a lot a thinkin' since then.  What you said, act of kindness, kinda stuck with me.  You want a kid, your own kid, that's not so crazy.  Maybe bein' pregnant wouldn't be so bad, maybe it's something I should have in my life.  Maybe.  (pause)  So, if you wanna do it with me...tonight...okay.  What do ya wanna do?  

ABRAHAM:  I feel the same as I did last week.   I'm ready.  (pause)  I want you to know...our making love...I thank you ...for doing this.  (pause)  Do you want anything...before we...?  

SARA thinks a minute.

SARA:  Got any Baileys Irish Cream?

ABRAHAM:  I believe I do.  Let me get a couple of glasses.

ABRAHAM goes and finds the bottle and fills two glasses.  He returns and hands one to SARA.  Then he makes a toast.

ABRAHAM:  To our child.

ABRAHAM and SARA each take a sip of Baileys Irish Cream.

Jerry Mahoney

This is the 400th post of my blog I started in December 2014.  

Jerry Mahoney is a ventriloquist's dummy created by Paul Winchell in the early 1940s.  He wears a red sport jacket and a bow tie.  Jerry has an outspoken personality which exasperates Paul.

Paul Winchell was born (originally Paul Wilchinsky) into a Jewish family in New York City on December 21, 1922.  At six years of age, he contracted polio.   

When Paul was about 12 years-old, he saw a magazine advertisement offering a ventriloquism kit for 10 cents.  Receiving school credit from his art teacher for creating a ventriloquist's dummy, he named his dummy after the teacher.

Paul worked on developing a comedic routine with his dummy, Jerry Mahoney.  He won first prize on the Major Bowes Amateur Hour in 1938.   Shortly thereafter, Paul became a professional entertainer at age 16.

Paul's first show (with Jerry) on the radio was in 1943.  However, he was overshadowed by the veteran ventriloquist, Edgar Bergen, whose daughter Candice was a classmate of mine at Penn from 1963 to 1965.

In the 1950s, Paul moved to television for The Paul Winchell and Jerry Mahoney Show.  The Saturday morning program was sponsored by Tootsie Roll, a chocolate flavored taffy.  I used to watch the show regularly.

On one trip to New York City with my parents, my mother (my father was busy with business at Nestlé) arranged for the two of us to attend a live broadcast of The Paul Winchell and Jerry Mahoney Show.  We sat near the back of the studio audience.

I remember there were at least three cameras between the audience and the principals on stage, which hindered our view.  Also, there was an electric sign which told us when to applaud.  We did as instructed.  It was a thrilling experience to be there for a live TV show, my only such experience.

Paul Winchell died in 2005 at the age of eighty-two.  Jerry Mahoney is at the Smithsonian Institution.

Al Cervi

Al Cervi was born February 12, 1917 (106 years ago) in Buffalo, NY.  He was captain of his high school basketball team and achieved All-City honors.  

After his junior year, Al quit school and played professional basketball for the Buffalo Bisons of the National Basketball League.  After the team went out of existence, he joined the US Army Air Forces for five years (1940-1945).

After WWII, Al signed on to play for the Rochester Royals basketball team from 1945 to 1948.  Today, that National Basketball Association (NBA) franchise is known as the Sacramento Kings.

After the 1948 season, Al signed on as the player-coach of the Syracuse Nationals or Nats (now the Philadelphia 76ers).  The team qualified for the NBA playoffs eight of the nine years he was their coach, finally winning the championship in 1955, defeating the Fort Wayne (now Detroit) Pistons, 4 games to 3.  

On April 10th, 1955, Syracuse won game 7 of that series at home by a score of 92-91.  It was to be the Nats only championship.

As I lived near Syracuse growing up, I (along with my family) attended many of the Nats home games at the Onondaga War Memorial.  I also listened to many of their games on the radio.

Their top players from the championship season were:

Dolph Schayes NYU 6'8" - Grew up in a Jewish family in New York City.  Joined Nats in 1948 and played for 16 years.  First NBA player to score 15,000 points.  Adept at set shot.

Johnny Kerr University of Illinois 6'9" - Joined Nats in 1954.  NBA All-Star three times. 

Red Rocha Oregon State University 6'9" - First person from Hawaii to play in NBA.  Shares NBA record for most minutes (67) in a playoff game.

Paul Seymour University of Toledo 6'1" - Had a twelve year career in NBA.  Was also a successful coach with four different NBA teams.

George King University of Charleston 6'0" - Hit series clinching free throw to win championship in 1955.  Played five years with Nats.

Earl Lloyd West Virginia State University 6'5" - First Black to play in an NBA game.  Had career highs in points and rebounds for Nats in their championship year.  Excellent defender.

On March 26, 1963, the Nats played the Cincinnati (formerly Rochester) Royals at home with 7,418 fans in attendance.  It was the fifth and deciding game of the NBA Eastern Conference Semifinals.  The Royals won in overtime, 131-127, eliminating Syracuse.  It was the Nats final game...ever.  

On May 22, 1963, the Nats were sold to new ownership who moved the team to Philadelphia (and renamed them).  Three months later, I moved there, too.

 

The Fabelmans

 The Fabelmans is a 2022 film co-written, co-produced and directed by Steven Spielberg.  It is basically the story of Spielberg's early life from the time he saw his first movie until he started his career making movies.  The story also deals with his relationships with his mother and father.

When Spielberg was five years-old, his parents took him to see his first movie, The Greatest Show on Earth (1952), produced and directed by Cecil B. DeMille.  Young Steven (Sammy in the film) was particularly impressed by the train crash scene.  

From there, Sammy (Steven) developed a tremendous interest in making movies.  He continued making movies all the way through high school.

Spielberg found it difficult accepting his Jewish heritage; he said: "It isn't something I enjoy admitting [...] but when I was seven, eight, nine years old, God forgive me, I was embarrassed because we were Orthodox Jews. I was embarrassed by the outward perception of my parents' Jewish practices. I was never really ashamed to be Jewish, but I was uneasy at times."  I can relate to that.  

Spielberg also suffered from anti-Semitism: "In high school, I got smacked and kicked around. Two bloody noses. It was horrible."  Thankfully, I did not have a similar experience at OHS.

Among Spielberg's films were a long list of successes:  Jaws (1975), Close Encounters of the Third Kind (1977), Raiders of the Lost Ark (1981), E. T. The Extra-Terrestrial (1982), Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom (1984), The Color Purple (1985), Jurassic Park (1993), Schindler's List (1993), Saving Private Ryan (1998), Lincoln (2012), Bridge of Spies (2015) and West Side Story (2021).

In 2010, I nearly crossed paths with Steven Spielberg.  I was working as a customer service rep/cashier at Kohl's department store in Durham, North Carolina.  He was on a business trip to the area with some staff and was staying at a hotel near the store.  

Spielberg came to Kohl's with a female associate to buy her a swimsuit.  The cashier recognized him and saw his credit card.  Unfortunately, I did not have a shift while he was at the store.  Close, but no cigar.

The Fabelmans ends with a real life story of Spielberg's, meeting the legendary director, John Ford, when Spielberg was just at the beginning of his film making career.  With Sammy sitting in Ford's waiting room, the theme from the opening scene of The Seachers (1956) is heard.  There are movie posters of many of Ford's films on the walls.  When Ford finally arrives, he gives Sammy a quick lesson in art (where is the horizon in a picture?) and then tells him to "get the fuck out of my office."  

Abraham's Son, Chapter 13

INT. INSIDE AMTRAK CAR - NIGHT

ABRAHAM enters train at Penn Station and takes a seat. Train leaves on way to Washington. 

INT. INSIDE UNION STATION, WASHINGTON - NIGHT

ABRAHAM exits train and enters station. ROBERT and ABRAHAM see each other and come together. They embrace.

ROBERT: Welcome to Washington, ABRAHAM. How was the trip?

ABRAHAM: Great! Now I'm hungry. 

ROBERT: I can fix that. Let's go.

ABRAHAM, carrying a bag, and ROBERT walk out of crowded Union Station. 

INT. MASTRO'S STEAKHOUSE - NIGHT

ABRAHAM and ROBERT sit at a table at fashionable restaurant in Washington eating thick, juicy steaks. They talk, but we cannot hear them. 

INT. ROBERT'S SYNAGOGUE IN WASHINGTON - DAY

On Saturday morning, ROBERT and ABRAHAM participate in shabbos services at ROBERT's synagogue, which is crowded. 

EXT. VIETNAM MEMORIAL IN WASHINGTON - DAY

Later on Saturday, ABRAHAM and ROBERT are at the Vietnam Memorial in Washington. ABRAHAM looks for name of his brother who was killed in action in Vietnam. He finds the name, Joseph Shapiro. ABRAHAM stops and stares at the name for a minute with tears in his eyes. 

EXT. INSIDE LINCOLN MEMORIAL - DAY 

ABRAHAM and ROBERT look at the statue of Lincoln and then the two sides of the Memorial showing the two famous speeches he gave. 

EXT ON THE STEP IN FRONT OF LINCOLN MEMORIAL - DAY 

ABRAHAM and ROBERT are descending down from the Memorial.

ABRAHAM: ROBERT, let's sit here a minute. 

ROBERT: Okay. 

They sit down on the steps. 

ABRAHAM: This may sound like a stupid question, but are you happy, ROBERT? 

ROBERT: There are no stupid questions. A professor told me that once. Okay, let me think. (pause) You know, I don't really dwell on happiness. I keep busy, that's what I do. And I am busy, very busy. This is an unusual day off for me. Normally, I'm back in the office after shabbat services. 

ABRAHAM: The reason for my question is I feel there's a gap in my life. Not a woman gap, but...a child gap. I really miss not having a child. How are your children, ROBERT? 

ROBERT: They're all fine, grandkids, too. Don't see them much, but we keep in touch. That's a little weird at your age, you thinking about a child. What's your solution? 

ABRAHAM: Not sure, yet. But, it's become like an obsession. You think I'm mashugana?

ROBERT: (laughing) Who cares? Do what you want? Don't let anybody else tell you how to live your life. You only get one chance and then...and then. 

ABRAHAM: Thanks. 

ABRAHAM and ROBERT get up and start walking away from the Memorial. 

INT. GUEST ROOM AT ROBERT'S HOME - DAY 

ABRAHAM is changing his clothes in ROBERT's guest room when his cellphone rings. He answers it. 

ABRAHAM:  Hello. 

SANDY (O.S.): ABRAHAM, it's SANDY. You weren't at services this morning. I asked SYLVIA about it and she didn't seem concerned, but I worried. What's going on? 

ABRAHAM: Nothing. I'm fine. I'm in Washington...visiting my friend ROBERT.

SANDY (O.S.): What? You left town and didn't tell me. What is that?

ABRAHAM: I'm sorry. I guess I should have told you. 

SANDY (O.S.): You guess? 

ABRAHAM: I'm sorry. I'll...I'll...When I get back, I'll call you and we can do something. 

SANDY (O.S.): Don't take me for granted, ABRAHAM. I have other admirers, you know. 

ABRAHAM: I'm sure. 

SANDY (O.S.): I thought we were starting a relationship. That means two people thinking about each other. Not one person acting on his own. 

ABRAHAM: I...I'm not used to this...being with you as a couple, I mean. I apologize. 

SANDY (O.S.): I'm not sure I accept. I'll think about it. (pause) When will you call me? 

ABRAHAM: I'm not sure when I'll be getting back to New York. It's up in the air. 

SANDY (O.S.): I'm mad at you. 

SANDY hangs up. ABRAHAM is unsure what to do next, how to react to her. 

INT. UNION STATION - DAY 

ABRAHAM is leaving Washington by train Monday morning. He and ROBERT embrace. 

ABRAHAM: Thanks for everything. 

ROBERT: This has been great. I'm glad we're still friends, ABRAHAM. If there's anything you need from me, let me know. Okay? 

ABRAHAM: Okay. Gotta go. Bye. 

ABRAHAM walks through gate towards his train headed to New York. 

EXT. PARK NEAR ABRAHAM'S HOME - DAY 

ABRAHAM, still on vacation from work, sits in park on bench, reading newspaper on Tuesday. He eventually sees a father, 40ish, with a young son doing various activities in park's playground. ABRAHAM puts down newspaper and stares at father and son. 

INT. INSIDE ICE CREAM STORE - DAY 

On Wednesday, ABRAHAM is at ice cream store having a root beer float, sitting at a table. A young father with his son enters store and catches ABRAHAM's attention. He forgets his drink and follows the twosome while they choose what the want until they eventually leave store.