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<\/a>Me, in front of my beloved house for the last time. I look distraught because…I am!!!<\/p><\/div>\n
I first left there when I was a teen-ager, but meant for it to be for just that summer.\u00a0 I didn’t expect to fall in love with Los Angeles, and take-up permanent residence here.\u00a0 But I never moved anything from my Brooklyn home; quite the opposite, actually.\u00a0 I always brought more stuff to New York; either gifts for my parents, or items that I didn’t have room for in my LA home, or products for the purpose of having a full set of necessities (cosmetics, medicines, vitamins, shampoos, clothing, etc.) there, so the next time, I could pack just presents for everyone in my suitcases. (Along with, of course, a few fabulous new outfits to show off!)<\/p>\n
But this column isn’t to once again lament the loss of my home, and the torture I went through emptying it out.\u00a0 Today’s purpose is to let my East Coast pals know how much they continue to mean to me.\u00a0 And they’re not just my “east coast pals.”\u00a0 They’re all my forever friends, and I seriously miss them all the time.<\/p>\n
So, I want to share some of my wonderful memories from the five weeks I spent in Brooklyn at this time last year.\u00a0 [Note: These are aside from all the invaluable assistance on the house these peeps gave me.]\u00a0 These instances were truly oases in the torturous time I had there otherwise. \u00a0I could have easily been pushed way over the edge without these in-between-the-work special moments, all courtesy of my friends.<\/p>\n
I actually have even more stories than these, but here are some highlights, in no particular order. (And I’m proud to say that these are all off the top of my head, from a year ago!, without looking at my appointment book for that time!) Here goes:<\/p>\n
<\/a>The seder table at Manny’s Photo by Karen Salkin.<\/p><\/div>\n
Enjoying a true New York Passover seder, (which I hadn’t had in very many years,) at Manny’s beautiful Upper East Side home with Sheila, Eamonn, Shirley, and Mallory.<\/p>\n
Attending a surprise screening, produced by a college mate of Eamonn’s from San Francisco, with Eamonn and Sheila, (who had driven ten hours in from Ohio<\/em> to help me clear out the house!)<\/p>\n Easter brunch, (and the search for it!,) with Sharon.<\/p>\n Finally getting to go to Brooklyn Star bowling alley, (for a party,) with Thomas and Anita, (who had come all the way from Rhode Island to help me with the heavy lifting!)<\/p>\n The indoor patio at Spumoni Garden. Photo by Karen Salkin.<\/p><\/div>\n My last wonderful dinner at my precious Spumoni Garden, courtesy of the super-pleasant owner, Lenny, with Anna.<\/p>\n The miracle of tracking down a stranger (in the middle of a street!,) I had given a “sight” machine to, to give him the instructions I found the day before I left forever, with Helen and Amanda.<\/p>\n The kindness of Lauren, Scott, and Taylor to include me in their Mother’s Day dinner, which I know was a big hassle to do (even though I’m sure none of them felt that way about it.)<\/p>\n Bumping into beautiful couple Valerie Harper and Tony Cacciotti just walking down the street in Manhattan!<\/p>\n The view looking down at the Brooklyn Ice Cream Factory, under the amazing Brooklyn Bridge. My car is the one in the middle. Photo by Karen Salkin.<\/p><\/div>\n My last time at Brooklyn Ice Cream Factory with Betsy and Sharon #2, and us just sitting out there, enjoying the scenery, ice cream, and each other (including admiring our nail polishes.)<\/p>\n Discovering the best burgers in Brooklyn with Adrienne.<\/p>\n \u201cFiguring it out\u201d with Sharon. (Every time we weren’t sure about something, Sharon said, \u201cWe’ll figure it out.\u201d I wonder if we ever really did!)<\/p>\n Having Manny, my longest-tenured friend in New York, spend the last evening in the house with me to put the finishing touches on all my uber-hard work.<\/p>\n<\/a><\/a>