When I was a little girl, she’d tell me stories
of all kinds---funny made-up ones, and tales of
her life in Europe. When I was a young married
woman, she shopped with me for furniture and
drapes. She was such a terrific negotiator that
I got everything at cost.
I could and did tell her everything about my
life, and her advice to me always turned out
right. And then…my aunt, her middle child,
died in a freak accident. My funny, brave, bubbly,
story-telling grandma turned into a hard
rock. Her once sparkling blue, gaily dancing
eyes turned into a murky gray. She became
old overnight.
Years passed, but she never returned. When
my grandfather died, the rock grew heavier.
She went into an assisted living facility, where
my previously negotiating grandma spoke to
no one.
What could I do? How could I throw that
rock open? Then I hit upon an idea. When I
visited one day, I said, “Grams, do you know
what today is?”
“What do I know, and I don’t care. All the
days are the same,” she spoke in a flat monotone
voice.
“It’s your birthday,” and I produced balloons,
party hats and ice cream for all the residents on
the floor. I brought a birthday cake and lit two
candles. “One is for your age, and the other is
to grow on. Blow them out and make a wish.”
Then we all sang Happy Birthday.
For the rest of the day, her eyes turned blue
again; she laughed and cried tears of joy. The
rock was thrown wide open. I had found the
“Open Sesame” key and my treasure, my gram,
had returned. Our lives changed, at least for
that one day.
During the Pandemic our whole country
was in lockdown, trying to escape from the
invisible killer, Covid-19. The once crowded
streets were empty, stores were closed and there
were no tantalizing aromas from restaurants
to be sniffed in the air. Hospitals were closed
to loved ones and only serviced the sick and
dying. We hid behind our masks, sanitized our
hands and safely distanced from one another.
Still, positivity rates went up and people died.
Then, MIRACULOUSLY, the VACCINES
came. Suddenly, there were pop-up sites in
stadiums, schools, centers—wherever we found
large spaces. We bared our arms, and were
VACCINATED with one or two shots. Slowly,
positivity rates went down. Slowly we walked
the streets, slowly the stores and restaurants
reopened. We found our “Open Sesame” key,
and our treasures were returning. Our lives
were changing back to a new, wonderful normal,
hopefully forever.
How about you? Do you have some deep
secret or closed mind or heart? Has anxiety or
depression formed a rock around you, standing
in the way of finding your inner treasure?
Search for your “Open Sesame” key so that
you can change your life forever…or at least
for a day.
OPEN SESAME
BY MARIAN NEMETSKY
“Open Sesame!” shouted Ali Baba, a poor
woodcutter, as he stood in front of a big, heavy,
black, solid boulder. He was trying to recreate
the most amazing scene he had just witnessed
by a band of 40 thieves. Sure enough, the rock
was thrown open, revealing a cave filled with
gold and silver. He rejoiced at his good fortune,
and took as much of the treasure as he could
carry away. It changed his life forever.
In a similar vein, there are many instances
when we need to find the “Open Sesame” key
to unlock something that appears impenetrable,
to access the treasure inside.
When my son was born, his eyes and fists
were so tightly shut that it looked like they
were hermetically sealed. However, as I held,
fed and softly sang to him in my off-tune voice,
I could feel his tiny body relaxing in my arms.
I lightly touched his clenched fist, and amazingly,
it opened wide. I gingerly placed my
finger into the palm of his hand, and it closed
again, but this time it encircled my finger. His
eyes opened, and though he hadn’t learned to
smile yet, I knew he was smiling inside. I had
found my “Open Sesame” key, and he was my
treasure. My life changed forever.
My grandma was my hero. Armed with grit
and determination, she arrived in New York
from Austria at age 14. She instantly fell in love
with her adopted country and learned to speak
and read English as fast as she could. Proudly,
she became an American citizen.
STORY & PHOTOS BY BUD BANK
Today I took a tour--people are in the pool,
lifeguards are happily working. Residents
are sitting around and enjoying their
friends in the shade
and in the sun.
In the garden
every seat was taken,
I love seeing
that. I then went
to the ladies card
room and all the ladies were having fun
and lots of smiles.
At the Country Club entrance was
Amy, she was answering the phone and
answering all questions of the people
around her, she was very professional and
knowledgeable.
Opposite Building Two is Buffy’s restaurant,
lots of hungry people were enjoying
very good food, so glad to see that. We all
had the option of wearing masks or not
wearing mask, I’m still wearing my mask
only because I look better with it on.
Don’t forget our movie theater is open.
North shore Towers’ Board of Directors
election is over. We have some new Board
members; let’s thank them for running and
wish them all well.
Be healthy and happy, Bud Great job, Amy!
To quote Dudley Doright, “Don’t worry Nell,
I’ll save you!”
Look closely…she’s got Aces over Deuces!
Around the Towers
28 NORTH SHORE TOWERS COURIER ¢ July 2021