EASY WAY TO HELP VICTIMS OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE
National Domestic Violence Hotline @ 800-799-7233
New York State Domestic Violence Hotline @ 800-942-6906
New York City Domestic Violence Hotline @ 800-621-4673
A few days ago, I went into the
shower as a mere mortal,
but came out as an angel.
What happened?
I assure you it wasn’t a figment
of my imagination. When I looked
in the mirror, I truly had a “halo”
around my head. Honestly, I hadn’t
hurt my head or had a drink any
stronger than my cinnamon apple
tea, but what I was looking at was
a “halo.” How come? Maybe cataracts?
Steam on the mirror? Nah!
After a while it dawned on me.
Most likely it happened because
I canceled my last colorist’s
appointment.
I should have realized
I was now “skating on
thin ice.” I usually color
my hair every four to five
weeks. I swear it now seems
like it’s almost four to five days.
Truthfully, I don’t know what
color I am after all these years,
but under this brown hair I’m
probably more like “snow”
white than Gloria Beck. How
did that happen? With a colorist’s
magic touch and my less
than perfect vision, I can imagine
myself as anything which comes
to mind, even Wonder Woman.
It’s not such a stretch. Look, the
last Wonder Woman was from
Israel. Can’t a Jewish woman from
North Shore Towers (my Paradise)
be an older version? However, I
don’t think I’m as strong as she
is unless you count
carrying
four large
shopping
bags from
Chico’s as a
qualifier. I’m not
a “Wonder,” but I
can wonder about it.
Between coloring
and cutting, hair maintenance
can become a challenge.
My doctor prescribed that I
take Biotin for fuller hair
growth. Like Joan Rivers
once said, she was losing
her hair so rapidly she gave a name
to each hair which was left, and as
each one fell out, she sat shiva for
it. As for Biotin, I have to admit
it really works. The
problem is that
it’s not growing
on my head but on my
chin. Hmmm!
Lately it seems every time I
take a quick glance of myself
in the mirror (it has to be
quick) I see a new person.
How many times have
you said to yourself, “Is that
person I see really me?” I now
don’t get too close. I used to like
to take “selfies” with my iPhone,
but the camera tells the truth.
Now I hold it as far away from me
as I can so I don’t get a close-up,
but my arm can extend just so far. I
think I’m going to buy one of those
long sticks you can take a “selfie”
with so at least I have a fighting
chance.
One of my friends told me recently
she stuck her hand in her sleeve
and out came her mother’s arm.
I don’t have that problem, but I
do keep looking for the muscles I
used to have. I think they’re in the
pocket which is flapping under my
arm. When did that change occur?
Yup, every day it seems something
new is happening.
To sum it all up, I have a joke
for you. Did you hear about a rich
tourist who goes to Paris to visit the
art galleries? She decides to hire
the services of a guide to show her
around the Louvre.
“Oh!” said Mrs. Adams, looking
at a painting, “That’s a Monet,
isn’t it?”
“No, Madame… almost, it’s a
Manet,” replied the guide.
“And that one, it’s a Pissarro?”
“Er… no, I’m sorry, but that’s a
Monet.”
“Oh, I see. Now that one I’m sure
of… that’s a Picasso, isn’t it?”
“No, Madame, that’s a mirror.”
I could go on and on, but I’m not
telling you something you may not
have experienced no matter how
old you are. My antidote, love who
you are and enjoy every moment
and be your best friend, no matter
where life takes you.
A STRANGER IN PARADISE…
By SUSAN BARTELSTONE
It is estimated that four million
people from every race, economic
status, age group and gender
(though most are women) are victims
of domestic violence/abuse in the US.
Another sad fact is that most of the
women and children in domestic
violence shelters leave their homes
with little or nothing but the clothes
on their backs and the shelters must
supply them with everything.
For the past six years,
Heart2Heart Community
Outreach, a non-profit organization
headquartered at the Pilgrim
Cathedral of Harlem, throws a big
Holiday Party for these women
in December. Last year, almost
300 women (and their children)
from domestic violence shelters
located in Queens, Manhattan
and Brooklyn attended and were
treated to a wonderful lunch and
holiday presents, donated by
Macy’s and other stores.
In connection with this event,
Susan Bartelstone, a long-time
North Shore Towers resident who
serves on the Board of Directors of
Heart2Heart, collects donations
of supplies needed by the women
to make up festive “goody bags”
for the party. Anyone interested
in contributing such toiletry items
as shampoo, soap, toothpaste,
toothbrushes, shower caps, small
hair brushes and unused cosmetic
samples (travel samples from
hotels are perfect) and/or school
supplies, such as pens, pencils
and drawing implements, new or
gently-used children’s books or
toys, can leave them for her with
the Concierge in Building #3. Last
year, two shopping carts full of
items were donated!
Bartelstone will be collecting
through October and November.
Call her at 718-225-9284, for more
information.
Domestic violence resources in the Queens/Nassau County
• Queens Family Justice Center,
York City (counseling and legal
Mineola, NY: 516-571-3800; Special
126-02 82nd Avenue, Kew
services): 212-349-6009; www.
Victims Bureau: 516-571-1267
Gardens, NY, 718-575-4500
sanctuaryforfamilies.org
• Nassau County Coalition
• Queens District Attorney’s
• Safe Horizon (located in all
Against Domestic Violence,
Office, Domestic Violence Bureau,
boroughs): 800-621-4673; www.
Bethpage, NY, 516-542-0404;
125-01 Queens Boulevard, Kew
safehorizon.org
www.cadvnyc.org
Gardens, NY, 718-575-4500
• Nassau County District
• The Safe Center, Coalition
• Sanctuary for Families, New
Attorney, 262 Old Country Road,
Against Child Abuse and Neglect
(CCAN), Bethpage, NY, 516-747-
2966; www.thesafecenterli.org
• Violence Intervention Program,
domestic violence intervention for
Latinos and Immigrants (documented
and undocumented), all NYC
boroughs, 24/7 Bi-lingual Hotline:
800-664-5880; www.vipmujeres.org
20 NORTH SHORE TOWERS COURIER ¢ November 2017
