July 2021

We are Family!

We have been in the Pacific Northwest for the hottest days ever recorded there. It was so hot the ice cream store had a sign on the door “TOO HOT FOR ICE CREAM.  WE’RE CLOSED.”  We were in the San Juan Islands, saw some whales and gorgeous country.

We were celebrating a post-virus weekend for the 80^th birthdays of my only brother John and Sherry, his bride of 58 years. It was a rare treat to be with them, my niece and nephew Ruth and Ted, his wife Florence and their two adult kids, Mindy and Max.

John and I share bonds that are absolutely unique: growing up together, we were exposed to family words and expressions nobody else knows (or might not care about).

At least 50 times in a week , one of us quoted an expression from the lexicon of our unique family history to comment on something that was happening.  I’m sure your family had its own words, too. (I used to have a little book called Family Words, but it disappeared with my baseball cards.)

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Our Family Words

Over the years John and I have been keeping track of some of our words and expressions of our lifetimes.  Here’s a sampler:

Most of these originated with our Grampa Louie (Louis Weinberg Sr. 1870-1952)

“I NEVER LOST ANYTHING THERE”: Grampa Louie…on why he didn’t want to travel to just about ANY place

“IT’S HARD TO GET A UNITED STATES SENATOR TO DO THAT JOB.”: When a waiter or cleaning person or other service person did something Grampa Louie thought was incompetent, stupid or lazy.
(Trans: If they don’t do their job well or mess up, it shouldn’t come as a big surprise. He had great respect for Senators…but he never experienced Mitch McConnell)

“IT’S THE STEAL WORKS!”   Grampa Louie’s name for City Hall in Chicago 

“SCHMEAR MAKES THE WORLD GO ROUND”: His explanation for how things really get done.  (Tips/graft/payoffs)

“WHY DIDN’T IT HAPPEN TO ME?”: Grampa Louie didn’t participate in many activities the older he got. He avoided taking risks.

“NEVER HAVE A FAMILY PARTY WITHOUT A FEW STRANGERS. IT MAKES THE FAMILY BEHAVE BETTER.”: Aunt Mollie’s advice to mom, (Jane Weinberg) a newlywed.

“YOU DON’T NEED TO STAY IN COLLEGE… YOU’RE NOT GOING TO BE A PROFESSOR!”: Grampa Louie to LWJr. after his sophomore year at University of Michigan, explaining why he wouldn’t pay for any more college.

“AND THE FARMER TOOK ANOTHER LOAD AWAY.”: When somebody was talking bullshit.

“YOURS BROKE!” What one of our cousins told her sister-in-law when she brought two fancy plates from Europe. 

Equal time to our other grandfather, Leo Goldstein, the youngest of ten who was around 101 years and outlived all his siblings.  

“EVERYTHING IN MODERATION”: …re. smoking pipes and cigars; drinking Scotch; eating rich desserts, doing exercise, etc.

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Aging According to My Dad

I had still another birthday a few weeks ago.  Of course, I didn’t want to feel my age…

I never have!

As I do every once in a while, I thumbed through the bound volumes of original Weinberg House Organ written by my dad, Louis Weinberg, Jr.  I came across this one from July, 1959, the year the White Sox finally won a pennant after a 40 year dry spell.

I can relate to my dad’s perceptions now better than I ever could. I feel like I spend much of my energy being retro and comfortable with what used to be.  The tendency to hold on to “the old days” (what’s now called “back in the day”) is always a temptation. 

Here’s what Lou Weinberg wrote 62 years ago:

As time and change march on – all of us have one sobering thought in common.  We’re getting older and we don’t like the idea!

From this realization, – it’s just a short jump to the next question I think, namely what is the distinguishing feature of the man or woman who stays relatively young?

Somehow, I don’t think that the man of sixty who dresses more daringly than he did at thirty has the answer – if this is indeed his claim for staying young. Nor is it, I believe the wheezing oldster who has to dance every day and know every new dance step – just to prove that he’s active as ever.  Nor is the self-appointed sage who recounts the good old days (when he was out of a job, no doubt) in such careful detail that his polite audience falls asleep.  And finally, I can’t believe it’s the “sly old dog” who gives the girls (from 17 to 70) a knowing look upon the slightest encouragement – or upon none at all!

My informed guess is this: The distinguishing mark of the man who stays relatively young is his ability to be receptive and interested in new acquaintances, new friends, new concepts, and new ideas.  Such a man doesn’t have time to get old.

Among my acquaintances and friends are bright older men whose sun rises and sets in the same little group of people.  For all practical purposes no other group exists.  Ask them privately and in complete frankness, how long has it been since they spent time socially with someone outside their group or developed a new acquaintance or friend – of any age – and if they’re completely honest with themselves and with you – they’ll tell you frankly it’s been so long ago they can’t remember when.

As to their exposure to new ideas – and new subjects and interests – their frank answer would be: “I prefer the old ones.”  And when they say or indicate this – you’ve met a man whose rut is lined with rigor mortis!  Because my hunch is that staying young demands impact with new personalities, new concepts, and new points of view – even though insulation might be more comfortable.

He was only 52 when he wrote this and we all know it was a different and more confined world,  but I find it valuable and applicable today.  I admit that I struggle with avoiding the more comfortable path of sticking to the old ways, even though I agree in principle that it’s not the most fulfilling way to spend my life.

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Do You Know What These Are?

Wow! You’re old! 

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Ah, the technology!

“Sorry sir, our system is down.”

My systems are down several times a day.  It’s a rare 24 hours when I don’t have to reboot the TV with one remote or another.  And to get the closed captions up is a new adventure for each platform.  Input HDMI 1 or 2 or AV? Is that documentary on Prime or HBO or Netflix? And how do I get there from here?

It’s all trial and error. I need and want to watch and listen, but I don’t need to spend 10 to 60 minutes a day figuring out how to do what any 12 year-old can do.

No, I’m not a Luddite, but frustration with my inability to manage the tech continues to increase with each new possibility.  In 2012, I wrote a piece counting the possibilities for the tech that was in my hands:

Is this proof of “Progress?”

In the 50’s I had to get up to change channels…only four were available. In 2012, I sat at my desk and without getting out of my chair, I had a choice of 355 buttons to push:

42 on the two-line land phone
22 on the cell phone
43 tiny ones on the Blackberry
27 on the calculator
54 on the wide-screen remote
45 on the cable remote
75 on the computer keyboard
47 on the all-in-one copier, fax, printer.

Now, in 2021, there’s almost no way to count the buttons I can push.  Frequently, I try them all just to see what happens.

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It’s Not Just Technology

On the topic of frustration and my hands, opening just about anything, from sandwiches on a plane to yogurt containers and condiments has also become a daily mystery.  It’s not just food…it’s just about everything: batteries, office supplies, and appliances, small and large.  They say it’s packaged for “security.”

I’d prefer less security and more user-friendliness. I suspect you feel the same way. 

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I’ve been searching for art that conjures a view of the world that represents my perceptions.

I want to reflect the 21^st century and the media world we all carry around.  I came across this print of Jean-Michel Folon (1934-2005). He called it Le Monde.  I’m entirely comfortable in his world.

Écrit’turbulente (Turbulent writing)   

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Grandkids: So Adorable!

What a relief not to be stuck in our homes and to shed the mask most of the time.

Healthy July to you and yours.  Seeya August 1.