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Ladies of Forest Trace: Breaking News

"Did you see the breaking news?" My 103-year-old mother was calling from Forest Trace, the retirement community in Lauderhill, Florida where she lives."After this past week with Hurricane Irene I...

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Birds Do It, Bees Do It

I was drawn to two stories from the front page of Wednesday's New York Times.The first was about Marine recruiters who visited Tulsa, Oklahoma's largest gay community center on the first day after the...

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The Ladies of Forest Trace: The New Nuke

This time I placed the call.  I was worried.  Not about my 103-year-old mother—she continues to do remarkably well--but about what I saw unfolding in the Republican race for the presidential...

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"Take Back America"

We were about 75 miles north of Mobile, hungry, and our GPS indicated there was a BBQ not far from us. The Real Pit BBQ just off I-75."Sounds good," Rona said. "I could also use a pit stop."Fifteen...

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Mitt's New Best Friend

He's Ron Paul. That Hobbit candidate who came in second in New Hampshire with 23% of the vote. (Mitt got 39%; and poor Jon Huntsman received only 17%.)Romney may not be be turning on the Republican...

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Kim Jong-rand

While reading about how the North Koreans will soon be moving their recently-deceased supreme leader Kim Jong-il into the same mausoleum that features on permanent display his predecessor-father, Kim...

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Ladies of Forest Trace: What Obama Needs to Do

“I’m worried about the ladies,” my mother said over lunch the other day.“Is Bertha in the hospital again? I know that Fay . . .”“No, they’re fine. By that I mean fine for people our age.” My mother is...

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The Bibles of Walter Reed

Late last week I spend some time checking in on what was happening at the annual CPAC, Conservative Political Action Conference.As might be expected, since it was being held just after the ban on gay...

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Ladies of Forest Trace: Lifeweary

“I’m feeling very old.” My nearly 104-year-old mother was on the phone.“Well, mom, to be honest with you, you are getting old,” I said but quickly added er to make it, “You are getting older.”“I didn’t...

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Gingrich to Romney--Let's Make A Deal

All along I thought the reason Newt Gingrich was staying in the race was either (1) because he loves being on TV and promoting his and Calista's various money-making schemes; and/or (2) that he so...

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The Ladies of Forest Trace: Obama, Oy Vey!

“You haven’t had dinner with the girls in a long time. So how about coming on Friday? They have a nice menu—some kind of beef with a French sauce, which I of course can’t chew--but you will...

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Stand Your Ground

At first under the radar and now coming to wider public attention is what mobilized conservative Republicans have been up to for many years at the local and state levels.The most recent example--the...

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The Ladies of Forest Trace: Natural Causes

“I’m not doing well.” On the phone my mother sounded breathless and weak.I was concerned. Though she is nearly 104, she has been in fine physical and mental health. “You do sound under the weather....

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Ladies of Forest Trace: Uncle Ben & Danny

“I am feeling much better.” It was my 104-year-old mother calling. “I know you gave me up for dead; but as who-was-it said, ‘The reports of my death have been exonerated.’”“I think it was Mark Twain,...

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Obama at Barnard: Take 2

I woke up yesterday morning to the latest polling results:Mitt Romney's support among registered voters who are women has grown and is slightly above President Barack Obama's, according to a poll...

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Ladies of Forest Trace: Frieda

“You’re here two minutes and already I’m giving you bad news.”We were in Florida, at Forest Trace, in anticipation of celebrating my mother’s 104th birthday on Thursday.We braced ourselves because,...

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President Obama Should Apologize If--

Mitt Romney has been running from network to network decrying what he claims is an unfair attack by the Obama campaign on his record at Bain Capital and how he invested his hundreds of millions. He...

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Ladies of Forest Trace: Nothing Wonderful

“There’s nothing wonderful about being 104.” My mother was calling from Lauderhill where she lives at Forest Trace, a senior citizens residence.  “You keep telling me there is and I say, No. There is...

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Ladies of Forest Trace: The Terrible Man With All That Hair

“I’m terrible and need to talk with you.”It was my mother calling.  She has been dispirited the past two months, even saying, “Maybe it’s enough already. I’m so old I can’t even remember how old I am.”...

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Ladies of Forest Trace: Oral Surgery

“You know I have to have my teeth removed.”“Not your teeth, mom, one of your molars.”“And my doctor said that at my age, which we will not discuss, I could die in the chair. Actually, he said, there is...

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Ladies of Forest Trace: Rand Pail & Chuck Schmoozer

"Why are you calling? To cancel? You're not up for a visit?"It was my mother calling from Forest Trace, where she lives with 250 other seniors. This has happened before. Many times. At nearly 105 it’s...

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The Ladies of Forest Trace--Groans

“Can I ask you something?”“Anything, mom.” We had driven over to Forest Trace to visit my nearly 105-year-old mother.“Have you been watching?”“Watching what?”“TV. CNN.” She was having a good day,...

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Ladies of Forest Trace: With Mother

When we learned that my brother and sister-in-law who share in caring for my nearly 105-year-old mother would be out of town until the 24th, reflexively, we changed our departure plans—moving the date...

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Ladies of Forest Trace: Do Unto Henry Cross

When visiting with my mother on Friday to celebrate her 105th birthday, I did one of those silly things one is inclined to do on such occasions.Rather than asking her which invention or technological...

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Take Away NYU's 501(c)(3)

Colleges and universities are exempt from virtually all federal and state taxes because they are deemed to serve a "public purpose." They provide undergraduate and graduate education services as well...

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Ladies of Forest Trace: Maureen Shroud

“I’m fed up with her, all the time calling him ‘The One.’”“I think I know who you mean.”As usual on Sunday, at the stroke of noon, my more-than-105-year-old mother was calling from Florida. She takes...

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Ladies of Forest Trace: Senator Cruel

"I only have a minute. I'm watching C-Spanish." My 105-year-old mother was calling from Forest Trace in Lauderhill, Florida.I knew she meant C-SPAN. These days she's been glued to the TV. So much is...

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Ladies of Forest Trace: Immaculate Generation

Approaching 106, there are days when my mother has less vitality. At those times, our conversations are brief as she struggles to take in the oxygen she needs. We talk only about the weather in Florida...

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Ladies of Forest Trace: Are You Limping?

Like clockwork, for decades, at precisely noon on Sundays, my mother would call. In fact, she was so regular in doing this that it would generate genuine concern if she was even a minute late.I would...

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Ladies of Forest Trace: Chris Crispy

"Did you see him on TV?""Who?" I asked my nearly 106-year-old mother, who was calling from Forest Trace, the retirement community in South Florida where she has lived for almost 20 years."Chris...

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Ladies of Forest Trace: India

"Come over as soon as . . . you can. There's something . . . I need to talk to you about."My mother, short of breath, sounded ominous. I thought, considering her age, was this the . . ."Are you OK?" I...

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Ladies of Forest Trace: Three Saturdays

An hour into our most recent visit, for the third time my mother asked, "Is it Saturday?"And for the third time I said, "No, Mom, it's Monday.""So you see, as I keep telling you, I am losing my...

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Ladies of Forest Trace: The Wimp

“You know how much your mother likes us to come to dinner with her and her friends.”“Didn’t we . . .?“We didn’t,” Rona said. “At least not this year. Last winter once or twice but . . .”“We should,” I...

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The Republicans Are for Nothing

When Frank Rich is booked to appear on the Rachel Maddow Show I try to tune in. I like the way he sees through the hypocrisy that passes for political discourse and though he is an unashamed...

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Ladies of Forest Trace: What's Left?

When I answered the phone, I heard my mother sigh."Soon, it will be another year.""You mean, another birthday?""What kind of future do I have?""In truth, Mom, you've been saying that for years. Many...

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Ladies of Forest Trace: Geriatric Feminists

It was two days after my mother's 106th birthday and I called to run an idea by her."I have a theory.""A what?""A theory, a perception I want to ask you about. It's something I've been noticing for the...

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Ladies of Forest Trace: Winks

“If you want to talk to me you have to call between winks.”“Between what?”“I’m sleeping all the time. Twenty winks.”“Forty.”“Forty what?”“Winks. You’re catching 40 winks.”“So call me later when I’m...

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The Ladies of Forest Trace: IRIS, ISIS, ISIL

These days I call my mother at least once a day.For decades, we used to speak on Sundays. At precisely 12:00. She loved to demonstrate that she was in command of all her faculties by dialing at the...

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The Ladies of Forest Trace: Darling

It is becoming more difficult to determine when it is best to call my more-than-106-year-old mother.Time is having its inevitable way with her. She is losing vitality and spends more time than in the...

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Police Public Relations Jujitsu

When was the last time TV news showed the video of Eric Garner being strangled on Staten Island by police officers? A tape we saw time after harrowing time 24/7 just a week or two ago. It has...

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Ladies of Forest Trace--"The Wit & Wisdom of My 107-Year-Old Mother"

I have been writing and posting these diaries for about seven years. During that time many who have read them suggested they would like to see them form the core of a book. I am pleased to report that...

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Ladies of Forest Trace: The Wit & Wisdom of My 107-Year-Old Mother

Here are the final five brief conversations about my new book, Obama, Oy Vey: The Wit and Wisdom of My 107-Year-Old Mother.Information about it is linked below.

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Mike Huckleberry

Mike Huckabee--or Mike Huckleberry as my 107-year-old mother refers to him--this week announced to no one's surprise that he is again running for president.There is room in the Republican clown car for...

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Ladies of Forest Trace--Goodbyes

My mother is not very good at goodbyes. Actually, she is exceptional good with them. Long ones. Very long ones.Here's one example from about five years ago--

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Farewell to the Ladies of Forest Trace

The receipt arrived yesterday from the charity to which we gave much of my mother's furniture, housewares, and clothing.I believe all will be put to good use.

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The Ladies of Forest Trace: Lunch With the Ladies

"We're only here for a few more days and though I know it will be difficult," Rona said, "maybe it would be good, even therapeutic to visit Forest Trace one last time and . . .""But with my mother . ....

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Ladies Of Forest Trace: Not Resting

The Ladies are in a place of tranquility but they are not in repose.I know this from my mother, who deserves to be at rest after more than 107 years of life. I discovered her state of agitation during...

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Donaldcare's Death Panels

Among the few progressive policies he trumpeted during the campaign was Donald Trump's soft promise that he would make sure everyone in America, after repealing and replacing Obamacare, would have...

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The Ladies of Forest Trace

Two days ago would have been my mother's 109th birthday. Tomorrow is the second anniversary of her death.My emotions this week have been saturated with thoughts of her. And memories. Memories including...

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Ladies of Forest Trace--President Grump

Ladies of Forest Trace: President GrumpThe phone rang as we were in the midst of preparing dinner. "Who would call us at this time?" I asked. "Anyone who knows us knows we have dinner about this...

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