How it all started!

I have always loved how life happens. Sometimes things come our way and we step in and sometimes we choose to walk away. On this particular day, I chose to step in. One day, a friend from Toronto and Israel told me that his mother was being admitted into Maimonides. I could see his concern because he wouldn’t be here to see her much. Thank God for his sister. I asked him if he would like me to go and visit her from time to time.

The day I walked into the back door of Maimonides, there sat Esther in a wheelchair, all “farpitzed” with a perfect hair-do. She reminded me of my auntie Beatrice, may her soul rest in peace. I used to visit my mother’s elderly sister at least once a week and once a month to do her feet. I hope when I turn 80 I can still do my own feet. But it’s amazing how you can bond with a person when you have their feet in your hands or you are doing their hair. It was during these special times that I learned some wonderful stories about the history of my family. Beatrice comes from the artsy side and while my mom was more reserved, she had a beautiful voice. Whatever I said to her, there was a song that went with it.  We were all musicians and actors.  This is where I get this love of performance.

Well back to Esther. She looked up at me and said in a thick British accent…”do I know you?” I looked down, smiled, moved up close to her and imitating her accent, “no, would you like to?” she smiled back, “Oh that would be just lovely.”

We kibitzed for awhile and then I started to sing in Hebrew and Yiddish when a nurse walked by. “Oh you sing Hebrew?” Yes and I play the guitar. “Why don’t you come and sing for us here?” How do I do that? The process is history and now over 15 years later, I don’t ever remember seeing that nurse again. I would really thank her for her suggestion and I especially thank G-d for always pointing me in the right direction. I have learned so much in these last years.  I am not the same person that I was when I walked through the door September 2000.

May I continue to sing until I am older than the people to whom I am singing or until the Messiah comes.