How I've spent the last 50 years:
So where does one begin after 50 years. As we all know it is surreal that 50 years have gone by. But alas, it has. My life has been filled with many trials and tribulations, many joys and sorrows too. But my Buba (my Jewish side), would say in her broken English, if we do not have the sorrows how do we know the joys.
I married at 20 years old, had two great kids, Randall, is 43 a J.D. and a PHD, currently for the past 8 years is a professor of Peace and Justice Studies, Is the director of the Peace and Justice Association of all universities, and his wife, Leenie ,well, we love each other.
He has 2 boys, 3 and 1 1/2, and I spend lots of time in Arizona on his 6 acre farm complete with horses, goats, and other various animals.
My daughter Suzanne, met her husband Joe, in the U. of Miami Law School, and they are married 13 years, and they are 40.
They live in Palo alto, Ca. and Joe is an attorney with FACEBook. My 3 granddaughters are wonderful, and so the past 10years or so, I am always travelling to Ca. and Az.
Divorced from their father after 10 years of marriage, basically raised the children on my own, one salary, me the only adult, and I have been blessed with truly good kids. I am also very proud of their successes, as I worked very hard to help them through the years, educating them and most of all loving them. Now I am receiving the rewards. Spent many years robbing( figuratively) Peter to pay Paul, as my choice of a career
has been Real Estate. I began in Commercial Industrial Real Estate in Brooklyn in 1981. In those days we did not have computers, we worked from large MLS books, and I one of very few women in the field, as the lawyers, majority of buyers and sellers were men.
It was a very engaging and interesting field and I learned much about business as well as life.
Sold many properties in the Flatbush area, one being the old Nostrand movie theatre, which I sold to a buyer, and marketed again for the seller at a later date, and resold again.
I sold many properties in declining area, such as the old Loews theater in Bushwich section of Brooklyn. Bill Lee, his wife, and then 5 year old son was a client( Spike Lee's Father).
I could go on and on with this 10 year period of stories. Perhaps, I should consider writing a book. Which I am sure most of us can say! All and all, it was a career that helped me send my kids to undergrad, and to Law School. Although in many ways this was a very trying time, being a sole supporter and raising my kids, it was a wonderful time in my life. They tell me and write to me so many times " that all they became and achieved was because of me being their Mom".
And now I have 5 grands to love and enjoy.
Moved to Florida in 1991. and I spent the next 12 or so years enjoying my wonderful Mom and Dad who lived in Fl. since 1973. Many who know me, remember my Mom was Jewish, and my Dad, Italian. Sooo, I am a good Jewish cook, and especially very good at Italian cuisine as well.
When Cher, came out with the song"half Breed", that became my song.
It has been an interesting combination.
I have been selling residential real estate in Florida for 18 years.
I am still working through this extremely difficult real estate market, and this year so far is proving to be the best since 2006. I travel frequently and being a realtor affords me much time to do so.
My love for the past 6 years has been a 6 year old Bichon Frise named Buddy. Over 4 years ago, he was certified and registered in the United States as a Pet Therapy dog. We have volunteered in nursing homes, hospitals and childrens facilities. We currently work in the Veterans Nursing Home and he brings joy to many people. We also volunteer at the Humane Society.
More to say, however, it will be wonderful to meet so many after 50 years and swap stories .
