DYNAMITE PARTY = DYNAMITE PEOPLE

I am so happy and grateful that a dozen came to my birthday gathering on Sunday night. I hope at least a few of them get to read this.

We really clicked as a group, and each one added his/her own special uniqueness to the party.

There is one thing, however, that I neglected to do during the gathering. I had considered this earlier, but thought it might embarrass some people there, so I nixed the idea when I first thought of it and then forgot about it.

What we actually did was to go around the tables, each person introduced him/herself to the rest of the group. Everybody got to know everybody else that way.

I considered going around the table again, but this time I would do the talking and tell the group just exactly what it is that is unique and special and positive about each person there.

Since I lost a golden opportunity to do this at the party, I take the opportunity to transcribe this activity in this blog, for perpetuity.

Leah Levine: My substitute mother, my sister and my dear, close friend all in one. She's the first one I informed of my own mother's passing 8 years ago. She immediately volunteered to be my mother! I've shared many a man trouble with her, and at age 81, she's still a hot tamale and lots of fun to be with!*

Zvia Ben-Chaim: My "adopted sister", a dear friend I feel so free to share just about anything with. Her laugh and her smile light me up! She manages to laugh at all my jokes and clowning around, and I love her for that!*

Gila Ramirez: My dear, sweet, precious "Chiquitita Banana" (born in Puerto Rico) friend from way back in Philly, from the late '80's when I first met her in shul on Succot, trying to shake her lulav along with the guys below..... I knew then how special she is. We're close friends all of these years, and she's one of the most lively, intelligent, passionate and unique women I have ever met.

Dan Brock: Gila's husband, for whom she waited almost a whole lifetime to meet and marry! Gila used to tell me often that she wished she could meet a man who's a friend.... well, she's sure got him in Dan, whom she still refers to as "my friend".... how many married women refer to their husbands as "my friend"???? Dan's a total gem and a mensch, in every way, and very, very special to marry my dear friend Gila.

Harry Rosen: A sweet, sensitive guy who at first didn't want to come to the party, but I was told that in the end he was glad he came and thoroughly enjoyed himself! Harry was a member, along with myself, of the Israel Center singles' group many years ago. Had his share of marital troubles, but is now seeing my sweet friend ---

Chava (Evelyn) Tigris: Harry's friend, who has been a true friend for a good many years, since we both met at a mutual friend's Friday night Shabbat table. She has so patiently listened to me and my troubles over the years. We have shared both her tzarot and mine. She will always be near and dear to me - and she's sweeter than sugar!

Yair (whose last name I don't know): A young Dutchman who is Daniel Pinner's friend, whom I don't know but who filled in as Daniel's friend for some people who didn't make it (he wasn't originally invited). Soft-spoken, I felt that his birthday wishes for me were very sincerely meant. I've seen him around my circles, and he impresses me as a good, menschlicht young man.

Daniel Pinner: A hero and former Jewish prisoner of conscience who sat in jail for 2 years for firing in the air after being attacked by rocks thrown by 50 Arabs on the Gush Katif beach before the Expulsion. A man of many talents, an electrician and teacher by profession, and possessor of a brilliant wit, and as I found out two nights ago, a talented artist, too (on the restaurant napkin he drew the dome of the rock monstrosity being hauled away with a crane dropped down by a helicopter, which is now hanging on my fridge). A resident of Tapuach, now trying to get his life back together. We go back a long way, to the days of rallies with Rabbi Kahane HY"D.

Arlene Alyehs: A fairly recent addition to my life, she is one of the most creative and brilliant, savvy women around! Generous and sweet, too! She doesn't know it yet, but I am about to serve adoption papers on her (as another sister of mine!). She invited me last week to a very moving tribute to her father z"l, who was niftar 10 years ago. From him (and of course, from her mother, who is still with us), she gets her many unique gifts.*

Micha'el Rubinoff: A totally positive, upbeat man with a wild and crazy sense of humor, I just love his company and just being around him is a major lift for me! He always makes me laugh my socks off! Life of the party! He was definitely in "prime time" on party night and made me and everybody else there laugh our heads off! Plus, he had the audacity to pay for my dinner (am I complaining?!?!).

Chaim Tannen: There are so many, many things I like about Chaim, my friend and my neighbor.... what I really regret, with a giant sigh, is not being much closer to him in age..... well, that's another story. He's got all the right stuff, and I told his parents that when I met them this past Pesach. Fascinating stories he tells me about his Mishmar Hagvul service. He's one of my heroes! I am very gladly a frequent contributor to his Yahoo group. We are of one mind on many issues.... and I'm very grateful both for his presence in my life and for coming to the party! Sometimes he's like a reverse "sabra" (cactus) - sweet and gentle on the outside, but tough on the inside! May we stay friends forever, sweet Chaim!

* I went out after the party with these 3 for some good ice cream, letting our hair down and "girl-talk" (were anybody's ears burning???)

'Nighty-night to farts young and old,
Dina

KUM HAMEDINA V'KUM DINA: Reflections on 60

The twins - HaMedina (i.e., State of Israel) and Dina (me) - are each celebrating the magic 60th in our respective lives. Actually the Dina of the twins (the normal one, between the two of us) is a bit younger, having missed by hours the first Yom Ha'Atzmaut (I was born at 3:07 a.m. Shabbat Parshat Kedoshim, the day five Arab armies attacked my dear twin sister, only because I refused to declare independence from my mother's womb when I was supposed to).

Seriously now, Sis and I both face a MAJOR, MAJOR undertaking, now that we've both reached middle age (hey, what do we say in Israel when someone has a birthday? AD MEA V'ESRIM! And half of 120 is.....): What do we do with the rest of our lives?

My Sis has to decide whether to stay the current course and continue on the path of major giveaways of our precious G-d given Jewish land to our worst enemies, so they can turn it into bases for terror and murder and planning another Final Solution for her, which would include me and all the rest of the Jews here, whether Left, Right or totally non-political. Or whether she's finally going to stop listening to the world and start listening to G-d, reform herself from top to bottom according to the Torah and thus save herself from her own personal Naqba that the Arabs want to give back to her. It's decision time, Sis. What's it gonna be? Are you going to continue burying your pretty but weary and confused head in the sand and pretend that everything's just dandy and stay the futile course of kissing the ass of the world while pretending this is going to gain the world's love for you? Or are you finally going to do what's best and what's right for G-d and for your own Jewish people and tell the world to go fuck itself? What do you REALLY want to do, Medina????

And as for Medina's twin, Dina: I've got decisions to make, too. Maybe not so earth-shaking as my sis's. But decisions that will affect the rest of my life, no matter how long or how short G-d intends it to be. Do I keep my own pretty and sometimes weary and confused head buried in the sand, just plod along with work, shopping, phone conversations with friends, TV, listening to Cajun music (oh, yeah!) and/or whatever else I do that I can't think of as I write this - or do I try to shake up my life a little with some things for people to remember me by? Hey, I ain't gonna be working forever. In 2 years, I retire. Then what? How much longer, though, can I put my life on hold? What do you REALLY want to do, Dina????

Reminds me of how a 6th grader, who was a client of mine when I was a guidance counselor, replied when I asked her what she would like written on her gravestone about her after she died. She said: I tried and tried and finally died.

I'd like to think I can go a lot deeper than that 6th grader.

How about: Enjoyed success, with a minimum of mess, how 'bout it G-d, my soul to bless?

(That sucked.)

For myself, I would like to have my own personal Geula d'achishena, rather than a Geula b'ita.... and I would much prefer to think that my twin, Medina, wants the same thing as I do.

How do Medina and Dina both live up to their maximum potential??? The Question of age 60.

Ah, long live mid-life crisis.... it's definite proof that the Medina and Dina are still very much alive!!!

The following was sent to me by a couple of friends. I was very touched by it. Of course, the opinions expressed in it are not necessarily those of this blogger (especially the implication of old age!):

Old Age, I decided, is a gift.

I am now, probably for the first time in my life, the person I have always wanted to be. Oh, not my body! I sometime despair over my body, the wrinkles, the baggy eyes, and the sagging butt.

And often I am taken aback by that old person that lives in my mirror,

but I don't agonize over those things for long.

I would never trade my amazing friends, my wonderful life, my loving family for less gray hair or a flatter belly.

As I've aged, I've become more kind to myself, and less critical of myself. I've become my own friend.

I don't chide myself for eating that extra cookie, or for not making my bed, or for buying that silly cement gecko that I didn't need, but looks so avantgarde on my patio. I am entitled to a treat, to be messy, to be extravagant.

I have seen too many dear friends leave this world too soon; before they understood

the great freedom that comes with aging.

Whose business is it if I choose to read or play on the computer until 4 AM and sleep until noon?

I will dance with myself to those wonderful tunes of the 60&70's, and if I,

at the same time, wish to weep over a lost love ... I will.

I will walk the beach in a swim suit that is stretched over a bulging body,

and will dive into the waves with abandon if I choose to, despite the pitying

glances from the jet set .
They, too, will get old.

I know I am sometimes forgetful.

But there again, some of life is just as well forgotten.

And I eventually remember the important things.

Sure, over the years my heart has been broken.

How can your heart not break when you lose a loved one, or when a child suffers, or even when somebody's beloved pet gets hit by a car? But broken hearts are what give us strength and understanding and compassion. A heart never broken is pristine and sterile and will never know the joy of being imperfect.

I am so blessed to have lived long enough to have my hair turning gray,

and to have my youthful laughs be forever etched into deep grooves on my face.

So many have never laughed, and so many have died before their hair could turn silver.

As you get older, it is easier to be positive. You care less about what other people think.

Idon't question myself anymore. I've even earned the right to be wrong.

So, to answer your question, I like being old. It has set me free. I like the person I have become.

I am not going to live forever, but while I am still here, I will not waste time lamenting what could have been, or worrying about what will be. And I shall eat dessert every single day. (If I feel like it)

MAY OUR FRIENDSHIP NEVER COME APART ESPECIALLY WHEN IT'S STRAIGHT FROM THE HEART!
MAY YOU ALWAYS HAVE A RAINBOW OF SMILES ON YOUR FACE AND IN YOUR HEART FOREVER AND EVER!

FRIENDS FOREVER!