2018 in Review

Now that 2019 has just begun, I am sitting down to reflect a bit on the past 12 months.  It is hard to keep the craziness of our political system out of my musings, but I have no interest in writing a political diatribe.  Things such as a dramatically erratic stock market, another government shutdown, a worldwide trend toward nationalism,  increased anti-refugee/migrant sentiment, anti-Semitism, etc. are all extremely unsettling.   I have never felt as concerned about the state of the world as I do today, much of which I attribute to the current leadership (or lack thereof) of this country.  Enough said.

It has been an amazing year in many respects.  The highlight being our son, Jonathan’s wedding.  I hosted Passover again for family and friends, as well as a party in honor of Jonathan and Dana.  Our 7-week trip across the USA was also one heck of an incredible experience.  I celebrated my 50th reunion from Beachwood High School with 90 plus of my best friends.  We also recently returned from a wonderful Thanksgiving spent in a rather smoky California.

I already wrote of Jonathan and Dana’s wonderful wedding that took place on October 21^st.  One other brief side trip Dan and I took before heading back home from the wedding was to the Atlantic Ocean.  This was so we could officially state that we traveled to both coasts in a single year.  We stopped at Sherwood Island, the site of a 9-11-01 Memorial for Connecticut residents who died on that awful day.  It was cold and blustery outside, so the visit was short but sweet.  We stopped just long enough to take a few photos.

One other random thought regarding our married children.  When Dan and I married we called our in-laws Mom and Dad.  Sure, it was a bit awkward at first, but over time that’s what they became to us—another Mom and Dad.  Our kids and their spouses call us Wendy and Dan.  I do understand where this is coming from, but I can’t help but think it would be nice if they called us Mom and Dad. This makes signing cards a bit difficult.  If addressed to Jessica or Jonathan, of course, we sign a card Mom and Dad, but what to do when a letter is directed to our children and their spouses?  We’ve basically settled on Mom and Dad.

The Woolsey fire in southern California threatened Jessica and Joey’s home just days before our planned arrival.  The air quality had become so poor that our grandson Mickey’s asthma was acting up.  This forced the Meyer family to leave town, but it turned out to be just hours before a mandatory evacuation was announced.  The fire was just two blocks and one freeway away from their home.  Several homes were lost, and fire reached the fence surrounding the kid’s elementary school, but most of the area was spared. Unfortunately, Malibu on the other side of the mountains, didn’t fare so well.  By the time we arrived, the Meyer family was safely back home. For the  first few days the air smelled smokey, especially first thing in the morning.  By the time we left the smell had either dissipated or we simply got accustomed to the aroma.

Thanksgiving was a lot of fun, and as expected, very delicious and nutritious.  It was also work.  COSTCO came in handy, just as it would have at home, only it was a much larger store and extremely busy.  Jessica’s oven is very small, and our 22-pound turkey barely fit inside.   Baking all of the side dishes and getting everything warmed up before serving was quite a challenge.

Guests included our Dana and Jonathan, who flew in from New York to spend the week, along with my sister Amy and her family; husband Steven, sons Eli and Gregory, and their daughter Mara (who came in from San Francisco).   Pearl Berg, Steven’s mother, also joined in the festivities.  It was a treat being with the California branch of our family, although there is something quite special about cousins Jodi and Dave’s cozy old farmhouse in Chardon back home.

One afternoon we all drove to downtown LA to visit the Broad Museum.  The Museum is named for philanthropist Eli Broad who financed the building that houses part of his modern art collection.  Artwork included works by Jean-Michel Basquiat, Andy Warhol, Calder, Roy Lichtenstein, Kooning, and a single Yayoi Kusama infinity room.  I happen to enjoy modern art and would highly recommend visiting the Broad if you ever get the chance.

We also spent a day in Santa Barbara.  First, we went to the zoo, where Bria and I fed romaine lettuce to a giraffe.  When we got home we learned that it was unsafe to eat romaine.  We both hoped the giraffe was OK.  It is a small and lovely zoo with views of the ocean.

The Santa Barbara area is also known for its vineyards.  So, after the zoo we spent the next few hours doing “adult things,” like drinking lots of wine.  In town there is a street that is filled with wine shops where you can enjoy wine tastings and purchase local wines.  Jessica, Dana and Jonathan took FULL advantage of the offerings.  I partook a bit, but Dan sampled very little as he was the designated driver.  The Mickey and Bria  managed to have fun simply running about.  I was amazed at how cooperative they were especially since they were not allowed inside the wine shops.  The ride home was extremely quiet with everyone sleeping except for Dan and me.

After Dan left to go back to teach, I spent another week visiting.  I took a train from LA to Solana Beach where my sister Amy picked me up.  I had a terrific 2 days playing with my sister and brother-in-law.  I also had a chance to catch up with my two nephews.  It really was fun being with them without a crowd.  It has been a long time since I’ve done that.  We took Amy’s mother-in-law Pearl out for lunch and did lots of shopping.  We celebrated my birthday at a restaurant right on the ocean.  Amy and I took walks and talked and talked.  It couldn’t have been nicer.

I also experienced a bit of California culture when I was asked by Jessica and her friends to give Sound Yoga a try.  I couldn’t resist.  It is really a form of meditation.  You lie down on a mat and close your eyes as various sounds stemming from hollowed out crystals and chimes surround you.  Since about 60% of an adult’s body is comprised of water, the idea is that the sound waves will permeate your entire body.  Supposedly it causes people to recall memories, see colors, relax etc.  As for me it was relaxing.  It was eerie how the sounds would resonate from one ear to the other, but that was it for me.  Not an unpleasant experience and may have even been worth the $35.00.

I am now officially the wife of a college professor.  Yes, Dan has been teaching part time since the Fall of 2016, but it wasn’t until he recently received a piece of mail directed to Professor Daniel Dermer that it became official for me.  Dan really enjoys teaching at John Carroll University, but he spends hours preparing for his classes.   I also entered the field of education on a much smaller scale. I tutor reading to kindergartners and first graders at Gearity Elementary School.  Coincidentally, my cousin Caren teaches first grade at Gearity and I tutor a few of her kids.   I also continue to help distribute food at Marion-Sterling Elementary School located in downtown Cleveland.

One of the most interesting art exhibits we experienced this year was the fantastic art of Japanese artist Yayoi Kusama held at the Cleveland Museum of Art.  Tickets were required, and the event was sold out.  Seven of her infinity rooms were displayed, along with many of her other art pieces.  It was AWESOME.  Granted she definitely had a problem with penises, but the infinity rooms were filled with mirrors, lights, and structures that projected the “illusion of infinite space.” In the 1960’s she was famous for her staged “polka-dot happenings.”  She still loves her polka dots.

Another very colorful event that took place in Cleveland was the Lantern Festival at the Cleveland Metroparks Zoo.  It consisted of large-scale colorful lanterns located throughout the zoo.  It was fun for adults and children alike.

Even though it feels as if our democratic system is being seriously threatened, 2018 was a very good year.  As my grandmother Anna said, “if you have your health you have everything.”  The older I get, the more I agree with her.  We saw our children and grandchildren several times and that continues to be our favorite activity.  Being with friends and family is what makes life meaningful.  What could be better?  Hopefully 2019 will be equally as good, if not better.