Post-Sandy

November has had its moments.  We are writing a tad sooner than we may have, but are responding to our many friends inquiring how we've made out following the storm.  Turns out, save for a few 120' trees that barely missed our home, we are among the most fortunate. Kids stayed here for a short time until power was restored. Lesly and Lenny fared the worst, losing much of their belongings in a rental home they're occupying having sold their home and awaiting the outcome of Len's election to the State Supreme Court.

Grandkids are getting bigger by the day it seems. Ethan is thrilled to have made the local basketball travel team. First grade is a piece of cake for Emmy.  Jolie is talking  in sentences (almost) at nineteen months. Happily we get to see each of them most days and life is returning to normal.  Define normal:

Thank you for your condolences. Corinne (left, with cousin Millie and Mom) passed away just before our trip. Phyllis, as usual, handled everything with her usual grace.  Our sister was a warm, lovely, talented person who did not deserve what her final years and months brought.  Nobody does. She is in a better place and is missed.

The cruise, Athens to Rome, was a delight. We recommend a Windstar sail without reservation --120 passengers treated royally, beautiful stops in smaller, picturesque, tranquil ports. Time in Amalfi--Ravello was our favorite village. In between we toured Athens, Rome, Pompeii.

Our return, fortunately, was just before Sandy struck.  For those of you not local, the devastation in many places is incredible. South Merrick was flooded; friends' homes destroyed or nearly-so. Alan's business (Steph's father) was under six feet of water. I visited yesterday--heartbreaking to see a vibrant community reduced to piles of rubbish, homes vacated, entire communities decimated.  The media has covered the storm, but no footage does justice to its force. Photo, Breezy Point, nearby Alan's store.

The good news is that we are all healthy and enjoying life post-cleanup. Wishing the same for each of you and your families.  No matter how great the travel experience, it is always great to return home to be with family and friends.

And then there is the re-election of Barack Obama.  Alice and I set our alarms for 3 a.m. in Athens and Rome to watch the presidential debates. The Yes We Can! Long Island Call Center in Valley Stream proved highly productive with volunteers making the second greatest number of GOTV phone calls on Long Island (not all YWC!LI members--many local club members and walk-ins).  Extremely happy with the outcome after much agita.

Wishing everyone a happy and healthy holiday season and a new year that brings only good things,

Love, Alice and Marvin

Here We Go Again--The Start of a New School Year.

Back-to-school is always an exciting time for us.  For Emmy, it's first grade. Ethan begins fourth.  Stephanie returns as her school's reading teacher and Jay as social studies teacher/basketball coach.

And for the first time in thirty-eight years, Alice finds herself in September without a kindergarten class. This should be interesting.  

Lauren and Eric visited Ethan at sleep-away camp and Emmy camped nearby at Coleman.  Alice and I will soon set sail from Athens to Rome aboard the Windstar, spending time at the Amalfi Coast before returning in time for the re-election of Barack Obama.

Jolie is turning 1 1/2 years (hard to believe).  Marvin's softball team has been knocked out of the playoffs (not so hard to believe). At the Cooperstown Baseball Hall of Fame, Alice bought a sign for me that hangs in our porch suggesting the real meaning of life:

                    Life is a game. Softball is serious.

Grandpa Simon has settled in at Gurwin Assisted Living and just dropped by for Rosh Hashanah dinner. Len Steinman for State Supreme Court!

All are happy and healthy. Wishing the same for you and yours throughout 5773.

CAMP EQUINUNK

STINKY KIDS PERFORMANCE

NEARLY 1 1/2 YEARS . ALREADY?

CAMP DOC AND SON

COOPERSTOWN    BY THE LAKE

READY FOR A SHOWER

THE SEAGULLS PRIOR TO PLAYOFF ELIMINATION

SIMON WITH THE WOMEN

COOPERSTOWN HALL OF FAME

SIMON WITH THE MEN

AT THE BEACH

Rosh Hashanah

My Hero

THE NOSE KNOWS

Enjoying Lauren's Banana Shmoosh 

NOSE KNOWS II

Flag football

Our Valley Stream Obama Call Center

Emmy:: Here Comes the Judge

STEINMAN FOR SUPREME COURT.  VOTE NOV 6

Celebrating 38 Years!

Celebrate, Good Times, Come On!

It's been a terribly hot couple of days for mid-June.  But overall it's been a wonderful spring.  Top of the list--next Wednesday Alice will be retiring from the classroom following thirty-eight years of joy with the children.  We estimate she has  said 'Good morning!' to them about 7,000 times.  Maybe now she'll begin talking to us--as she once had--in multi-syllabic words and extended sentences.  We gathered to celebrate her teaching career with a party in our backyard on a gloriously sunny afternoon.  Great fun! When the dust settles, Alice and Marvin will take a relaxing cruise along the coasts of Greece and Rome and then onto the Amalfi Coast for an adventure.

Summer lovin' had me a blast - summer lovin', happened so fast 

 As we move into summer, Ethan (Shortstop) is leaving for sleep away camp in PA.  Eric will play camp doctor for a stretch.  Emmy (Cupcake) will return to Camp Coleman as she prepares for first grade.  And Jolie (Sunshine) is taking her first steps.  Simon has moved into his new digs at Gurwin Residences in Commack.  Now we get to see him often.  Marvin is enjoying his ninth season of play with the Merrick Seagulls.