Here in Baltimore with my mishpocha. Mispocha is a wonderful Yiddish word that means ‘more than family’ .. it’s relatives, in laws ex-laws close friends that everyone always assumed were related , neighbors and dogs . I found one translation that said the closest English word in meaning might be ‘clan’

We’re gathered at the houses of my great aunt Ellen.. and her daughter suzy who lives next door .. for their annual huge Passover Seder . That will be tomorrow night . Tonight was just a warm up of eating drinking and catching up.

Ok .. gotta tell more stores tomorrow . Falling asleep as I type

Nite all, nite sam
-me

It’s a really diverse group of folks .. physicists , doctors lawyers, teachers , Artists, dancers

It’s

I got back to my room tonight and was very sad to leanr that our good friend Caatherine ‘Kiki’ Nix passed away thisn morning after a long battle with brain cancer.. it’s strange the use the word ‘battle// Catherine was joyous and funny abotu everyhting she ever did .. even in these last tough years.   I know people often say things liek that when soemoen passes.. .. still i dare you to look at pictures on Catherine’s Facebook page and not come away smiling..

she was/is one of the most smily and funny people I’ve ever met..

I can still remember when we met Catherine.. Her acting troupe was presenting ‘Miss Prim’ in a traveling rep. theatre. My good friend Vince had seen the play.. (which was pretty good).. but was really impressed with the huge spread of food after the play (which was REALLY Great).. He invited us.. and our friend Stuart who was visiting from England to see the play again.. and help ourselves to the yummy food afterwards..

The play was great.. and Catherine was so funny in the title role.. We were filling our plates afterwards when the cast came in.. Vince started talking to Catherine.. and the rest is.. as they say.. was history.

VInce and Catherine got married.. and moved back to the UK.. where we saw them many times.. then they moved back tot eh US. We havent seen them much for a couple of decades.. but reconnected in the last couple of years. Lots had happened.. they’d had 2 kids. Nick and Kelston . we’d had three.. much love, fun.. and sadness as all families have had

We visited them last year..

Diane and I were hoping to see catherine one last tiem when we were in baltimore this weekend.. When I realized that might be too late, i tried to change my plans to visit last Sunday.. but it was too late for her to have guests

I’m very sad I didnt get to see here one more time.. crack one more joke with her..

but I’ll always remember her laughing anyway

bye Kiki.. we love you and miss you

nite all, nite sam

-me

Today my leeeeetelest baby sister, SPG turns 50 years old. I still remember staring into her crib going “what’s this?”

She has always been the cutest person in our family and she knows it. When she was little she spelled her name “SPG” and honestly I can’t remember what her real name is… Wait… Now I remember… No I guess I was wrong

Seriously Mary you are my favorite little sister… I know you’re my only little sister but even if I had several you would probably be up there. You have been such a good friend and mentor to me even though I thought you’re still only 12

You have such a beautiful family and such a beautiful outlook on life.

I love you very much little sister. Very happy birthday

Night all, night Sam
-me

Busy day.. nice greek dinner out with really nice friends which happened bcause I could get my skype working in time to join a meeting.. nice silver lining.. thought I really wanted to attend the meeting

the only toy i had at dinenr was a UV laser. I repeated my ‘saturated facts’   experiment with the

very nice olive oil on the table.

here’s is the lasers natural color a blue purple

heres what it looksl ike in water with a little alcohol.. green !

here is olive oil right t out of the can.. it’s florescing red !

heat it over a candle in a sppom and it turns pink !

even easer to see when you pour the oil from spoon in some water

how cool is that ?

nite all. nite sam

-me