tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-113895322024-03-13T23:17:41.978-07:00Left Turn on Rights: Old Lesbian SpeaksIdea flashes and insights on all kinds of topics from an old Lesbian feminist perspective.
Sharon Raphael is a Professor Emeritus who has taught sociology and administered and created a Master's level gerontology program. She is a lesbian rights activist who has worked for lesbian and gay causes since 1971. Sharon also believes animals just as humans should have the right to exist and thrive.sharon raphaelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05442275099710690064noreply@blogger.comBlogger548125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11389532.post-26521874096059030642014-01-17T01:04:00.001-08:002014-01-17T01:04:33.116-08:00<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<br />sharon raphaelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05442275099710690064noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11389532.post-60634240280950480122010-07-22T18:57:00.000-07:002010-07-22T19:03:08.450-07:00Excerpts from Facebook on Shirley Sherrod episode <br /><br /> I am so tired of hearing all stripes of Republicans and Tea Party types spin their wheels looking for examples of so called "racism" on the part of African Americans. The truth is it makes them feel better to think that Black people are just like them, bigoted and narrow minded. It is a complete projection and fabrication on their part. Breitbart shut up!!!<br />about a minute ago · Comment · Like<br /><br />Sharon Raphael I was thinking about what the next step for Shirley Sherrod will be. I think the likely move would be for her to turn down the job at Agriculture which sounds like a token appt. and for her to go on the speaking circuit at universities and non profits etc. and also to publish a book. Makes sense to me. Who am I to say though.<br /><br /> I am glad Sherrod received apologies and maybe even a big promotion at Agriculture.<br />However. this incident shows how backward<br />the politicians are when racial issues challenge their sense of a safe zone.<br />Remember when Clinton rejected a Black woman candidate for the Supreme Court because she seemed in favor of quotas in th.e South. ..<br />See More<br />Yesterday at 3:53pm via Facebook for iPhone · Comment · Like<br />Sara McFall Sullivan likes this.<br /><br />This situation with Shirley Sherrod makes me so mad. I hope Sherrod is unfired immediately. How stupid all the way round both right wing and Dems involved. Accusing a good person of Black Racism against Whites when the reverse is true is not good sport. It is disgusting. I hope Vilsck is sacked if he doesn't correct his terrible mistake. <br /><br />Remove<br />Sharon Raphael Toni Blankley and other conservatives are beating a dead horse when it come to the Shirley Sherrod episode. They try to defend the racist blogger who sent out the manufactured tape trying to say the NAACP<br />audience on the tape applauded when Sherrod said implied racist statements. I listened to the tape and feel they are making it up out of whole cloth. No one clapped, there were a few snickers as what she said sounded kind of funny, the way she said it .<br />See Moresharon raphaelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05442275099710690064noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11389532.post-49937263756791559912010-07-20T22:06:00.000-07:002010-07-20T22:11:38.182-07:00I mostly post on facebook nowI have to admit I mostly post on facebook now. I hope you check me out at Sharon Raphael on facebook. You will figure out which one I am. i do plan to make entries back here once in a great while. Sorry. I find facebook to be very interactive. Thanks for ak<br />Your support over the years. <br /><br />Sharonsharon raphaelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05442275099710690064noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11389532.post-25072740894947002622010-05-19T00:12:00.000-07:002010-05-19T00:13:33.232-07:00Federal Equality for Lesbians and Gays<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_rDY5K115rlE/S_OPetH-ZmI/AAAAAAAAA84/DDCPrWJwMV4/s1600/3FEd+EqualtiyHarvey+Milk+Day+Serra+Park0863_1415803390068_1082088278_1248122_4538486_n.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 309px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_rDY5K115rlE/S_OPetH-ZmI/AAAAAAAAA84/DDCPrWJwMV4/s400/3FEd+EqualtiyHarvey+Milk+Day+Serra+Park0863_1415803390068_1082088278_1248122_4538486_n.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5472875729857177186" /></a>sharon raphaelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05442275099710690064noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11389532.post-77428277503837601632010-04-22T00:44:00.001-07:002010-04-23T17:52:48.513-07:00The Future is Now<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_rDY5K115rlE/S9Dh0tv2Y4I/AAAAAAAAA8w/xD-mBKeQuIY/s1600/Girls+Roadmaster+Luxury+Liner.JPG.jpeg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_rDY5K115rlE/S9Dh0tv2Y4I/AAAAAAAAA8w/xD-mBKeQuIY/s400/Girls+Roadmaster+Luxury+Liner.JPG.jpeg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5463114643750151042" /></a> This pic labove looks like my old Blue Roadmaster of the 50's.not exact but close enough. The colors are right. I rode that bike everywhere I could go in Cleveland Heghts, Cumberland, Cain Park, exploring gulleys and what was left of Severance Estate in Forest Hills and beyond. <br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_rDY5K115rlE/S8__DrkvFgI/AAAAAAAAA8g/ulAov9blRO4/s1600/sharon+on+new+bike+4:18:10.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_rDY5K115rlE/S8__DrkvFgI/AAAAAAAAA8g/ulAov9blRO4/s400/sharon+on+new+bike+4:18:10.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5462865311725196802" /></a><br />I like what my friend Susan Wiseheart said when we ended our group session on Skype, "They told us this was going to happen, and now it is here" and I add "We are in it. The future is now".<br /><br />The Past can be the Future: Here is a pic of me on my new 3 wheeler bike. When I was a kid I had a blue Roadmaster, two wheeler. Life comes full circle.sharon raphaelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05442275099710690064noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11389532.post-721798204640531812010-04-12T22:00:00.000-07:002010-04-22T00:43:24.916-07:00Musings on Life and Death of An Old Lesbian FriendMina and I attended a memorial service, actually a celebration of life of our friend and sister OLOC member Ginny Borders. Ginny died in March 2010 about three weeks ago from this writing. Ginny was 86 years old. We knew Ginny originally when we attended Women over Forty Plus meetings at our local Long Beach Lesbian/Gay Center in Long Beach. When I first met Ginny, she seemed like a pretty crusty old gal. I wasn't sure she took to us newcomers, Mina and me. But we kept coming and Ginny seemed to mellow toward us. We both found the group which provided a support group for mostly sixty plus Lesbians to be kind of cliqueish, also inaptly named but we figured the women had grown old together and never wanted to change their name still including a few younger amid their midst. Most of the women had been members for years. We were new, outsiders, rather new to Long Beach via S. Bay with many connections to the Los Angeles, Silver Lake, Hollywood LGBT community. Ginny hosted many parties for the group. She also worked along with us on a Long Beach Lesbian's (Gerri Schipske's) run for City Council and earlier the same Lesbian's run for Congress which she lost by 2 percentage points.<br /><br />Some years passed and Ginny now in her eighties became slightly unenchanted with the group because as the oldest in the group or so it seemed, she felt she was being objectified and patronized, her perception. Ageism seemed to be rearing its ugly head because as some of the women in the group approached their sixties, even seventies, they became afraid of getting past the age mark of 80 that Ginny had already reached. She sought out another group that Mina and I were leading, a local OLD Lesbians Organizing for Change, a group that stands up against ageism both within and outside of the LGBT community. Ginny joined OLOC finding some solace there as so many of the women in the group were either in their eighties also or if younger very empathetic with the issues surrounding ageism and Old Lesbian issues. Ginny remained loyal to her original group and continued with OLOC too. <br /><br />Ginny had a conspiratorial air about her when she talked sometimes, then you felt only the two of you existed and you both were about to embark on a secret mission somewhere unknown. Her blue eyes twinkled almost winked as you listened as she took you into some confidence with no real words at all. She covered her loneliness with a false kind of bravado that seemed to stem from being widowed so many years from the love of her life Corrine. They had been together 44 years. Ginny liked to flirt with women much younger than herself, younger but still in the category of old age. Someone asked her once, if one of these women took you up on your come on, what would you do. Ginny said she would "run". <br /><br />At the Celebration of Ginny Border's Life, stories were shared. One woman stood up, her name is Maria, Maria had interviewed <br />Ginny for her dissertation and in the process Ginny told her how she came to be with her partner Corinne. Ginny and Corinne who was older by maybe ten years was working at a camp that Ginny attended when she was about 19 years of age. Ginny became very attracted to Corine and at one point asked her if she had a penis under there. Corinne said if you still feel that way after camp is over, come to where I live and I will explain it all to you. Ginny was still feeling that way and hurried over to Corinne as she was directed. When Ginny arrived finally, Corinne read to her from Radcliffe Hall's book THE WELL OF LONELINESS. Maria asked " Is that all it took?" Ginny's response was " I didn't need permission. I needed a definition." They stayed together 44 years until Corinne's untimely death from illness.sharon raphaelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05442275099710690064noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11389532.post-73408523874146776212010-03-22T00:09:00.000-07:002010-03-22T19:20:29.440-07:00Firmin_Adventures_of_a_Metropolitan_Lowlife" Book Summary<a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/349164.Firmin_Adventures_of_a_Metropolitan_Lowlife" style="float: left; padding-right: 20px"><img alt="Firmin: Adventures of a Metropolitan Lowlife" border="0" src="http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1173974199m/349164.jpg" /></a> <a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/349164.Firmin_Adventures_of_a_Metropolitan_Lowlife">Firmin: Adventures of a Metropolitan Lowlife</a> by <a href="http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/200335.Sam_Savage">Sam Savage</a><br/><br/><br /><br />http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i8ha41RFzUM<br /><br />When I bought this book it was titled something like A Rat's Tale but Firmin is the name of the rat so I guess the title changed to name of the narrator of the book who is a Rat. Or maybe I am wrong. I say who because this rat learns to read by living in a bookshop in a poor rundown section of NYC. Fermin is a philospher of life, a genius. This is a sad story about a world and a few people the rat comes to know or should I say observe or both. It is a love story too. It is the saddest book I ever read but I still love Firmin. I can say this was one of the best most profound book I have ever read. If you can take the painfulness of Fermin's life, it is more than a worthwhile read. When I bought this book in a bookstore in SF, the book was shaped in the form of a Rat. All the kids and mothers were drawn to the book and asked about it. I would just say this is not a kid's book. Not a kid's book at all but I can imagine reading it as a kid and understanding it and then later really understanding it. <br /><br /><a href="http://www.goodreads.com/review/list/3357862-sharon-raphael">View all my reviews >></a>sharon raphaelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05442275099710690064noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11389532.post-65831506648391631062010-03-05T22:29:00.000-08:002010-03-06T15:12:48.499-08:00Who Does Sara Jessica Parker Think She Is? ( NBC episode)<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_rDY5K115rlE/S5LhYz-otcI/AAAAAAAAA8Y/YdYWIwn15jg/s1600-h/sara+jessica+paarker+jpeg.jpeg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 70px; height: 94px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_rDY5K115rlE/S5LhYz-otcI/AAAAAAAAA8Y/YdYWIwn15jg/s400/sara+jessica+paarker+jpeg.jpeg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5445662715830384066" /></a><br />I was caught off guard while watching the new NBC show and first segment featuring Sara Jessica Parker on the new series titled "Who Do You Think You are?" which helps famous stars track down their ancestors using historical and genealogical experts who work with each actor to uncover their long lost or unknown ancestors. Parker starts off saying her father's side is Eastern European Jewish and her Mother's side is of German descent. Both sides of the family are from Cincinnati, Ohio. Parker visits her Mother in New Jersey and with her Mother's help Parker gathers the names of all her grand and great grandparents and other relatives. In the course of looking at the names, she comes across an Anglo sounding name Hodge, later comes across a wife of a Hodge named Elwell. Turns out one of the Hodges in the late 1840's goes out West in search of gold and is written up in his local newspaper as dying in 1849. Parker is excited by this find and after a trip to Eldorado, California where she discovers this ancestor named Hodge dies of a disease that many miners searching for gold succumbed to around that same time, 1849 or 50. <br /><br />Parker comes across other Hodges and also Elwells from New England. She goes to New England and discovers one of the Elwells is accused of murder during the Salem witchcraft trials period. She is relieved to discover this Elwell who is some kind of Great Great Great Great ... Grandparent never comes to trial and is spared as she is the last accused in the whole witchcraft episode and the cases come to a close just in time to spare this family member. Parker shares each new discovery about these ancestors conveying a sense of awe and excitement in the knowledge that members of her family were part of traditional history we all think of when we hear about the American experience. At one point toward the end of the episode she even says (paraphrasing), I never really felt like I was an American and now I do. She seems very proud she can share these names and facts about these so called very American ancestors with her children and that now their progeny will also know the true story of their family heritage.<br /><br />I was surprised Sara Jessica Parker grew up thinking she was not really an American. I am Jewish on both sides of my family and I always felt very American and I am only second generation with grandparents born in the old country (Poland and Russia). Sure I did not feel I was part of the Anglo-Saxon America or Puritan America. I knew I was not descended from the folks who came over on the Mayflower or from those who rode covered wagons or plowed ground in the Midwest or New England. But still I am American, Jewish and born in U.S.A. which is quite real and no mystery to me. on the other hand, Sara Jessica Parker comes off somewhat ashamed of her Mother's seemingly all German American (Germantown,Cincinnati) background and her Father's Jewish relatives who are not mentioned at all in the broadcast. I say this because Parker was just too enthusiastic about finding that because one relative's line was old line Anglo-Saxon Puritan America, she was suddenly redeemed and rediscovered. She states "this experience has changed my life" and "turned everything upside down and inside out." So does that mean before she was poor Cinderella who suddenly finds the slipper of a Prince fits, The Prince being old line American Protestants, not German or Jewish. Nothing wrong with being descended from these old line families who had both good and bad in them like everyone else and who have gained enormous stature for being the first non Indians to claim this land of ours. The problem lies in the naive belief that Sara Jessica Parker conveys to everyone watching the show, maybe it is poor editing, that finding she is a true American and most of the rest of us are not is quite offensive and conveys a very wrong message to America and Americans alike. And another thing, Sara Jessica Parker should know better. I am hoping the rest of this series offers something better than I experienced as the Parker "downer". And by the way, I really admire Parker <br />as an actress, loved <blockquote>Sex in the City</blockquote>. I certainly expected more from her. <br /><br />Sharon Raphaelsharon raphaelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05442275099710690064noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11389532.post-3578057871689113472010-02-11T11:21:00.000-08:002010-02-13T11:02:15.213-08:00Jon Manasse, my cousin, plays Mozart for Seattle Symphony Orchestra<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_rDY5K115rlE/S3b3LooVR3I/AAAAAAAAA8M/OvpQK-rKMJg/s1600-h/JonManasse.jpeg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 104px; height: 64px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_rDY5K115rlE/S3b3LooVR3I/AAAAAAAAA8M/OvpQK-rKMJg/s400/JonManasse.jpeg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5437805379353659250" /></a><br />Go to this website (http://kbaq.org/music/cdreviews/20100124.) to hear Jon playing Mozart. Jon Manasse is my first cousin Helen' s son. Helen is the daughter of one of my Mother's (all 4 deceased) 3 sisters. They were very close especially in the younger years. I have always enjoyed his brilliant clarinet sound. Thanks Jon. I also have the disk of same. Jon teaches at Julliard and at Rochester University in the Music School. He graduated from Julliard. He often works with a pianist Jon Nakamatsu where they play as the Manasse/Nakamatsu Duo. They are both co-Directors of the Cap Cod Chamber Music Festival. Manasse plays solo concerts around the world.sharon raphaelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05442275099710690064noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11389532.post-79189165400993421752010-02-01T18:10:00.000-08:002010-02-01T18:33:00.333-08:00Interview on Lesbian and Gay StudiesToday Mina and I were interviewed by Dr. Susan Freeman, assistant professor of women's studies at Minnesota State University, Mankato. She plans to write a book on the history of Lesbian and Gay Studies courses and related symposums and workshops that were taught in the late sixties through 1987. I had a good time both preparing and doing the interview. I found some news clipping from a column MIna and I wrote in our college newspaper (CSCDH) now (CSUDH) titled Lavender Notes. We relayed the news of the day re Gay Liberation and Lesbian activism going on in the Los Angeles and wider communities. That was back in 1975. I taught a variety of courses starting around 1974 that focused on Gay concerns, i.e. Lesbian and Gay Communites, The Lesbian and Gay Experience, Aging in the Lesbian and Gay Communities. Last semester I taught my last course focused on The Life Cycle of Lesbians and Gays (Lesbian and Gay Aging and Health Issues) that was sponsored by the graduate Gerontology curriculum. I plan to retire in May so the powers that be are also retiring the Gerontology Program with me. It was a good run while it lasted. I think eventually Gerontology will start up again via the Sociology Dept at CSUDH.<br /><br />One noticeable difference I noted between then and today after I read several installments of Lavender Notes was how much mo progressive we were and more open we were about explaining exactly everything going on in the LGBT communities which we knew. We talked about how Socialism was patriarchal and needed changing. We talked about the Lavender and Red Union of which we were supporters. We mentioned the first Gay Alcoholism treatment Center at GCSC. We discussed "coming out" issues and talked about both the risks and positives that could benefit those who came out on college campuses and beyond. We were very optimistic about what was going on in the activist communities. It was lovely to look back and to remember that once upon a time, a small group of LGBT people made great waves and changed their own lives dramatically as well as had a real impact on the world, we made our imprint not only in the minds and hearts of people but also reallly got to the soul of what we were about., making the world safer for all Lesbians and Gay men yet risking our anonymity and throwing off our horrid masks to get there.sharon raphaelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05442275099710690064noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11389532.post-11360847243240371522010-01-23T19:00:00.001-08:002010-01-23T19:00:58.217-08:00Update Jan. 23, 2010The rain ceased today. Our new front lawn grass is growing like crazy. I understand more rain coming next week. Mina is doing great, her wound is almost fully healed. She was interviewed by Arden Eversmeyer today for the OLOC, OLD Lesbian Oral Herstory Project (Archives).sharon raphaelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05442275099710690064noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11389532.post-29804498295663579282009-12-16T09:43:00.000-08:002009-12-16T09:58:21.035-08:00Mina is homeMina came home on Monday Dec 14.<br />I spent the day before preparing the house<br />for her return, shopping etc. <br /><br />I am exhausted already as Mina needs lots <br />of physical help transferring from bed to wheelchair<br />and wheelchair to bathroom toilet. Also just dealing <br />Bed rails and wherlchair etc. Is not easy.<br /><br />We have a CalPers policy that pays for<br />A CNA or caregiver person. So we are<br />Checking out different options , online and by <br />Phone. <br /><br />Overall, most of time we are doing fine and<br />Mina will be able to walk on her own in a few<br />Weeks. By Feb hopefully this ordeal will be behind her<br />and us.<br /><br /><br />From my iPod plus.<br />SRaphaelsharon raphaelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05442275099710690064noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11389532.post-44131107141467639372009-11-28T19:20:00.000-08:002009-12-04T16:10:14.023-08:00The Noodle Kugel: A very short storyThe Noodle Kugel <br /><br /><br />I had a funny thing happen around a noodle kugel that a friend named Elsa made for Mina to eat at Thanksgiving time. Mina had some of the kugel (she had eaten some the day before as Elsa had brought it all the way from Oceanside, Ca.) after I left for home). Mina had what was left put in a locked refrigerator at the nursing home but when she asked for it, I was going to eat some too, it was gone. This also happened previously with some probiotic yogurt I had brought. A male nurse who seemed to be in charge of the Frig encouraged me to talk to the Director of the Home because he was under the impression that someone ate our food and this was wrong. Explaining to this very non Jewish guy(The Director) what a noodle kugel was not easy. He asked if he could replace it, like go out and buy one. Understand, we are in the middle of the Mexican American ghetto which is where this nursing home happens to be located. I said "You can't replace a noodle kugel, it is not replaceable. He said is it llike Ramen noodles?<br /><br />I said "Kugel meanss pudding in Yiddish". The Director looked at me blankly. " It is hard to describe" I said "but there is farmer's cheese in it". Oy Vey. What could I say? Getting to the point, the Director said Mina had to put a date on the food she put in the Frig in order to expect it to be there as the staff is instructed to throw it out if it doesn't have a date. I wondered but not outloud why the staff didn't seem to know this and 'au contrar' seemed to think other staff were eating food meant for the residents. I told him to call Mina and tell her this information about the dating of the food. He could have gone down to her room in the first place but did not. Makes me wonder about those like Mina who are pretty much bed bound. Mina listened and admitted she had not dated the food. <br /><br />Anyway, we both ended up getting some mediocre tuna fish sandwiches to eat as a mid-day snack. It was a poor substitute for the vision and taste I imagined of that noodle kugel Mina's friend Elsa had made. When I got home, I felt deprived so I bought a sweet at a coffee house and went home. Here I have lost 24 lbs. since Mina's fall, and now I think I am off the wagon once again. Oh, no, that damn noodle kugel. But it seemed so right, the way it looked in my mind with a sweet brown and yellow crust, yummy egg noodles and farmer's cheese and brown sugar oozing about. My Mother's face was watching me think about the noodle kugel and I know she smiled knowingly as I ate a pumpkin slice instead along with a cup of coffee. <br /><br />Such are my days. Learn something every day at the nursing home. <br /><br />Sharonsharon raphaelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05442275099710690064noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11389532.post-84207097011165357122009-11-26T12:30:00.000-08:002009-11-26T19:44:51.609-08:00Email to Friend about Mina plusSent from my iPod<br /><br />Begin forwarded message:<br /><br />From: Sharon Raphael <smraphael@aol.com><br />Date: November 26, 2009 12:26:48 PM PST<br />To:<br />Subject: Re: Happy Thanksgiving Wishes...<br /><br />Dori,<br /><br />Yes, of course I will take Mina the card as I do all the others. It will be nice to see you in December.<br /><br />Wed late afternonn Mina and I sat down and had a t-day dinner at the<br />Rehab place. It wasn't as good as the food usually is, not even any cranberry sauce. But we listened to some pretty fine Mexican music and enjoyed the other 2 guests at our table, one engaging Thai fellow who will be leaving the place after 7 mo. (he had a stroke) and a smiling woman with dementia who loved being seranaded. She still had her sex appeal.<br /><br />Mina sat in her wheelchair longer than usual. It is hard for her as she has 2 pressure sores she got from being in the hospital not the nursing home. But she did okay and they are healing. So is her ankle.<br /><br />Today Mina has 4 sets of visitors arriving mostly at different times.<br />After Carolyn and I visit, we are both going to a family style cafeteria I like for our own T-Day dinner in LB.<br /><br />Mina's friend Elsa is bringing Mina a noodle kugel she baked.<br /><br />All the best,<br /><br />Sharon<br /><br />Yesterday after sending an old friend from high school one of those emails I had forwarded on to twelve people, I heard back from her. She asked me how I was. I told her about what happened to Mina and then she called me on the phone. I have only seen this person once since our early college days and that time being fairly recently. Several years ago, we got together when she happened to be in my city for a convention. Like me, my friend is a Professor in a similar field so we do have a lot to talk about on that score. Our lives drifted in different directions as my friend is a very conservative religious Jew, and I am a very non conservative non religious Jew. Seems like our views on Israel are not as far apart as one might guess. We both think the leftist knee jerk reaction to everything very diversified Israelis (people tend to see Israelis as all white) do or think is wrong. We both are against settlements. <br /><br />My former classmate has been married for many years since college days. After I sort of "came out" with her, I moved to California and we drifted apart but one day about ten years ago I came across her name in an academic publication, I googled her and her email came up so I wrote. Several years ago when we met at a downtown hotel, I saw the same person I knew in high school, a caring, thoughtful person who reached out to me though even back then we appeared to live in such different worlds. On second, thought, she kind of revealed to me that we are not in such different worlds. Her primary attachments seem to be with woman friends. Her best friend is a nun at her college. It is hard to discern what our differences really are but the chasm seems pretty large to me. It is like to talking to my cousin in NYC. who has been married for eons, lives on Long Island, and is very involved with her grandchildren. Family is not the focus of my life, Mina and our friends are though. <br /><br />Nonetheless, my friend and I had a good conversation. It is nice to know people care even if we are connecting again at these later ages. There is something about connecting at this time in life (We are both approaching 70 in year and half. I think it has to do with family roles changing. It is easier for heterosexual women to reach across the divide because they are no longer threatened. The lost years are their (her) loss not mine. <br /><br />Sharon Raphaelsharon raphaelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05442275099710690064noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11389532.post-31325905250684599482009-11-20T22:16:00.000-08:002009-11-21T00:11:40.213-08:00Update on Mina and SharonLife goes on. Mina and I have settled into our different routines. Mina is adjusting well to living in a nursing home temporarily. She needs to be there for a minimum of another 3 wks. getting attended to by nurses who specialize in taking care of her wound vac machine and other special needs she has. Her wound is healing well. She is learning to stand on one leg and pivot into her wheelchair with some help. This is important for her functioning at home. <br /><br />I visit Mina every day usually during the afternoon after lunchtime though often I am there when she gets her lunch which is good. I teach a class every Thursday evening so on those days I visit in the morning. This thursday is Thanksgiving so I am looking forward to a break and then only 2 wks. of classes left. Next semester I may have a heavier load of teaching which I kind of dread. Because of budget cuts I may get a very large class of students, something I haven't done in years as I usually teach graduate students. But I need to keep my health insurance going at full speed ahead; otherwise I might drop a class. My other class is not a class, it is administrative work I do for the Gerontology Option. So I need two to maintain my present coverage especially dental. <br /><br />I am now the bill payer in the family and also have had some handywork done, something Mina usually is doing, hiring people for odd jobs etc. I kind of like paying online. I get to see what's up. It may be hard to give back all these little new roles I am learning. However, today I think I was overcharged for putting in a deadbolt lock in my front door. I was charged 175.00 and I think I was taken. It only took about 40 minutes. He did a good job but still....It was someone I trusted so I was taken aback and didn't know how to question it until he left. <br /><br />Well, a little time left to the evening, I'd like to go a read more of the book I am into lately, The Help by Kathryn Stockett. It is about several women in Mississippi around 1961 after integration of Old Miss and all the rioting. It is from the viewpoint of several maids working for white people during those trying time ( as though they are not still trying) and also from viewpoint of a young white person who is learning about racism. It is a controversial book because it is written by a white woman, thus how authentic can it be? But worth a read so far. <br /><br />Sharon Raphaelsharon raphaelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05442275099710690064noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11389532.post-15036999686884911302009-11-10T00:02:00.000-08:002009-11-10T00:03:15.284-08:00Good News: Mina says"I know I am getting better. " " I feel better". <br /><br />Sharonsharon raphaelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05442275099710690064noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11389532.post-9194875390019505992009-11-06T18:47:00.000-08:002009-11-06T18:56:19.974-08:00Mina's (Our) ProgressMina is now in a Nursing Home/Rehab place. She has been there for 2 days and she seems to be accommodating to the place. <br />It takes me at least a 1/2 hr. to get there. It is in Pico Rivera in a place with a unlikely name Riviera (Italian not Spanish). Most of the residents there are Spanish speaking which makes it a bit hard on both of us though we really don't mind as the staff is pretty cooperative and friendly. Mina was seen by a physical therapist today who put her in a sling and had her exercise her arms. <br />She is not allowed to step down on her feet or jump around on one foot either as he doesn't want to risk harming her major injury to her ankle on the right foot. Mina likes the food or she has liked it so far. So one down and who knows how many to go. The place is quite a distance from Long Beach and I would have preferred her being in Long Beach but she needed special care that this place offers. I think Mina's poor body has been through the mill but her spirit is good. In a way, it is Mina who keeps me going. I am doing the bills now, something I always hated doing but they are online now so I kind of like that part. I keep making phone calls trying to catch up with things at home. It is hard work going to see Mina every day and also taking care of the busywork Mina usually did. Wow, Mina really did take good care of me. I plan to return the favor in more than one way. Sometimes I get very tired but one good thing is I am actually losing weight, about 22 lbs. so far. I am very overweight so I see this as a good thing. I don't think I am losing too fast. It has been over the past month or a bit less. I think it is because I am expending more energy than usual and also eating much less. A great combination. So for now all is as well as it can be. <br /><br />Sharon Raphaelsharon raphaelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05442275099710690064noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11389532.post-30834206800642256552009-11-02T17:22:00.000-08:002009-11-02T17:29:54.780-08:00Rehab Delayed, a few more days in hospital for MinaBecause my spouse Mina has a wound vac and diabetes which involves a special kind of nursing, there are no Rehab places at this time in our area that will take her. Thus the hospital as a result of Mina's appealing for a delay is keeping her a few more days which is good as she is getting the physical therapy in the hospital that she needs to recover at a Rehab or at home down the line. Her wound care is priority number one as far as I am concerned and think she is doing the right thing. One issue is that I am so far away from Kaiser Sunset and since I don't drive frwys ( a phobia) I have to rely on friends to take me there or go city streets. One day I took a taxi which was prohibitive but I did it anyway. I hate to ask people for help but they do offer. I plan to go see Mina tomorrow with a neighbor. I did stay overnite when Mina had her own room. I am taking care of myself. Yesterday I visited 2 different Rehab places, neither called the case manager/discharge planner back. We got the message. Stay in hospital a while longer. Kaiser should have known better. Mina is doing well though they keep changing her cast again and again which is painful. <br /><br />Sharon Raphaelsharon raphaelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05442275099710690064noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11389532.post-61955934744906048112009-11-01T17:59:00.000-08:002009-11-01T18:05:07.868-08:00My spouse Mina will be in Rehab tomorrowMina, my legal spouse, will be in a Rehab place tomorrow. She needs to be off her ankle from 6-8 wks. and needs to build up her upper body strength so she can move from bed to a wheel chair without help or at least with less help. Not sure which Rehab. I have two choices, one is better than the other but both will suffice. Kaiser wanted a third choice and there was none I wanted so hope they don't screw with us. I saw a great looking place with good staff. It is only 15 minutes away from where we live. Hope we can get in there. The other place is in Long Beach closer but not as nice. Hope Kaiser goes for the first one. <br /><br />Sharon Raphaelsharon raphaelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05442275099710690064noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11389532.post-90079956620735407302009-10-30T21:38:00.000-07:002009-10-30T21:39:06.376-07:00My spouse Mina is improvingMina is getting better. Will be released from the CCU unit soon. Surgery was successful on the ankle. Now it need to heal. <br />Take care. <br /><br />Sharon Raphaelsharon raphaelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05442275099710690064noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11389532.post-55054904938374301622009-10-23T04:20:00.000-07:002009-10-23T04:22:49.715-07:00My Spouse Mina had a heart attackHi everyone,<br /><br />My spouse Mina (we legally married Aug. 24, 2008) had a heart attack and broke her ankle at same time so I will not be writing as much as usual. We will see. I am spending all my time at the hospital. Mina is improving. <br /><br />Sharon Raphael, Leftturnonrightssharon raphaelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05442275099710690064noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11389532.post-58367827445541010242009-10-18T14:37:00.000-07:002009-10-18T16:48:59.153-07:00CHECK OUT VIDEO: AN ENDURING PASSION<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_rDY5K115rlE/StupYSkR53I/AAAAAAAAA7M/z_d4uoPBd04/s1600-h/from+video+nt.aspx.jpeg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_rDY5K115rlE/StupYSkR53I/AAAAAAAAA7M/z_d4uoPBd04/s400/from+video+nt.aspx.jpeg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5394091213472262002" /></a><br />MINA AND I ARE FEATURED IN A VIDEO ON THE WEBSITE JEWSONFIRST. THE INTERVIEW WAS DONE BY RABBI HAIM BELIAK. THE WEBSITE IS A BLOG THAT HIGHLIGHTS CIVIL RIGHTS AND FIRST AMENDMENT ISSUES WITH A PROGRESSIVE JEWISH SLANT. JANE HUNTER AND RABBI HAIM BELIAK ARE THE EDITORS AND CREATORS OF JEWSONFIRST. THE INTERVIEW WAS DONE IN MARCH OF THIS YEAR (09) BEFORE THE 18,000 MARRIAGES WERE VALIDATED AND NEW MARRIAGES INVALIDATED AND NOT ALLOWED TO TAKE PLACE IN CALIFORNIA. TAKE A LOOK. THANKS. <br /><br />SHARON RAPHAEL<br /><br />http://www.jewsonfirst.org/audio-video/Display5.aspx?id=5375sharon raphaelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05442275099710690064noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11389532.post-44732220523928661692009-10-15T03:19:00.001-07:002009-10-15T10:24:07.438-07:00Pics of OLOC Steering Committee meeting + Sharon in Cleveland oct 09<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_rDY5K115rlE/Stb491M1qcI/AAAAAAAAA7E/Kt658hc9Vyc/s1600-h/Mina+Carol+Jan+Myra+Tita+susan+PICT0967.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_rDY5K115rlE/Stb491M1qcI/AAAAAAAAA7E/Kt658hc9Vyc/s400/Mina+Carol+Jan+Myra+Tita+susan+PICT0967.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5392771344959384002" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_rDY5K115rlE/Stb39BJu9MI/AAAAAAAAA68/L7ak07ycT4c/s1600-h/Ruth+Mina+Myra+Carol+SusanPICT0966.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_rDY5K115rlE/Stb39BJu9MI/AAAAAAAAA68/L7ak07ycT4c/s400/Ruth+Mina+Myra+Carol+SusanPICT0966.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5392770231476090050" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_rDY5K115rlE/Stb3o23NiRI/AAAAAAAAA60/7fs5uPmc-0s/s1600-h/Ruth+Mina+Jan+Myra+Tita+Carol+SusanPICT0968.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_rDY5K115rlE/Stb3o23NiRI/AAAAAAAAA60/7fs5uPmc-0s/s400/Ruth+Mina+Jan+Myra+Tita+Carol+SusanPICT0968.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5392769885116664082" /></a>sharon raphaelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05442275099710690064noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11389532.post-71733832357264420892009-10-15T03:14:00.000-07:002009-10-15T03:15:04.601-07:00Rally at CSU Dominguez Hills to save programsGreetings Students, Faculty, and Staff friends,<br />My thanks to all for your help with a VERY SUCCESSFUL RALLY today. It was an inspiring event. Here are some great pictures posted on flickr.com.<br />http://www.flickr.com/photos/43566129@N04/<br />I especially want to thank all the speakers and performers: David Bradfieldsharon raphaelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05442275099710690064noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11389532.post-14800088785323957922009-10-11T19:44:00.000-07:002009-10-11T19:51:40.953-07:00Equality march photos-take a look<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_rDY5K115rlE/StKZtwePlUI/AAAAAAAAA6s/ibA5pZssG9I/s1600-h/img.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 150px; height: 200px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_rDY5K115rlE/StKZtwePlUI/AAAAAAAAA6s/ibA5pZssG9I/s400/img.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5391540715300820290" /></a><br />http://www.flickr.com/photos/43341208@N07/show/<br /><br /><br />See below: activist react to Obama's speech on Gay rights to Human Rights Campaign audience. <br /><br /><br />http://joemygod.blogspot.com/2009/10/activists-react-to-obamas-speech.htmlsharon raphaelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05442275099710690064noreply@blogger.com0