THE BERNARDS-RIDGE CONNECTION PAGE 80 theconnectionsnj.com APRIL/MAY 2023 If ever there was a time in life for acknowledging the yin and yang, this is it! For those who are not aware of the definition, the symbol is a swirling image in black with a white circle, and white with a black one, coming together in a round configuration. It is based on Chinese philosophy, and this, at its most rudimentary meaning, describes opposite but interconnected forces, such as good and evil or happy and sad. To be honest, I am not in an evil or sad place…I am good and happy-however… Moving to our beautiful new home in south Florida has countless benefits, and I haven’t even begun to explore all of them. Unpacking is taking so much longer than anticipated-no doubt partly because I am attempting to keep only those items that feel “imperative” (okay, I DO NEED every one of those white blouses!). But the other side of that is more of my time is spent doing fun things, such as socializing, attending classes, having coffee with a friend, and okay, going to doctor’s appointments…ah, the aging body! I will not lie and say that all of this is without some adjustments. Our condo is wonderful, however, there is one driveway andwe have two cars. Forget even thinking of parking in the garage…where would all of the boxes that I have yet to unpack hang out awaiting my attention? Bruce and I are forever moving our cars around and taking care not to place the keys in the wrong place, preventing one of us from leaving. However, on the other side, is the fact that we are not dealing with snow or ice, so leaving the cars on the driveway is not a problem. Additionally, regardless of how many closets we have, it is NOT ENOUGH for all of those white blouses. Needless to say, these are all first-world problems and ameliorated by the sunshine. In truth, I need much less at this moment than ever before…the yin and yang of life. Admittedly, there is an aspect of living in our beautiful Garden of Eden that I had not considered. The reality is that in a world where so many are older, as we are, it is easy to become invisible. We must all look alike to those much younger. Our hair is graying; our skin isn’t glowing, and our bodies are not as toned as they once were. It is easy to see us as part of a unit… those of a certain age. We lose our individuality, and for a generation that fought to be unique, that is a bitter pill to swallow. But being one to not give up or give in, I have an antidote that I keep in the front of my mind whenever it is applicable. I remind myself that I am older, but I have life experien- ces, which make me wiser. And then I pull out my best weapon-a warm smile and a kind word. Works like a charm…learning from life’s experiences! The best part of our move is that we brought with us more than a cache of cartons and containers. We brought all of our precious memories deeply embedded in our hearts and souls. We also brought with us the knowledge that there are more memories to be made, and this is an important time of life to do so. There really is joy in knowing that others we meet have the same goal, hearts and arms are wide open, and we are ready to fully embrace that wonderful feeling! The best part of our move is that we brought with us more than a cache of cartons and containers. We brought all of our precious memories deeply embedded in our hearts and souls. Embracing a New Time of Life By Ellyn Mantell SLICE OF LIFE Mywife, Abby, visitedVenezuela frequently, beginning at age sixteen, after her aunt and uncle moved there to operate an import/export business. Through the business, they got to know Raul Leoni, the President of Venezuela from March 1964 through March 1969. Leoni tried valiantly to establish a democratic society with a strong middle class. He modernized the country and successfully resisted a Cuban-backed insurgency. In 1972, Leoni was admitted to the Cornell Medical Center in Manhattan for critical, medical treatment. Several family members, including his son, also named Raul, accompanied him. Abby’s paternal grandfather was in the same hospital, also in dire condition. Abby’s aunt recognized the Leoni family. She suggested that Leoni’s son meet Abby rather than just sit around the hospital for days on end. Raul and Abby became fast friends. Abby’s grandfather and Raul’s father passed away about the same time. She continued to travel to Caracas and did so more frequently from Miami, where she was going to college. Her friendship deepened with Raul. With the deteriorating situation in Venezuela over the last three decades, Raul and his family moved to Florida. This past January, Abby and I had the opportunity to have dinner in Jacksonville with Raul, his wife, their daughter, and her husband. Over dinner, Abby told the following story. In early 1973, Abby was preparing to travel from Caracas to Miami. She was nervous as there had been some recent aviation accidents, including a fatal jet crash in the Everglades. She expressed her concerns to Raul. He said he would consult the family’s bruja (pronounced brooha, Spanish for witch or what we might call a psychic). Raul said she spoke with the saints. Abby reminded him she was Jewish, but Raul assured her that his bruja could see the future. When Abby expressed her doubts, Raul told her the bruja was blind but somehow described ornaments that were placed in Raul’s father’s casket which only the family knew about. Raul reported back from the bruja: (1) Abby will travel with an older woman, (2) a young woman, with long black hair would sit next to them, (3) after landing safely and walking down a long hallway they would come upon broken stairs, (4) she saw Abby at the bottom with a broken leg, and (5) Abby would be met by someone who loved her. But the bruja said if Abby was careful, she wouldn’t be injured. Abby was skeptical because they would be taking a cab from the airport. Abby and the older woman, her mother, boarded the plane and were seated in a row of three. A young woman with long black hair took the vacant seat. They landed in Miami. After a long walk on the concourse, they approached a mass of people at the top of a broken escalator intended to take them to baggage claim. Abby’s mother took all of the luggage and insisted Abby take one step at a time holding onto the rubber railing with both hands. No injuries. In baggage claim, her friend, Michael, was waiting for them. He told them he knew Abby was coming back on that day. He checked, and there was only one flight from Caracas. He didn’t have any other plans, so he figured he would pick her up. Is all this a random connection or paranormal power at work? Bewitching By Dan Rosenberg “Random“ Connections
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