THE JOY OF BEING A GRANDMA

Being a grandmother is an honor which, if you are fortunate, time bestows. Unlike almost every other reward in life, you do not have to work for it . Having been a parent is no guarantee, and I feel sorry for my friends whose children show no sign of starting a family, because I know that the pleasure which I feel in having grandchildren seems to be universal among my friends. We may have disagreed over the years about many things but this new factor in our lives always produces the same response. A sort of rejuvenating glow. We view each others photos and exchange anecdotes.

Old age commands no respect in our society. On the contrary, particularly for women, it is usually regarded as something shameful, to be lied about and disguised as long as possible. I have always been bluntly honest about my age and when my daughter, pregnant with her first child, asked what I would like to be called on its arrival, I had no hesitation in saying GRANDMA. I was about to arrive at the top of the family tree and intended to make the most of my new status.

Wonder what it feels like to be a great-grandmother?

TIM'S TWO GODMOTHERS

When you have two people you love so much that you can't decide who to ask to be godmother, it makes perfect sense to ask them both. I did. Here are photos of me with my two dearest friends - Tim's godmothers.

Thanksgiving...Blessed with a loving family

We are blessed with a loving family. Christina and Ryan came home and we

were so happy to be together. Here are some photos. We are grateful for our

lives.

WHAT YOUR CAR SAYS ABOUT YOU

I saw this on a car in front of me and thought I was in the wrong car.

EASTER and EGGS

So last night we colored Easter eggs. It is a yearly ritual of the BADER family.
Donald always comes up with the most impressive egg, but all of us did our
best to compete with him. To view this year's eggs, please visit Christina's
blogspot.
www.christinaandryan.blogspot.com
We definitely move to the beats of many different kinds of instruments.

THE WOW FACTOR

Eliot Spitzer ( now the ex-governor of New York) has it! I am talking about the wow factor: that intangible, undescribable, elusive thing that makes you say "WOW". Eliot Spitzer,the self-proclaimed steamroller, the self righteous enforcer of the law in the great state of New York, made countless people say "WOW" last week when they heard that he had been patronizing a prosititute (wow)) for $5,000 an hour (double wow) over the last year. He had been doing this with a girl who is 4 years older than his eldest daughter (wow) while at the same time claiming to be bringing character and integrity back to government (wow). He ruined his family (wow) and fell from power in DISGRACE (wow). He faces a huge task in trying to keep his family intact; he may lose his license to practice law; he may be facing prison time for breaking many laws related to this "indiscretion" (wow). Well, if he doesn't get sent to Sing-Sing, I know of a job where they are looking for someone with the wow factor. Tell him to give me a call.

"DON'T FORGET MY SISTER"

Christina, Ryan and I went to the Manhattan temple the other night. I did the temple work for Magdalena Regina Keidel, a sister of Martin Keidel (my great grandfather). Three days later my father told me a story I had never heard before about someone who used to come visit him and his grandfather. Her name was Tanta Ruskin. Tanta means Aunt in German. He wasn't sure who this woman was but she was kind and generous and used to bring him and his brothers chocolate easter bunnies. I came home and began searching for this Tanta Ruskin. It didn't take long before I found the marriage record of Elsie Keidel Ruskin, a sister of Martin Keidel who lived in New Rochelle, New York. After checking my family records, I found that all of Martin Keidel's family have had their temple work except Elsie (Elisabeth). I think Magdalena was prompting these memories in my father and reminding me "Don't forget my sister!" I know whose temple work needs to be done next.