Memory Snippets
Copyright 2009
Shana tova Ashka.
Here are some stories. 1 about my mom ,relating to you ,and about Mr Allanby and Sue Freed.
Mr Allanby
In 1982 I went back to JHB for 5 days. Whilst I was there an uncle of mine died. He had requested that when he dies he wants to be cremated as he didn?t think he would get 6 friends to come and carry the coffin.
The man who officiated at Temple Israel was Mr Allanby our primary school teacher.
After the service I went up to him, said I did not think he would remember me, he didn?t, but told him I lived in Toronto. He mentioned he had a very good friend living there who I actually knew. A few months later I met with his friend who mentioned in a letter that he had recently met THIS MIDDLE AGED MAN. That was me. 27 years ago. Shit man I was 29 and he called me a middle aged man.
But he was a sweet and gentle teacher from what I remember.
About SUE FREED.
She was, I know ,the teacher who had the most influence on how I think and love the English language. She allowed each student to progress and grab the most out of what she had to say and teach. She was a real force and I was sad to learn she had passed away. One day she came into class wearing large sunglasses and she was not the leanest of women. As she sashayed into class someone said ? you look very Hippy, Miss Freed? to which Ivor Myerson replied ? yes, Hippi-potomus.? The reason I loved her was that she too laughed and we all carried on with the lesson. I think that day I learnt the lesson of being able laugh at myself.
Story About Ashley and his son?s Brit
About 14 years ago Ashley and Naomi Davidoff had a son. Now, I have known Ashley since primary school and my parents knew him very well too. I, of course, flew down to Boston for the Bris. Very exciting moment and Ashley decided to do the circumcision , being a doctor and all. On my return to Toronto my mother enquired how was Ashley, Naomi and the baby. I replied ?incredible, and Mom, Ashley did the Bris himself.? To which my mother said ?What, he did all the cooking??
Love that story and one I won?t forget.
Yup, your mom too was a lovely, elegant lady Ash. Remember when Kim told her she had bugs bunny teeth and she cried out ?see Bradley, I?ve been telling you that for years now.?
Steve.