The Common Vein

August 2009

Copyright 2009

Living in Toronto

Married to Shuli friedman

Children Leora and David

Occupation real Estate Broker

Hobbies Art /Painting

Contact 905-886-3486

stephen@ssquared.ca

faccebook

I am in the midst of a wonderful life. How long it will be, I do not know. So far, so good. I am a lucky person.

Never did like much at school. Liked the kids at the school and Ms Freed, the English teacher. So don?t remember really a lot of the Jewish studies or the Boer War.  Did not excel at sports or outdoor activities.  Come to think of it I still don?t. I much prefer the night to the day and I definitely am not far from a Starbucks (*$$) at any time.  I love watching people and talking to as many as I can who might convers back. No, don?t cry for me. I love what I do, I love my family and my friends and am happy, happy, happy.(if not so happy, I take a happy pill and soon I am happy, happy, happy, again.)

I studied at Wits for a B.Com, went to do accountancy articles, married Shuli Friedman from Northview High in 1976. Never did understand why I chose accountancy or even university. Probably was the thing to do.  I then was called up to the army. No more deferrals for me and if I?m not the daytime person, I definitely was not the camping or army type.  So I went awol, caught a flight to London, waited for Shuli to join me and stayed and worked in London for 2.5 years.

My sister and her family were living in Toronto, my brother in Israel, my parents in Johannesburg and Shuli and I in London. We all decided to come and live in Toronto.  Shuli?s sister and family and their mother also arrived. My children were and are blessed to know intimately their grandparents, uncles, aunts and first cousins. How lucky could a family be.  All together , 1?000?s of miles from where we were born, together. It also comes with its? own trials and tribulations but the closeness definitely  outways them.

I started working in Toronto in the finance field for a large developer.after many years I transferred to the leasing department and suddenly felt an urge to be part of a brokerage buying and sellingand loving it.

During the course of a move to a new house I found an old file.  When we were in Matric  a few of  us, am not sure of the whole form,  went for vocational testing.  Never referred to it back then, but it stated  not to do accounting or office work, but should do sales, marketing, advertising and promotion.  Strange how they knew all those years back!

Little did I know that for a very long time I was depressed.  I did not know and my friends and family did not know. I must have covered it up pretty well but I did nor realize the depths to which I had sunk and the crazyness  that  was in my head.  In 1998 I  was lucky enough to survive a suicide attempt .  Whilst recovering in the lock-up facility, I had an urge to draw and paint. Had never done so in my life before, but  suddenly all I wanted to do was draw and  paint. Not great but love it. My family and friends were incredible. They helped with the year I was not able to work or drive and selling houses without a drivers license just won?t do. For the first 3 months, friend and family drove me a round to appointments, picked up my 2 kids from school, Shuli working a full time hectic job and members from the shul providing hot meals on a daily basis. Congregants  who I did not know. I am not a religious person and do not often go to services, but my wife and children do. I recovered and as long as I stay on my anti-depressants I am a functioning person.  I will be on them all my life, but I do not care.  All those years, probably all the way back to high school, I had some form of depression.  But who knew.  A few years later I joined a group called Stand Up for Mental Health. We do stand- up comedy whereby we  all  have  mental problems, make light of it, laugh at ourselves (may as well, others do) and do shows etc.  maybe if I can, I will try and put some of the stuff on the site.  I must add, that Ashley Davidoff and Geoff Hirsowitz, from our year have been and are amazing friends.  They flew up from Boston to be with me and my  family after this episode. I know not why I had  the episode but friends are friends, family is family and love lasts along time.

I love my work, I love my wife, I love my 2 kids(now 25 and 23) and my family and friends. What I put them through only they will ever know.

3 years ago I had a stroke which paralyzed my right side, but I have recovered well, can walk, talk, work but as I never did think along the normal route of thinking and acting, I may never get to be Normal.

BUT I am a lucky man. Who knew.

Would love to connect with you all, and see what you?ve been up to.

Steve.

Toronto 2008

Steve Selesnick Bobby Heilbrunn and Wilfred Krasin Toronto 2008 Courtesy Bobby Heilbrunn 93286p.8

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Steve Selesnick Bobby Heilbrunn and Wilfred Krasin Toronto 2008
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