L.A CONFIDENTIAL!

I can't believe that THE Bar Mitzvah is now just a memory. After looking forward to it for so long, it has come and gone. It was very sad getting on the plane yesterday. It was a whirlwind of events that led up to it and now it is just a memory. A beautiful memory, but a memory that I will hold near and dear forever. Since it is my blog, I can take all the liberties I want and if that bores you, oh well!!!!!
THURSDAY, 10/26 I left Chicago. Getting out of the hotel and to the airport was not an easy task. The hotel was supposed to have all of our luggage waiting for us at a luggage hold area. There were 150 of us leaving at the same time and we were to leave our baggage in the rooms and they would gather it while we were in our meetings. We got downstairs at about 2:45 and guess what? I (and about 25 others) had no luggage! Of course I started to panick. I had to catch the 5:30 flight out of Midway. It was raining and the Orange line was not working. I would have had to take the Red a few stops and transfer to the Orange to the Airport. OY (The reason the Orange El wasn't working was due to a fire in the Loop area. The fire started on Tuesday as we were arriving. We were kicked off the El and 5 of us decided we could walk to the hotel. Yeah right! We walked and shlepped our suitcases for 45 minutes through the streets of downtown Chicago. I needed 3 Advil as soon as I checked in.)Finally, around 3:30 another Manager and I got our bags. We decided to take a cab to the airport. I made sure there was a later flight that was open in case we didn't get there in time. As we were waiting for a cab, a limo driver approached and said he could get us to Midway in plenty of time! This dude became my hero of the day. He zigged and zagged and we made it in under 30 minutes! We beat the others that left by cab a half hour before us!! YAY!
The plane left about 40 minutes late, but still managed to arrive at LAX on time. As I got to the luggage claim, there he was - - BEN! All 5'10" of smiles from ear to ear. I couldn't get over how tall he got. He was here in April and he got a couple of inches taller since then. We finally got home about 9:30 ish and I got to see Shoosher! That is my nickname for Josh. He is 16 and a half and such a nice young man. He was doing homework so he couldn't come to the airport. He takes 3 A.P classes and he showed me his homework. OMG, I am way older then him and I couldn't do that stuff! Time for bed, it has been a long day. Oh yeah, we did have to play with the slingshot monkeys I brought the boys! And we also had to watch the dog go nutso over the said monkeys!!
FRIDAY 10/27 - Ben wanted me to go with him to be dropped off at school, so I got up at 7 to take him to school. Then Eleanor and I went out for breakfast. We went to the remodeled Topanga Plaza and rode the Carousel! We shopped and at noon we picked Ben up from school. He got to play hooky a half day in order to get ready for his big event. We hung out in the afternoon. In the evening there was a lovely dinner for family at Maggiano's. Chuck's brother, sister-in-law, nephew, niece, her fiance, Gramma Gloria, Elliot and Todd Carb were all at dinner. It goes without saying the food was superb. There was a cake for Ben. It was so fun to see Ron, Sheryl, Erika and Jeremy (Chuck's family) again. I hadn't seen them in 2.5 years since I was at their house in Sacramento for a surprise for Chuck's 50th birthday. It felt like we hadn't missed a day. His family is very warm and inviting. I always felt like part of the family, ever since Eleanor had started dating Chuck so many years ago. I also got to sit next to Todd Carb at dinner, so that was like icing on the cake. Todd is my hero in life. I will forever be grateful to Todd, as will so many people and he is so humble. We talked about that and he knows what he does, but he just does it because he does. What a mensch and all around great guy. Off to temple.
SATURDAY 10/28 - Oops, that damn breaks! We go to temple early, before everyone else. I see Ben walk up to the bimah. Boo-hoo'ing commences. I go outside for air. Eleanor asks if I want to hear her speech and like an idiot I say ok. Boo-hoo'ing continues and services are still half an hour away! I go outside for air! Finally services begin and we take our seats. I have a major wad of tissues handy, and they do not go un-used! I am teary eyed most of the time. When Ben gives his speech, I really lose it. Then I have to say an Aliyah with Todd Carb. I was really nervous. I don't speak Hebrew (even though I gave the same one 3 years ago for Josh) and I have the worst voice in the universe, but Todd was nice and loud! Guess what? I cried when I kissed Ben! I get to return to my seat, and couldn't find my wad of tissues! Eleanor was using it!!!!Then comes the major bawl-fest. Eleanor gave her speech. Oh my g-d. I was like a blubbering fool. The mentioning of the shooting just sent the whole congregation into a tearfilled stupor. She was crying and Ben was saying don't cry mom. We all made it through. Kinehora. Finally, after many more beautiful moments it was over and off to the luncheon. Then home before the party.
PARTY TIME - WOWWWWWW. What a party. The room was fabulous. Ben wanted a dog theme. He had as his mitzvah Pups for Peace (www.pupsforpeace.com) an organization that trains dogs to sniff for bombs in Israel. The centerpieces were a different dog. Each one was airbrushed and set on a pillow with bowls and bones and surrounded by wheatgrass. It was really cool. There was an hor's dourves hour with the most incredible food. Sushi, a mushroom station, brisket, potato knishes, hot dogs, fruit, stuffed cabbages, bastillas, teriyaki skewers and of course booze! I had a chance to catch up with friends I hadn't seen in years. How fun. Our friend Allan was there. He couldn't attend Josh's because he had litterally run into a tree and was hospitalized. Thank g-d he has recovered and is walking and was able to attend. The last time I saw him was in the hospital and in a wheelchair. I had emailed him a week before and told him to stay away from all tree's! I caught up with Gary and Claudia, friends from here that live there, that I haven't seen in 3 years. They brought 2 of the kids - Brandon and Gabriela. My how they have changed in 3 years. We are always in touch, but it is not the same. There was a friend Steve, that I hadn't seen in 12 years, since I left California and he hasn't changed a bit! I also got to officially meet Dr. Clarence Sutton. Ben's trauma surgeon. There began the tears for the evening! It was kind of funny, because I was with Todd at the time and both were som humble and basically giving each other the credit and denying their own part! What great men. During the cocktail hour, there was a guy that was taking pictures then morphing them like caricatures onto mousepads. I got a really cute picture of me with Josh and Ben. A great souvnier! On to dinner. Yes, there is more food! We proceeded to the main room. But we can't eat just yet. We have to cry some more first! Time for the Video Montage of Ben. There was plenty to ooh and aah over, but just as much to bawl about. We laughed at years 1 - 5 and cried at 5 and 6 then we laughed some more. Eleanor had to embarass me and put in a couple of pictures we took last April when they were here! That's ok. Time to eat. Salad, prime rib (or salmon or chicken)taters and veggies, more booze. I discovered Cosmopolitans. I also discovered I liked them! Then there was the kids scavanger hunt. I happened to be sitting at the head table, right at the dance floor, where the kids were for the hunt. So, I was chosen to be picked on by Ben's friend Dylan for items for the hunt. Took my napkin, took my driver's license (to which he was excited to see I was from Cleveland as is his dad) and then he wanted my watch. Of course we couldn't get it off my wrist so he dragged me onto the floor, onto his little 13 year old lap on top of some other little 13 year old girl!!!!!!! The next item was a business a jacket, but I wasn't wearing one, so by the time he got one, he was out. Next came a business card, but I didn't have any in my evening bag, so that kid that asked for one was out. Next came a ladies shoe. I had turned around to try and take a bite of my prime rib and the next thing I know, some kid is taking my shoe off! Then he says, ma'am, amy I help you put it back on? He put my shoe back on!!! Enough laughter, time to cry again. It is candle lighting time. I was candle #4. Ben said beautiful things and something like "even though you live in Cleveland and I live in L.A, I love you more then words can say" He read it to the music of Queen's "You're My Best Friend" I lost it. Todd was next and then the doctors (and Todd again) and so on. It was a beautiful ceremony. Time for more funand the Vienese table (major desserts) and the tears are done for tonight! Promise.
SUNDAY 10/29 - Wake up early again. Oh man am I tired. Eleanor and Chuck are hosting a brunch for family and near family. It was very lovely. Eleanor has always been like my sister. We have been best friends for 36 years. Chuck is like my brother and his family has always treated me like part of the family as my family has considered them as family. I stayed with his brother's family when I surprised Chuck a couple years ago for his 50th. It was nice just hanging with them for the morning. His nephew wants to go to med school and is applying to O.U and that would be very cool if he indeed came to Ohio for school. Poor Eleanor was exhausted and by the time everyone left, she couldn't even hold herself up. We watched the video montage again (no, I didn't cry this time) and she took a nap. Chuck and I cleaned up and I just hung out with Chuck and the boys. We went for a ride and had some dinner. I went with Ben to Best Buy. He HAD to spend some of his Bar Mitzvah money! When we got back, El was feeling better, so we sat around. We watched Josh's video montage from 3 years ago. We laughed and made stupid Star Trek jokes! We were just a bunch of overtired goofs! Time to pack and go to sleep.
MONDAY 10/30 -Got up early so I could see Ben before he left for school. I missed Shoosher, since he leaves at 6:15. It was hard saying goodbye to Ben. El and I had coffee while Chuck took Ben to school. Then it was off to the airport. Guess what? We cried at the Airport! It is always hard leaving. By the time I got home Ben had called and left a message! So did El! But, I had called them already from LAX before I even left, then from Chicago and again when I got in my car!
TUESFAY 10/31 - Back to work and reality!
There you have it. TMI? Too bad! It's my blog!
Until next time...goodnight!