At a polyfiber-swathed table, in the once la-di-da dining room of a still pricey home for old Jews, my best friend’s father Lou is sing sing singing out loud, to the Hebrew songs in his head. His meal-time gal-pal Ethel signals for him to keep it down, but Lou’s on a roll, frankly doesn’t give a damn and lets it rip; and that’s when she turns to me, this elegant, fierce, old femme, and lets me know, in no uncertain terms, that during the war, she saw her mother and three younger sisters murdered, in front of her eyes, in ice-cold blood.
I choke.
Lou hits a high note.
Ethel grimaces, unfurling the pain in her arthritic fingers and drops the other bomb: right after they were shot, she was forced down on her knees, to rip into the earth with her nails, and buried their bodies with her fifteen year-old hands.
A wail ricochets off the walls of the cavernous room. It’s the table-hopping Rabbi X, bussed in for shabbos. He’s praying, hard and fast, on behalf of the ancient couple at the table to our right, as the hovering husband shouts, take the pills! at his sick, demented wife. The rabbi shuts his eyes, rocking back and forth, fuzzy, hipster beard dusting lunch crumbs off his white shirt, crying out to his god for help. No way in hell he can stump for the senior souls in this room, by himself.
I see yellow stars. The shiny beads embroidered on to Ethel’s sweater wink. I look up into her uncomprehending eyes and feel the lifelong torture and deep loneliness of her story. The writer in me goes wild with the need to know more, because having grown up in a holocaust culture, that’s the way I cope. I ask, how did you survive?
She snorts.
I am stronger than most men, she says.
*
Lou’s song trails into another. The mind dances, the spirit is game.
Ethel’s whip-smart, hilarious daughter Henja shows up at our round table, wondering what she missed. Lou stops singing and smiles. His daughter Naomi, caregiver Polly, Ethel and I look at each other and laugh.
*
I am Stronger than Most Men is Part 2 of SENIOR HIGH – a series I am developing about some awesome seniors and the people who love them. I hope you fall in love and tell your friends. Meet Lou is Part 1. Click here for the whole series. Much more to come. Stay tuned for Part 3!
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Help me invite a senior pal for lunch! No amount is too little, no amount is too much.
Now, thrill me and visit our spanking-new GIFTS PAGE: the home of all the art & merchandise we have to offer in exchange for your heart-growing donations. One click right here.
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GOOD NEWS FLASH: I am thrilled to share that 10,000 of you (and counting) have subscribed to this blog and I couldn’t be more inspired. As Bob Marley and a great friend once advised me, there’s a natural mystic flowing, Bren, and with this blog on the interwebs, I know it. So, thank you for being here with me and thank you for sharing your voice. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you.
Ethel & Lou are chilling with some very fine company at this week’s Five Star Great Blog Roundup, brought to you by the unstoppable Elan Morgan at Schmutzie.com. Check it out right here, talent abounds!
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51 Responses to I Am Stronger than Most Men
BRILLIANT! I’m in the room, I smell the smells, I’m blowing kisses to all your wonderful characters at the table and I’m a smidge away from asking Ethel to have lunch with me whenever she has time. I will beg her to please wear that wonderful sweater that twinkles! You have made my day!
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I told her the sweater was great, she said it was old. Delighted by your response!
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This is wonderful, Brenda, on so many levels. I want to reach out and give Ethel and you a big hug! You’ve painted such a vibrant picture of humanity. Good luck on this project and cheers to you for bringing goodness into this world.
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Thanks, Amy. I want to be part of the solution.
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[…] For Part 2: I Am Stronger than Most Men, click here. […]
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We need more Ethels. Anyone that believes women are a weaker gender hasn’t been to places Ethel has been.
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It is through Ethel’s vulnerability, that I see her greatest strength. Welcome, Randstein!
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Wow. Thank you for sharing these stories and experiences – a beautiful snapshot into “senior high”.
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I am high on seniors. Thanks for your lovely comment.
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you remind me of why I try to write. not for the follows, but for the words on the page. thanks for your words on the page. they surpass what they should be, and go towards transcendence.
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Transcendence is one of my favorite words and deepest desires. Thank you and welcome!
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[…] I Am Stronger than Most Men. […]
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Reblogged this on Random Storyteller and commented:
Brenda Keesal introduces a new project–beautiful writing worth the follow! “I am Stronger than Most Men” is Part 2 of SENIOR HIGH – a series I am developing about some awesome seniors and the people who love them. I hope you fall in love and tell your friends.
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Thanks for the reblog, Catherine! Proud.
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Another beautiful, poignant piece. Love your new project!
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So glad you are feeling the project. Me, too.
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Being a senior, I am applauding loudly for your marvelous posts about us, and this one is priceless. You are a vital, magical story teller.
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Thank you so much.
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Brenda!
You should meet Pat Hamou who does a lot of illustrations on Jewish stories Maybe you might need an illustrator one day – just keep him in mind.. Below portraits of Jewish gangsters:
http://pathamou.com/#/six-for-five-porrait-series/
Date: Wed, 15 Apr 2015 20:10:27 +0000 To: blackstarliner@hotmail.com
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Will do, Andy! Thanks for the great tip. Always a pleasure to see you here.
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I am a new blogger do read my posts and follow me if you like them https://silviasimagination.wordpress.com/2015/04/19/10-unique-gift-ideas-for-your-boyfriend/
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True story. I was at a Broadway play this past Sunday night. The woman sitting next to me couldn’t have been younger than 80. Before the show started, she was looking at me poking my iPhone, leaned over and said, “The only reason I’d consider getting a smartphone is for Uber. I can’t get a damn cab to pull over.” A real New York dame! I chat her up and she turned out to be hysterical. The woman sitting in the row in front of us was talking her husband’s ear off. He sat there nodding, nodding, nodding. My new best friend poked me with her elbow, leaned over in a conspiratorial whisper and said, “She hasn’t stopped talking since we sat down. I doubt he gets a turn at home, either.” I wanted to take her home with me.
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Love the story. Did you get her number?
Nice to see you here, Exile.
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What a beautiful portrait of a strong character. Ethel is so strong but also humanly vulnerable. A delightful post! On a different note; congratulations with your 10.000 followers.
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I think Ethel’s vulnerability is her greatest strength and what draws me to her. Thanks, Otto!
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What a wonderful project! People of Ethel and Lou’s generation have so many stories, and we overlook them too often. We need to keep learning from them. Hugs to you and Ethel!
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Seniors make me high. I’ll say it again and again. Thank you!
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Just beautiful. I remember in college working through a writing assignment in creative writing, reading pieces by Joan Didion from the New Yorker and so on to get the magic of interviews and biographic pieces. I had no idea. And now, reading these small, gorgeous gems you are writing, I suddenly do. Thank you.
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The pleasure is mine, Jen.
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Also, congrats on 10,000. It couldn’t have happened to a nicer blog!
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Thank you! Feels damn nice.
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“Lou hits a high note”.
Breathtaking.
Damn.
I miss you.
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Thanks! I’m right here. xx
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A celebration of life in all its unbelievable ups and downs. And it could be more beautiful.
xx
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I’m glad that the celebration is clear, and that you’re here, too. xx
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Amazing. Badass. ::&:: Beautiful.
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That’s Ethel. Welcome to BTF!
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REading this has been the highlight of my day.
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Your comment is the highlight of mine.
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I lived in an apartment building in NYC, a rent controlled building with many elderly people. I adopted many of them. I loved listening to their stories, and their wisdom. And they often needed someone to talk to, so it was a win-win situation.
What do you mean, grew up in a Holocaust culture. Were your parents survivors?
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I grew up around many survivors and their families, and was entrenched in the holocaust at school.
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Such a powerful story. I used to do hospice work and the seldom spoken stories seemed to need a voice. Thank you for collecting them. They need to be told.
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Everyone has a story, isn’t that the truth.
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This is just awe inspiring.
This journey, this story, is so compelling and Real.
As a caregiver, assistant and one who has years in the world of Alzheimer’s and dementia I am humbled and overjoyed by this project.
You are truly a special person and your voice to this cause is something I truly wish there was more of for the world to see and understand.
Thank you for sharing.
Thank you for caring.
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Thank you for your words, deeply felt.
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This is beautiful.
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She is. Thank you and welcome!
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I worked this circuit as a social worker. I started writing up vignettes called Old Stories. Remains unfinished. I’m thinking of hitting the old age homes again with my music. Entertain the folks, regular gig. I could accompany that guy with the Hebrew songs. Not your lady Ethel, tho.
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Old Stories is a great title for stories that need to be shared!
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Wanna edit them and publish as a volume?
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To discuss work, please email team@burnsthefire.com Enjoy the day!
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