city living

finally, gorgeous weather in new york! warm, sunny days, lovely evenings - so uplifting. chalk it up to climate change, global warming, or sheer madness - but we don't follow those same old weather patterns we used to. back in the day, if it was sunny in the morning, it was pretty much a given that the afternoon would mirror that. now it could be torrential downpours, full sun, hot and humid, and a nippy evening ... go figure.

and happily, we seem to be done with those unbearably stifling and humid july days which made it impossible to function with any reason. jane and i take advantage - after her zometa infusion yesterday at the hospital, we enjoy an late afternoon and evening in manhattan.

the zometa infusion, really a fifteen minute cocktail, acts as both a bone-strengthening remedy as well as a helper in the fight to reduce risk of cancer occurrence. jane is a perfect candidate for this bi-annual treatment, which has no visible or substantial known side effects (at least in her case). when i ask her if it's weird or depressing to again sit in the same chair and place where her chemo was administered, she says that it's not - although there are negative connotations associated with the side effects (fatigue, hair loss, and many more), we actually made very 'nice' use of our team when jane was receiving her treatments. watching dvd's, drinking seltzer, snacking on pretzels, etc. - and being together, looking forward to a lunch at grand lux. so all in all, an easy and quick remedy yesterday.

we venture into the city, traffic free - poor slobs on the way out east to the hamptons, like ants crawling towards their hill. we are effortlessly in the city, everyone milling about on their way out for the weekend, or gathering with friends for cocktails on terraces and rooftops.

we rendezvous with the new CEO (local NY affiliate) of susan g. komen for the cure at a hipster hangout on ninth avenue. we are introduced to dara through hala, the national president and CEO of this amazing organization. we have a lovely chat, and learn a great deal about breast cancer advocacy, local programs, the race for the cure (14 september - mark your calendars!) ... dara is inspiring and energetic, and we're sure that she will help push the ball further in the fight for breast cancer eradication. jane and i are eager to become involved and aid in this fight, with jane's particular interest in outreach to teens - educating adolescents about the disease, making them aware of it's ramifications, and helping them to cope with a diagnosis of a mother, sister, etc..

we venture up the west side, past the grittiness of tenth avenue and hell's kitchen (wow, there still is a REAL new york - who knew!) and join henry & ali for an israeli inspired, mediterranean themed dinner at taboon ... very hip, but not overly self conscious, we regale each other with stories about our kids, travel, work, building, weddings, africa, et al. we slyly tease them that we are all the same age now - reading glasses, menu flashlights, despite what the calendar says. we don't particularly like this idea of not being able to read a menu without yanking two or three accoutrements from jane's handbag!

a lovely friday afternoon - missing the kids but knowing that they're barefoot and happy in their lord of the flies camp environment ... next weekend we see them - yeah!

spring in our step

ahh, a lovely and exhilarating day!

let's start from the finale, which really seemed to click with us. i am invited to attend a two day conference in the city for 'our' organization JDC (joint distribution committee). i am a guest of the board, and the symposiums are attended by about 200 people, intellects all beyond my own capabilities. at the end of the day, i have a lengthy discussion with hala moddelmog, the CEO of susan g. komen for the cure. i have the opportunity to have an intimate chat about optimism, hope, saline vs. gel, and new screening for women in tanzania and ghana. amazing!!! and a highlight - i share jane's story with this fascinating woman, who will be speaking tomorrow morning bright and early!

the event is held at the helmsley hotel on 42nd street. there is a large post-breakfast gathering, and anne heyman, the founder of our rwanda project, is on the panel. in addition to speaking about the efforts in rwamagana, she lauds my contribution to ASYV, very kind and encouraging. we are fortunate enough to have natalie portman, the movie starlet, traveling with a mission in a few weeks to kigali, where she will plant acacia trees at the entry to the site - amazing! additionally, manlio from JDC rome is there - my peer and confidant who is also working on our project and who works closely with the on-the-ground team in ethiopia. he asks me if i will give an architecture lecture in addis ababa in the fall to students who are recipients of grants for higher education ... YES!

jane, too, is appreciated - a number of people inform me how amazing and inspirational she is, both in her breast cancer 'battle' as well as for her contribution to the rwanda effort - she is assisting with AIDS prevention and teenage mental and physical wellness programs. we are so fortunate to have found this amazing organization, where we feel as if we are contributing to a real and tangible system which preserves jewish life, cultural identity, and also is vital for it's non-sectarian work.

i participate in break out groups discussing how best to assist far-flung jewish communities in the former soviet union. we talk about nutrition for impoverished israeli children and senior citizens. the day flies, totally fascinating. at the end of day cocktail and light dinner get together, we are addressed by the jerusalem post editor in chief, david horovitz. he is compelling, funny, and intense simultaneously. i meet hadassah lieberman, the partner of former vice-presidential candidate joe lieberman. i mingle with many at JDC who i have come to respect and admire for their commitment and dedication.

the sun shines, it's warm at last, and we end the day with thick slices of red velvet cake - mmmm!