Birthday Wishes From Lee

Happy Birthday Paul. I always found it neat that when you would have the June 10 birthday for 2 1/2 weeks we were the same age. Even after many years it was always something I looked forward to that made those 19 days different than the other 346. It's the small things that I miss most; a comment, a gesture, an expression.            

Lee

June 10th, 2009

Happy birthday to my brother Paul, who would have been 51 today. Special thanks to Marti and Amy for delivering a small gift to him. Something he always cherished; his Jello Pudding. I know he would appreciate both the thought, and the humor, as that was the way Paul lived. A man of thought, and laughs. We will keep thinking and laughing in your absence, although I'm finding it hard to laugh today. Miss you

Remembering

It's been a year. Hard to accept that an entire year has gone by without Paul in my life. I think, like everyone I've talked to, the memories come in little bursts when we are doing something that we would have shared with him. I don't know how many times during the last year I've seen something while walking in Manhattan, or shared a funny story with the kids, or logged another "missing letter sign" into the collection and the first person I've wanted to share it with was Paul.

I always shared a bizarre sense of humor with him, and thanks to Amy, Alec, Steph, and Davey, there is still an endless flow of the bizarre. I know he would have been a big fan of Representative Alvin Holmes of the Alabama Legislature and his commentary on a beer bill. Every time we quote the man, I imagine Paul would have used the phrase "what's wrong with the....." along with the rest of us that can't stop laughing at this. He would have fallen victim to the awful 80's - lyrics status updates on Facebook that we've fallen into. He would have laughed hysterically at all of the Rod Blagojevich jokes. And on the serious side, he would be very proud of Stephanie, Alice, and Davey for being strong and moving on, and of his nieces and nephews, grandkids, and the rest of us who missed him at the Thanksgiving table this year.

I've never been much of a spiritual person, or believed in spirits and ghosts, but I feel he's around sometimes. Like the dream I wrote about on here, or those times when I just know he's messing with me, hiding things and revealing them, or steering me towards the insanely funny. I know I'm not alone in this.

So, let's all remember this holiday season that Paul would bring laughter, and insight, and great stories. Let's honor him by telling stories, and keeping the memory alive. So much to tell. So much to remember.

Happy holidays to you all.
--Neil

Dreams....

Those who know me well have not heard me talk about dreams much. This is because I don't remember them. Once in a great while I have a dream that I do remember. Usually some bizarre image of a place I have either been, or dreamed of before back when I did remember them.

Last night I had a very vivid dream about Paul. He came to me to tell me that he was OK, and enjoying the afterlife. He wanted me to know that there really was an afterlife, and that he enjoyed it, even though it was, as he said "a lot of work".

Paul showed me the afterlife on a computer (typical). It was, he said, like a never ending simulation game. They lived out endless scenarios and events, repeating and refining wherever they liked. There was even a little animated Paul on the screen when he explained this.

I hope that this in someway is coming from him. I know it's over-the-top-crazy, but somehow fitting for Paul. And, fitting for my dreams I guess.

To Paul, From Sue:

Happy Birthday to my friend Paul Goldstein who would have been 50 years old tomorrow, June 10, 2008. I am sure you would have celebrated with a big party and some luscious cake, and told stories that would make people laugh. I know the Angels are singing to you now, but I wanted to wish you a Happy Birthday on your Journey. I miss you, your family misses you and you have left a treasure in a beautiful young woman named Stephanie, whom I know you were and always will be proud. She is an amazing person and will continue to carry you in her heart along with your lovely wife Alice, for always.I'll be blowing bubbles outside tomorrow and sending them up to Heaven for you. Catch a couple for me and enjoy. Happy Birthday my friend.As always, your friend, Sue

Pictures from Bard!

Here's some pictures from the Get-together. Click on the photo below to see them.

Pauls Get-Together

Thanks again to all of you!

Report From Annandale

Saturday went very well. They key word was FOOD !! We had lots of it. Some of the food was from old family recipes. Stephanie made our famous sour cream apple pie, and somehow managed to make it even better. The famous rice salad was a crazy coincidence of the evening. Alice had mentioned that we should have it, but didn't know the recipe. I explained to her that it was something that my mother made when we were kids, and Paul must have continued the tradition. Marti then informed me that she had been looking for a rice salad recipe with peas without even knowing any of the tradition! Neither Stephanie, nor my mother knew the recipe, and at mom's suggestion I called around the family and found that no one else had it either. So much for that one. Until this past Thursday when I got an email form Paul's friend Sue, telling me that she was bringing Paul's Famous Rice Salad. Somebody wanted us to have that salad! The food was all fantastic, and plentiful. Almost too plentiful. Quite a bit of the leftovers were donated to Bard staff, in thanks for all of their help, and use of the facilities.

For music we played the number one song for each year Paul was with us. 1958 to 2007. I never timed the play list when I first assembled it and we were all very surprised when the last song played as we rolled the last table away and left! The music was accompanied by a great slideshow composed by our niece Jessica. Thank you Jess!! Click here to view the slideshow: http://home.earthlink.net/~goldsteinneil/paulshow.htm

The song list is here: http://home.earthlink.net/~goldsteinneil/songlist.htm

Thanks to everyone who brought food, and accessories. I spoke a few times, to welcome everyone and tell the rice salad story. I also read a Paul story sent in by Mark Anderson. You can read that story here: http://home.earthlink.net/~goldsteinneil/saabstory.htm

I will post more stories in the weeks to come, and pictures from Saturday. I encourage all of you to send in any stories that you remember. A day with Paul was frequently an adventure!


The trust fund continues to grow nicely. Thank you all again for the donations.


Yes, Don't worry.... no animals were harmed by stray balloons.. I know people worry about such things.