Epilogue to Publix story of 5/24/13.

PLEASE DO NOT READ THIS STORY UNTIL YOU HAVE SCROLLED DOWN AND FIRST READ MY POST TITLED, “WHAT HAPPENS AT PUBLIX STAYS AT PUBLIX” DATED MAY 24, 2013.

Here’s an epilogue to my adventure in Publix. The very next day Judy went to that same Publix to speak to the manager about the sandwich deliveries she had arranged to be made by Publix to a nearby Cancer Chemotherapy Facility for their patients (see my post of 4/26/13 titled PUBLIX CATERS.) 

In the course of her conversation with the manager she mentioned the story of the blond who attempted to pick me up the previous day at that Publix. The manager laughed and told her that on the previous day the chef who makes up their daily sushi offerings, and who incidentally is an Asian/American and who speaks very little English, told him that a blond woman came up to his counter and started a conversation by asking, “Do you prefer black or white?” The counter man was confused by the question and thought she was asking whether he preferred black or white fish. He replied, “black”.

She replied, “That’s too bad because I’m white and I’m looking for a new boyfriend.” She then strode off.

AND I THOUGHT SHE TRIED TO PICK ME UP BECAUSE OF MY GOOD LOOKS AND BECAUSE I WAS SUCH A NICE MAN.

WHAT HAPPENS AT PUBLIX, STAYS AT PUBLIX

This is a true story. I don’t mean to imply that any of my previous stories were fabrications, but it might be harder for you to believe this story than any of my others.

  This morning Judy told me she had to go shopping to pick up a few hot dog rolls and relish for our dinner that evening. I hate shopping, even for groceries, but for some reason I told her that since I had an appointment that afternoon right next to Publix I would be glad to pick them up. Judy’s mouth fell open when I made the offer but she quickly accepted.

Fast forward to a few hours later. I walk into Publix leaning on my cane on the way to pick up a shopping cart. A beautiful young blond is walking out and passes within a foot of me - - - and flashes a big smile. I could feel that smile all the way to my toes. 

I was very surprised, but no more so than when a few seconds later she pops up on my side and offers to help me extricate a shopping cart that is stuck in the rows of empty carts.

My first reaction is that Publix must have decided to copy Wal-Mart and have a “Greeter” meet customers as they entered the store, but she didn’t look anything like the old “geezers” Wal-Mart employs.

I ask her why she had offered to help me and she replies that it was because I look like a nice man. That seemed like a reasonable enough answer. I ask her how old she is, thinking all the while she is about 17 and perhaps a member of the Girl’s Scouts doing her good deed for the day. She replies, “Thirty”. I do some quick arithmetic and realize that I am almost three times older than she is. (But in 20 years, when she’s 50, I’ll only be twice as old as she is.)

Then she threw me another smile and asks, “Would you like to go and have a cup of coffee?”

I’m stunned. The first reply I think of is to tell her the truth, that ‘I don’t drink coffee’. But that would make me look like a wimp.

Then I wonder; if we go for coffee, since she invited me, ‘will she pick up the check?’

I hear myself saying, “I can’t go, because I’m married.” She nods, beams another big smile and strides off into the parking lot.

I wonder if Judy will need anything at Publix tomorrow?

P.S. As she strode out to her car I noticed she wasn’t carrying a shopping bag or pushing a cart. I imagined that Publix must be out of her brand of coffee.

 

WHAT DOES IT TAKE TO KEEP AN 87 YEAR-OLD MAN FIT-AS-A FIDDLE AND WHAT DOES IT COST MEDICARE?

Each Sunday evening I open my weekly calendar book to see what appointments I have in the upcoming seven days. Yesterday I viewed my social calendar and found that I have multiple appointments every day of the week, AND EVERY ONE OF THEM IS WITH A DOCTOR OR NURSE!

Here’s a recap:

1. I have an appointment every day of the week for an injection of 1 mg of a drug that has the following incidence of adverse side effects: nausea (70.5%), anemia (69.5%), thrombocytopenia (65.5%), vomiting (54.1%), pyrexia (51.8%), leukopenia (48.2%), diarrhea (36.4%), injection site erythema (35.0%), constipation (33.6%), neutropenia (32.3%), and ecchymosis (30.5%). Other adverse reactions included dizziness (18.6%), chest pain (16.4%), febrile neutropenia (16.4%), myalgia (15.9%), injection site reaction (13.6%), and malaise (10.9%).

NOW WHAT DO YOU THINK THE HOSPITAL GETS PAID BY MEDICARE FOR EACH 1 mg SHOT OF THIS DRUG WHICH HAS A VERY HIGH RATE OF CAUSING SOME PRETTY BAD SIDE EFFECTS. IF YOU GUESSED $5,700 PER INJECTION YOU HIT THE NAIL ON THE HEAD. THAT’S A COOL $39,900 PER WEEK. I HAVE NO IDEA HOW MUCH CELGENE, THE MANUFACTURER, GETS PAID BY THE HOSPITAL.

2. I have an appointment with my cardiologist on Tuesday and with my optometrist on Thursday.

3. I have two appointments with a physical therapist to see if he can help me walk.

4. I also have an appointment to have my blood tested and evaluated by a nurse and oncologist.

5. I have a pain in my shoulder, two sites my dermatologist should look at and my athlete’s feet problem has taken over my toenails and I’ll need to see a podiatrist, but I don’t have time to squeeze them in this week.

All in all this week will probably cost Uncle Sam just under $50,000. But, that’s chicken feed compared to what he will have to shell out for my next round of “chemo” at $27,000 per pop.

CAN YOU IMAGINE WHAT MEDICARE HAS TO PAY OUT FOR SOMEONE WHO ISN’T AS FIT-AS-A-FIDDLE AS I AM?

My Photo Book of Yshai Oliel

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Kittles passes

“Kittles”, a 16 year-old orange cat, passed away at The Calusa Animal Hospital in Boca Raton, Fl after a brief illness. Beloved family member to Judy and Earl Bronsteen. Kittles was an outdoor cat who spent his days roaming the neighborhood, but who came home for meals and to sleep. No cat ever had it so good, but Kittles deserved it.
The Bronsteens inherited the cat 11 years ago from their neighbors, the Fergusons, and took him to their new home a few miles away. Kittles was extremely friendly, didn’t bite and loved to be petted by anyone. He was a good friend to their Jack Russell terrier (deceased) and to Helene Brody, a neighbor, but was completely ignored by another cat who joined the Bronsteen’s household years later.
Kittles was affectionately referred to as “Dumb Kitty” because of two incidents. At one stage in his life he developed a penchant for climbing a tree to get onto the roof - - - and was he up the roof without a way to get down. Each time this occurred the family would have to get out a ladder and gloves and try to rescue the frightened animal. The other reason for the nickname was due to the happenings when the Bronsteens moved to another home about a mile or so away.  Dumb Kitty couldn’t accept the new environment as his new home and every few days would return to the streets around his former home. He would be recaptured, returned and run away for a period of several months before he came to accept his new surroundings. 
Kittles will be sorely missed by all those who came into contact with him.

PUBLIX CATERS

          My wife, Judy, has always been on the side of, and supporter of, the underprivileged since I’ve known her (48 years).  She has given her time and money to assist charities and individuals in need. Judy has helped raise substantial funds through galas and events for The Retinitis Foundation, The Wellness Community, The Lymphoma Research Foundation and the Boca Raton Museum of Art.
In addition she has provided loans to many people who come to her for financial assistance.
         But now she has done something on her own which I give her much credit for since she did everything by herself. Judy has visited me often in the Chemotherapy Treatment Room at The Lynn Cancer Center. It is a depressing venue to see rows of people hooked up to intravenous machines lying in the chairs for 4-6 hours a day.
She decided to try and do something to make the patients’ day a bit brighter by trying to provide lunch for those undergoing treatment. There’s a Publix a few blocks away and she decided to see if she could purchase sandwiches and have them delivered by Publix. I assured her that Publix doesn’t deliver. 
But through her persistence and the good graces of the manager of that store, Lee Mohler, regular deliveries have started and the patients have really appreciated the lunchtime sandwiches. The nurses on duty in the Treatment Room have told me how much this little kindness means to the patients.
It’s not a big deal, but it shows her character and that of the hundred of thousands of people who contribute in their own very personal way to those less fortunate.

,

YSHAI OLIEL TRAINS WITH AARON KRICKSTEIN IN BOCA RATON

    This past week Yshai Oliel, the Israeli 12 year-old, who won Orange Bowl Tournament in December 2012, came to Boca Raton, Florida to train with Aaron Krickstein for a week of two-a-day sessions.
     Yshai celebrated his Bar Mitvah in January 2013 and for the next two years will compete all over the world with boys 14 and under who are from all over the globe - - - all hoping to become the next Roger Federer.

     Yshai trains in Israel with The David Squad - - -  an independent, non-profit, non-denominational organization founded and funded by David Coffer of the UK, which is dedicated to developing Israeli tennis players of the highest international standards.

    Yshai and his Israeli coach, Jan Pochter, are sponsored by and guests of the Coffer family while in Boca Raton.

    I spent the week photographing Aaron and Yshai, first in the morning and then in the late afternoon. You’ll be able to view these photos on Shutterfly, and my earlier photos of Yshai at The Orange Bowl,  with this link:        

yshaioliel.shutterfly.com 

              
The videos will be up on the site in a few weeks. If you want to receive an alert when other photos are added or when the videos are posted just become a Member of the  site on Shutterfly. It's free.
     Yshai won the 12 and under segment of the Orange Bowl in a seven day competition vs. 128 boys from around the world. In besting Patrick Sydow of Aruba 6-3 and 6-1, Yshai became the first Israeli boy to take first place in the annual competition.