Michele 1 #1 February 10, 2003 (Last Thursday, I had the wonderful opportunity to travel with my Dad on a little overnight trip for a premiere he was invited to in San Diego. Here is a rundown on that 24 hour period.) I head into the office at 8, try to get a fire put out, and realize it is far more of a forest fire than a tiny little blaze. I fax over some very important and threatening demands to the selling agent, and seriously consider not going with Dad because of this file. And then I decide: "Screw that. I am spending time with Dad. The file will wait." I drop my pager in my drawer, change my voicemail, call Dad to say I'm running a little late but I'll be there ASAP, and flee the office. Dad, knowing me better than any other human on earth, comes to pick me up and has brought lunch for me - ceasar salad and a water. He loads the car with my stuff (yes, it's only 24 hours, but I still need 2 bags ), and off we go. On the drive down, we talk about everything from soup to nuts, family, friends, work, life, Iraq, and the moral decline of our youth today because of rock music. We hold very different opinions on things, and it's fun debating and discussing with him. We sing old show tunes (both he and I can't sing very well, but we do it with enthusiam!), and arrive in La Jolla at about 2:15...and promptly get lost. We finally spot the Marriot, and check in at 2:45. At 5:15, I am in the lobby, waiting for him. He is uncharacteristically late. I meet the "minders", folk from the Mitzel foundation who are assigned to us so we don't handle this alone. It's a retired Dr. and his wife, and I introduce myself. Dad comes down and makes his entrance, playing the "actor" for all he's worth...Nate and Sue are enthralled, and I am cracking up. I fiddle with his tie, and we set out for the evening. We pile into the car, and make our way to the Jewish Community Center for the Jewish Film Festival that my Dad's short movie is opening. There are about 1,000 people there, and they are anxiously awaiting "Uncle Leo's" arrival. It is hysterically funny to me, but Dad is loving every second of it. In the car as we pull up, he leans over to me and says "see? 50 years later, I'm an overnight sensation!" and grins from ear to ear. To see my father light up is glorious. We do the "red carpet" thing except it was blue, and move into the reception. He is pulled away, and I lose him very quickly. No matter, he doesn't need me to hold his hand. I see his director Dan, and make my way over to him, and chat for a while. I see Dan's father, Abraham, and Abraham and I sort of move to the outskirts of the throng, and get some food. He and I are laughing - this is as fun for us to see our family garner well-deserved accolades as it is for our family to recieve them. Because it is a Jewish film festival, there will be some very "heavy" movies being shown. I meet one of the other directors and we talk about his film a little bit - it's a documentary about life in Israel and the difficulties with the Palestinian issues...about fear and about life and about love and about survival - on all sides. Abraham, a physicist who works with lasers in medical applications, joins the conversation, and stories are exchanged. I am invited to Tel Aviv to see first hand the uprising and the issues, but for the moment, I decline. I meet a wizened old woman, and she and I talk for a bit. She is wearing a gold lame long sleeved blouse, and, as she raises her hand to drink, the sleeve falls back, and I see a grouping of numbers tattoo'd on her forearm...she is a survivor of a camp. I want to ask about it, but daren't - this isn't the time nor the place. But a heaviness descends on me, cloaking the joy of the evening with a dark sense of enlarged perception and awareness of the fragility just under the surface of her smile. And I notice as well the quality of joy and faith sparkling in her eyes, and in her hug. I reluctantly leave her, this moth to her light, and find my father on the dias speaking (you all think I talk alot? LOL, you should hear him some time. But he actually has something to say!! Well, usually.) We manage to make it to the theatre where we will see the movie, and there are easily 1500 people there for the festival. He makes another speech, and we watch the movie. At the reception afterwards, our minders are enthralled with his stories. And it is really wonderful to see him in the midst of a crowd, touching hands, making people laugh and feel at ease. He must have signed 200 autographs on people's playbill. He never looked tired, and while I was about to drop, he could've walked a marathon I think. We get back to the hotel about 12:30, and are seen in the lobby by other attendees. He is again thronged, and I am aware his first interview in the morning is at 6. We manage to extricate ourselves at about 1, declining drinks yet again. 5:00 am comes far too quickly, and we trudge out to CBS, do a 5 minute spot, off to NBC, and another 5 minute spot, and then somewhere else for another quicky spot. We make it back to the hotel about 10 and meet up with a few friends for breakfast. My father is looking tired but satisfied, happy and proud of himself. There have been many contacts made for other film festivals, including the Bay area and even Berlin. All are asking if he would be available to come with his movie to those venues, and Dad, of course, is agreeing to everything. We clamber back into the car at about noon, and are back in Burbank by 2:30. I drop off my stuff and head back to my office as my father heads off to a rehearsal and a reading. My father is an amazing man, and so full of life and love and generosity of spirit and joy. It is wonderful to see him enjoying himself, and to share in this part of his life is fantastic. I do so very much love him, and am very proud of him. He, simply, rawks! Ciels- Michele ~Do Angels keep the dreams we seek While our hearts lie bleeding?~ Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
jceman 1 #2 February 10, 2003 QuoteMy father is an amazing man, and so full of life and love and generosity of spirit and joy. It is wonderful to see him enjoying himself, and to share in this part of his life is fantastic. I do so very much love him, and am very proud of him. He, simply, rawks! This is usually used in reference to a son, but it fits here as well -- "The apple never falls far from the tree." Thanks for sharing, Michele. Faster horses, younger women, older whiskey, more money. Why do they call it "Tourist Season" if we can't shoot them? Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Viking 0 #3 February 10, 2003 Once again a very well written account of events. So whens your first book being published? I swear you must have footprints on the back of your helmet - chicagoskydiver My God has a bigger dick than your god -George Carlin Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
hooked 0 #4 February 10, 2003 Michele, what a great time you must have had with your Dad. Enjoy every minute you can with himJ -------------------------------------- Sometimes we're just being Humans.....But we're always Human Beings. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Jessica 0 #5 February 10, 2003 Quote And then I decide: "Screw that. I am spending time with Dad. The file will wait." Good for you. Carpe dadum. Skydiving is for cool people only Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
ladyskydiver 0 #6 February 10, 2003 Great story, Michele! Glad you got to spend such wonderful quality time with your dad.Life is short! Break the rules! Forgive quickly! Kiss slowly! Love truly, Laugh uncontrollably. And never regret anything that made you smile. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Muenkel 0 #7 February 10, 2003 Michele, I'm sure he enjoyed the time with you just as much. Your dad is kewlio.Chris _________________________________________ Chris Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Snowbird 0 #8 February 10, 2003 Quote Quote And then I decide: "Screw that. I am spending time with Dad. The file will wait." Good for you. Carpe dadum. Ditto! Never pass up family for work. Much more important. Women and cats will do as they please, and men and dogs should relax and get used to the idea. -Robert A. Heinlein Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
n2skdvn 0 #9 February 10, 2003 michele im glad it went great for you and you dad wish i could of spent more time like that with mine. hope you have a great week too!if my calculations are correct SLINKY + ESCULATOR = EVERLASTING FUN my site Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Michele 1 #10 February 10, 2003 Jess, you crack me up. 'Twas, indeed, Carpe Dadum. He is 80, and I know that my time with him is limited. I also know that I have been gifted with more than the average time with parents. I am a fortunate girl. Ciels- Michele ~Do Angels keep the dreams we seek While our hearts lie bleeding?~ Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
