I Remember Me
Page 26
Having been born and raised in the Bronx, Estelle pronounced the word walking as “waawking,” as any bona fide New Yaawker would. We redid the track, and she corrected all of her mispronunciations—all but one, I am happy to say. I am still able the hear her sing the lyrics, “I’m waawking through fields of flowers,” and I often replay that section just to hear her taawk her Bronx way of taawking. Nothing tickles me more than listening to Estelle strum and sing on “Ukelele Mama 1” or “Ukelele Mama 2.” I challenge you not to melt when you hear her sing the old standards, “Blue Skies,” “It Had to Be You,” “Goody Goody,” “Ain’t She Sweet,” or “Lover Man,” which only Billie Holiday sang an iota better.
I believe that her last album has the power to soften the hardest of hearts. To people who have friends or relatives whose hard hearts they have unsuccessfully tried to soften, I recommend that you sit them down and have them listen to Estelle Reiner sing, Grown Up Songs for Kids.
I say again that there is ‘‘No End for the Living” if you can enjoy memories of a life partner who physically is not there but spiritually is everywhere! There is “No End for the Living” if you awaken each morning and think seriously about what to eat for breakfast. Here now are some twenty random entries in what, I imagine, will be a growing list.
There Is No End for the Living if I Can Look Forward To…
A morning shower.
A visit with my children, Robbie, Annie, and Lucas.
Seeing grandchildren, Jake, Nick, Romy, Livia, and Rose.
Spending time with daughters-in-law Michele and Maud and their husbands.
Nightly visits from Mel Brooks.
Reading Annie Reiner’s psychoanalytic books.
Listening to Annie Reiner sing.
Viewing Lucas Reiner’s oil paintings and etchings and hugging him.
Attending a screening of a new Rob Reiner film.
Watching Rob’s This Is Spinal Tap, A Mighty Wind, The Princess Bride, and A Few Good Men.
Right-wing senators and congressmen losing their seats.
Lunching at Bier Beisel, an Austrian restaurant that features Weisswurst.
A sushi lunch with sushi-loving friends.
A daily, brisk walk with George Shapiro.
Political programs hosted by someone who shares my views.
Hearing a great new joke, laughing at it, and then passing it along.
Hearing Livia play her harp or violin.
Hearing Rose play her cello and sing Filipino, Peruvian, and Indian songs.
Watching Jeopardy, Password, Family Feud, or good vintage game shows.
Hearing Estelle Reiner sing, “I’ve Grown Accustomed to His Face.”
Viewing new films at the Academy of Motion Picture Arts’ theater.
Nightly visits from Melvin Kaminsky.
And finally, there is no end for the living if I can look forward to:
This book entertaining the dozens of loyal readers I have worldwide.
Start YOUR list!