The Cup is Half Empty
Title
The Cup is Half Empty
Identifier
THE_CUP_IS_HALF_EMPTY
Creator
Jacob Schlitt
Description
"I guess it's me. It was supposed to be a 'special weekend'."
Date
2015-05-11
Coverage
2015
Format
application/pdf
Type
text
Language
en
Text
THE CUP IS HALF EMPTY
I guess it’s me. It was supposed to be a “special weekend.” We looked forward to it for weeks. I thought David was supposed to lead the services at the shul in Newburyport in which he has been “interning”. I also thought that we would go up on Friday May 8, and return the next day, after having lunch with David, and doing a bit of sightseeing. I had made a reservation at the Essex St Inn, and had checked out restaurants, and the sights. I had also suggested that we visit Minna Morley in nearby Amesbury.
Seems I thought wrong. First, David was not going to lead services. He was going to help teach the class of older children, and was going to give a short drash to the congregation. Second, when I told Fran that I had made a reservation for Saturday, she became angry and upset, and said that she wanted to go for the whole weekend. I called the Inn and was able to get a room for two nights, but not the same room I had reserved.
As usual, I told Fran I would like to leave at 1 pm, and Fran was not ready until 3 pm. As usual, the traffic was very heavy Friday afternoon. We arrived at the Inn after 5 pm. Fran was pleased with the room, we unpacked, and I suggested we take a ride. We first drove to the shul, and then down to Water Street, and Plum Island. It was quite cool. We parked and walked to a pathway to the ocean. Coming from the beach were two women, and we asked them for restaurant recommendations. They said Bob’s Lobster for lobster and fried fish, and Michael’s Harborside. I had earlier suggested David’s in town. Fran preferred Michael’s but when we got there, it was jammed. We went to David’s. It was noisy downstairs and empty upstairs. We ate upstairs. It was not very good.
Saturday morning, after a continental breakfast, we drove to the shul. There were classes downstairs and the sanctuary upstairs. We went into a classroom and there was David leading davning with the older children. We stayed for a while, then David took us upstairs. There may have been 20 people. Rabbi Poupko was leading a discussion, with about 4 or 5 people responding. He was in shirtsleeves, very animated. He then returned to the Torah service. He did the layning. I have gotten used to the Newton Center Minyan where various members layn. I was honored, as David’s father, to be called up for an Aliyah. David returned and gave a short drash on our role during the counting of the Omer. Services over, we went down to the social hall for kiddush.
Then to a Thai restaurant, mainly to celebrate Mother’s Day. I gave Fran a card, a poem and a new watch band and battery for her watch. We ate, we drank, we talked. David left, and we returned to the Inn. Fran took a nap, and I explored Newburyport. The houses are charming, many dating from the mid-19th century. The streets are narrow, a very pretty place. I spent time at the Art Association’s art show. Could not do much walking, but did a lot of driving. Went back to the Inn. We thought of going to the movies, but drove to Plum Island again. The day was much warmer. We drove toward the beach, parked, Fran went up to the porch of an unoccupied house and I joined her. As we left Plum Island, we passed the Plum Island Grill, stopped to see if they could accommodate us. They could, and we had dinner. Drove back, and decided not to bother with the movies. We read, and then to bed.
Sunday morning, after breakfast, I took a drive to Salisbury beach. Pleasant. Not as pretty as Plum Island. Regretted that I did not plan more carefully. Back to the Essex Street Inn for the last time. I passed a Farmer’s Market and bought flowers for Minna. Fran had breakfast, we packed, and it was after 11 am, that we headed for Amesbury and the Maplewood Nursing Home on Morrill Place.
We found Minna’s room, she was sitting on her bed, looking very well. We said hello, she smiled, and asked if she knew us. I explained that I am Carol’s father and that Carol is married to her son, Alan. It seemed to make no impression. Minna said that people who came to visit her earlier. First she said they were nephews, then grandchildren, then cousins. We explained it is Mother’s Day and gave her the flowers. She said she was overwhelmed and honored. Then went to find an attendant to put them in a vase. Fran asked Minna several questions, which she ignored. She fussed over a small picture of her parents. Minna has a board with family pictures, and I pointed to Alan, Carol and Elliott. She explained that Alan has a moustache and that he would shave it off in the summer and grow it in the winter. When I said that our grandchild is Elliott, she said that Alan and Elliott are her sons. Minna also said that she works here, that she grew up in the Bronx, and went to Walton High School. Fran asked Minna about activities—movies, bingo. She did not respond. It was clear that she had no idea who we were. Fran observed that it is clearly dementia, but Alzheimer’s? When an attendant said that lunch was being served, she said goodbye, and left. It was painful.
Fran and I decided to drive to Rockport. Turns out the traffic was impossible. Not only was it Mother’s Day, it was a beautiful, sunny day. Everybody decided to go for a drive. We drove to Essex and decided to go to Woodman’s for a bite. There was a line two blocks long. We then drove to Gloucester, and ended up at a restaurant near the water. After eating, and some more heavy traffic, we arrived home around 6.
For most of the driving, we used the GPS. After Gloucester, I programmed the GPS to get us home. Somehow, it reverted to Rockport, turning us around. It took a few minutes before I realized we were being directed north, not south. By this time, I knew where we were and how to get back. Good old US1.
So what did I mean, when I called this “The Cup is Half Empty” and said at the start, “I guess it’s me.” Someone else might have rolled with it, and accentuated the positive. I really did not have a great time Sunday. I did not like having to drive so much. I did not like being stuck in traffic. I did not like schlepping to different restaurants, and waiting around to be served. And admittedly, I did not like spending all that money for meals that I did not enjoy. I no longer take pleasure from visiting places when I cannot walk around. Travelling has become a chore, not an adventure. That was not the case 60 years ago, or even 16 years ago. But unfortunately, it is today Azoy geyt es.
5-11-15
I guess it’s me. It was supposed to be a “special weekend.” We looked forward to it for weeks. I thought David was supposed to lead the services at the shul in Newburyport in which he has been “interning”. I also thought that we would go up on Friday May 8, and return the next day, after having lunch with David, and doing a bit of sightseeing. I had made a reservation at the Essex St Inn, and had checked out restaurants, and the sights. I had also suggested that we visit Minna Morley in nearby Amesbury.
Seems I thought wrong. First, David was not going to lead services. He was going to help teach the class of older children, and was going to give a short drash to the congregation. Second, when I told Fran that I had made a reservation for Saturday, she became angry and upset, and said that she wanted to go for the whole weekend. I called the Inn and was able to get a room for two nights, but not the same room I had reserved.
As usual, I told Fran I would like to leave at 1 pm, and Fran was not ready until 3 pm. As usual, the traffic was very heavy Friday afternoon. We arrived at the Inn after 5 pm. Fran was pleased with the room, we unpacked, and I suggested we take a ride. We first drove to the shul, and then down to Water Street, and Plum Island. It was quite cool. We parked and walked to a pathway to the ocean. Coming from the beach were two women, and we asked them for restaurant recommendations. They said Bob’s Lobster for lobster and fried fish, and Michael’s Harborside. I had earlier suggested David’s in town. Fran preferred Michael’s but when we got there, it was jammed. We went to David’s. It was noisy downstairs and empty upstairs. We ate upstairs. It was not very good.
Saturday morning, after a continental breakfast, we drove to the shul. There were classes downstairs and the sanctuary upstairs. We went into a classroom and there was David leading davning with the older children. We stayed for a while, then David took us upstairs. There may have been 20 people. Rabbi Poupko was leading a discussion, with about 4 or 5 people responding. He was in shirtsleeves, very animated. He then returned to the Torah service. He did the layning. I have gotten used to the Newton Center Minyan where various members layn. I was honored, as David’s father, to be called up for an Aliyah. David returned and gave a short drash on our role during the counting of the Omer. Services over, we went down to the social hall for kiddush.
Then to a Thai restaurant, mainly to celebrate Mother’s Day. I gave Fran a card, a poem and a new watch band and battery for her watch. We ate, we drank, we talked. David left, and we returned to the Inn. Fran took a nap, and I explored Newburyport. The houses are charming, many dating from the mid-19th century. The streets are narrow, a very pretty place. I spent time at the Art Association’s art show. Could not do much walking, but did a lot of driving. Went back to the Inn. We thought of going to the movies, but drove to Plum Island again. The day was much warmer. We drove toward the beach, parked, Fran went up to the porch of an unoccupied house and I joined her. As we left Plum Island, we passed the Plum Island Grill, stopped to see if they could accommodate us. They could, and we had dinner. Drove back, and decided not to bother with the movies. We read, and then to bed.
Sunday morning, after breakfast, I took a drive to Salisbury beach. Pleasant. Not as pretty as Plum Island. Regretted that I did not plan more carefully. Back to the Essex Street Inn for the last time. I passed a Farmer’s Market and bought flowers for Minna. Fran had breakfast, we packed, and it was after 11 am, that we headed for Amesbury and the Maplewood Nursing Home on Morrill Place.
We found Minna’s room, she was sitting on her bed, looking very well. We said hello, she smiled, and asked if she knew us. I explained that I am Carol’s father and that Carol is married to her son, Alan. It seemed to make no impression. Minna said that people who came to visit her earlier. First she said they were nephews, then grandchildren, then cousins. We explained it is Mother’s Day and gave her the flowers. She said she was overwhelmed and honored. Then went to find an attendant to put them in a vase. Fran asked Minna several questions, which she ignored. She fussed over a small picture of her parents. Minna has a board with family pictures, and I pointed to Alan, Carol and Elliott. She explained that Alan has a moustache and that he would shave it off in the summer and grow it in the winter. When I said that our grandchild is Elliott, she said that Alan and Elliott are her sons. Minna also said that she works here, that she grew up in the Bronx, and went to Walton High School. Fran asked Minna about activities—movies, bingo. She did not respond. It was clear that she had no idea who we were. Fran observed that it is clearly dementia, but Alzheimer’s? When an attendant said that lunch was being served, she said goodbye, and left. It was painful.
Fran and I decided to drive to Rockport. Turns out the traffic was impossible. Not only was it Mother’s Day, it was a beautiful, sunny day. Everybody decided to go for a drive. We drove to Essex and decided to go to Woodman’s for a bite. There was a line two blocks long. We then drove to Gloucester, and ended up at a restaurant near the water. After eating, and some more heavy traffic, we arrived home around 6.
For most of the driving, we used the GPS. After Gloucester, I programmed the GPS to get us home. Somehow, it reverted to Rockport, turning us around. It took a few minutes before I realized we were being directed north, not south. By this time, I knew where we were and how to get back. Good old US1.
So what did I mean, when I called this “The Cup is Half Empty” and said at the start, “I guess it’s me.” Someone else might have rolled with it, and accentuated the positive. I really did not have a great time Sunday. I did not like having to drive so much. I did not like being stuck in traffic. I did not like schlepping to different restaurants, and waiting around to be served. And admittedly, I did not like spending all that money for meals that I did not enjoy. I no longer take pleasure from visiting places when I cannot walk around. Travelling has become a chore, not an adventure. That was not the case 60 years ago, or even 16 years ago. But unfortunately, it is today Azoy geyt es.
5-11-15
Original Format
application/msword
Collection
Citation
Jacob Schlitt, “The Cup is Half Empty,” Autobiographical stories & other writing by Jacob Schlitt, accessed April 22, 2025, https://tsirlson.omeka.net/items/show/359.