The Grateful Wedding Guest

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“Curly, full, straight or up?”  I asked my darling long time friend and brilliant hairdresser, Marina. Dressed and ready to attend the wedding of goddess gal pal Connie R. and her wonderful fiance Mike G., I left to get to the church on time. Yes,  me, a  Jewish lady spends a great deal of time seeing friends and colleagues wed in Churches – the gift of having been blessed with diverse groups in my life. So it was that I was, along with other invited wedding guests, witness to the joining of a man and a woman who waited many years to find a REAL soul mate. Grateful to be included at this lovely and intimate event, I prayed, I danced, I ate and I rejoiced to see my friend in the place of oneness with her chosen partner – which is how I, myself with my own husband, get to live happily with each day. The history of marriage throughout humanity is long and complex – still all the intonations of this union are based on betterment not only for the couple but equally for the society in which they dwell. When, why, how marriage became the foundation union of our species says much about its value – I want to share a few reasons that my heart and mind know marriage is not to be denied anyone who seeks it.

The wedding is a primeval and continuously observed human ritual … the unification of a man and woman in a joined acknowledgement of a higher being dates back to first written history. Morphing, changing and often accommodating to mores of society has produced many attenuated and varied wedding ceremonies around the globe. At the start and through the Middle Ages all that was needed is for the man and woman to state before community and family their intent to be married – no real contractual documentation required. In my own faith of Judaism, many marriage rituals are recorded as having begun and been well established in Biblical times – those also changing and developing into new forms in the Middle Ages and more so in the 19th century. Jewish marriage – like much in my faith – has REAL and specific rules and protection clauses – one might saw legal dictates, as instruction for this ritual. Christian weddings are mentioned in gospel recounting of their Messiah’s time among the people. Other cultures, nations and communities throughout written history describe practices and processes for the permanent relationship of two people in marital bonds. The celebratory aspect no doubt grew and changed in accordance with customs and desires of those involved. Grandeur, pomp and circumstance once only the purview of wealthy and well placed, came to be common place and even expected among all peoples entering into matrimony. In my opinion no one should be denied the legal right to marry and carry on the traditional sacredness that such a possibility allows – we make better the entirety of our world when two consenting adults make it REAL and known that they are united in effort to make a life worthy of recognition.

As I wrote in previous blog posts, my friends who married yesterday have gone through ordeals; likewise, these two generous individuals stood by myself and my husband through our own burdens, as we did them. To be invited – so honored to be in attendance as these kind and loving people, Mike and Connie became husband and wife, was a REAL privilege. Made more special in that they limited those present to bear witness at this ceremony … as those throughout history have done, I as a grateful wedding guest expressed praise to G-d and joyfulness watching the ultimate commitment of married life begin for Mr. & Mrs. G.!!!

P.S. In my year end memoir, Heiress Mommy … A Modern Super Woman Life! there will be much to share about my own wonderful REALLY amazing marriage, as well as, how my brilliant genealogist husband, Chester Michael Eliasz-Solomon, makes use of marriage records in many languages for his work – quite interesting, I assure you!

Heart Day 14 February 2016

 “Poetry Heals the World Inflicted by Reason.”

—Novalis, Author & Philosopher (1772-1801)

 

The 14^th of February is a Saint’s Holiday and I even though Jewish, like most, indulge in the romanticism of Valentine Day celebration. Gifted trinkets, fine chocolates, candle light intimate dinners and such, plus the sundry of family, friends and children heart day acknowledgements always seductive and great fun.  This annual occasion has a peculiar denotation for me … one that I find rather humorous although having developed on account of a serious matter and yet, as with so much in my life, the final outcome was REALLY full of love.  Again, as often is the case, I must remain limited in scope shared here but all will REALLY be explained in my memoir, Heiress Mommy …  A Modern Super Woman Life!. For now I give you one of my *favorite love inspired poems – dedicated to my husband, Chester Michael Eliasz-Solomon.

THE SONG OF SOLOMON 2:8-16

The voice of my beloved! Behold, he cometh leaping upon the mountains, skipping upon the hills.

My beloved is like a roe or a young hart: behold, he standeth behind our wall, he looketh forth

at the windows, shewing himself through the lattice.

My beloved spake, and said unto me, Rise up, my love, my fair one, and come away.

For, lo, the winter is past, the rain is over and gone.

The flowers appear on the earth; the time of the singing of birds is come, and the voice of the turtle is heard in our land;

The fig tree putteh forth her green figs, and the vines with the tender grape give a good smell.

Arise, my love, my fair one, and come away.

O my dove, that art in the clefts of the rock, in the secret places of the stairs, let me see thy countenance,

let me hear thy voice; for sweet is thy voice, and thy countenance is comely.

Take us the foxes, the little foxes, that spoil the vines: for our vines have tender grapes.

My beloved is mine, and I am his: he feedth among the lilies.

*Note: This poem is included in a book Selected and Introduction By Caroline Kennedy, The Best Loved Poems of Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis. My dear husband gifted me a copy and then I to a few of my special dear gal pals for Holidays 2008 because poetry REALLY does heal and inspires our souls!

The Democratization of Interior Design

It is comforting that the least among us can aspire to pleasant surroundings. A truly American blessing that those of very humble beginnings can, as adults, “decorate’ their still humble homes as if  they REALLY had good taste – well, maybe not “good taste” but still a pretense of something approximating  good taste. Yes, no matter the status or lack thereof, all can and should seek to make their [however limited the square footage] abode attractive – indeed, even if it is a faux style or mere pretense at hand. One must remember that there is REAL refined design even in those homes with limited funds – creativity has no $$$ denotation but those of us able to acquire finer things of REALLY intrinsic value find it vulgar that pretenders aspire to that which rich and poor alike with REALLY sophisticated taste see as offensive and trite. In her book, Roots of Style, the amazing fashion designer Isabel Toledo who is well known for and learned in “architectonic design”, suggest that style might be an inherent factor, among other sources she expounds on as to why some of us are or not stylish. Toldeo and I agree that one can morph into a person of exceptional style but both of us are convinced, as are many other experts of her caliber, that it must be based on REALNESS. Among the many gifts I received from my husband for Holidays 2010 was Barbra Streisand’s book, My Passion for Design [which I also gifted to my dear friend/very talented goddess decorator DB] – in this, her first book, Streisand shares her REAL passion for design and beauty and shows how only REAL style can create value. Converse to these two REALLY stylish women, it becomes evident to me that the vacuous types remain just that – empty inside – no matter what bogus make pretend “style-light” things they surround themselves with at home. A question comes to mind … having including Feng Shui expert advise in all my homes, I must wonder about evil people’s home interiors in that no matter how correctly placed each item, can peace dwell within considering how distasteful the occupants REALLY are? Oh well, I shall leave that to others – just know I never want to step foot into evil doer types places of residences nor have my children there – far to frightening a prospect to even contemplate. Surely you – my darling readers/followers – know intuitively that at least some of what I reference here has to do with The Miscreants ™, for who else fits so easily into the category of “poseur”? Still, there is a certain confusion as to why these obvious pretenders would in their delusional state exert effort in their middle of middle home décor only to jeopardize it all by exposing themselves to the slander, defamation, libel, harassment, trademark infringement lawsuits we are now organizing/filing against them – equally bewildering is why they would have chanced possible civil criminal charges now being investigated by law enforcement authorities. Most probably the simple answer is as with all among the loathsome multitudes … driven by inadequacies, jealously and near imbecile mentalities is reason for their present plight as we defend ourselves in Court and public arenas against their predatory actions these past few years; one sign/example of their limited mental capacity and lack of intellect is that one of their ringleaders – the short insecure 50+ Michigan male has Facebook profile photo with paper bag over his head and he insists on referring to himself as “Big Al” despite being REALLY short. You ask my darlings, what the hell does this have to do with democracy or interior design of ones home? I shall explain and expand – on how it relates to the disgusting creatures I write about so often, as well as sharing some REAL issues on interior style and décor. Please remember that when I reference “middle class” – it is not pejorative in a general sense nor denoting of income level but singularly as a description of the narrowness and what I and others see as unhealthy, common and insulting level of lifestyle, mentality and even dangerous attitudes by some of  those in our world so delusional and hell bent on defiling REALLY worthy individuals … I have been blessed with REAL friends from every walk of life – from all over the world but NEVER have I experienced such loathsome bottom dwelling creatures as those my husband and I have been forced to deal with recently. You must believe me – no insult to any REALLY good people is intended by my words. Now – go fluff up a tufted or sweetly embroidered pillow, put you feet on a leather nail studded ottoman, pour yourself a cup of tea into a fine china cup and enjoy my take on REAL value and that which is not in interior design.

Weekend after Thanksgiving this year my REAL “internet ninja” shared a Facebook timeline photo with  me – she was near hysterical with laughter as we chatted about what was found on a loser Michigan female page. To say the least this home was not, in any REAL sense, an example of a impressive “soigné” interior. The picture according to my husband  – on account of knowing and explaining that this woman who he knows since early 20’s is “fake phony manic type” – may or may not be this couple’s REAL home [I personally do not doubt it is their small (approximately) 1800 square foot middle class home as I never present falsehoods on my social media pages and so do not see others as doing that either – I  never question others veracity – well that is at least not until these bottom dwellers appeared to falsify so often and so many things;  my dear hubby says that is only one thing he adores about me – my innocence at not understanding that some folks, like those he had known in Michigan, his ex-wife and her children lie all the time]. When we told my husband that loser woman pretentiously described it as her “dining room and sitting area” – my clever hubby explained that back in that area of Michigan that means everything that is not a bedroom, bathroom or kitchen. The photo shared with me was of a home with furnishings right off the floor of a mid-priced furniture store … you know the type – where the wall hangings/pictures match color of sofa or bric brac the design of pressed wood chairs, etc.. My own REAL decorators/interior design team guffaw at such attempts to be stylish in a home – at the same time embracing others that strive honestly to include items REALLY well crafted and carefully chosen no matter their income level. Oh my, never in my life did I think moi would be exposed to such pretense from the classless … I was in near shock when seeing photos and later visiting the home of THE REAL Devil’s Daughter ™ [my hubby’s ex-wife] messy and almost white trailer trash [deer head on wall, velvet looking Elvis paintings and fake everything included] looking home. Neither must I forget how REALLY disturbing was seeing photos of the chubby legally disowned/disinherited Michigan nurse sister-in-law overflowing juvenile Disney statuary curio cabinet. Once again, I am reminded of the irony of how my cultured, art appreciating, REAL quality loving husband, Chester Michael Eliasz-Solomon, was a product of the same middle of middle lifestyle in Michigan as these disgusting members of THE REAL Evil Doers Club ™. I have taken to calling this quandary the “red carpet OMG moment” – you know – it is when you see a very attractive or/and erudite and stylish star on red carpet and then see their family/childhood friends nearby … one usually says something like, “OMG – that is her/his family/friends?”

So my dear readers – here again, we find those bottom dweller miscreant types have led me to a more important issue. That being how throughout history and through modernity, design and décor of ones home has been a democratizing issue. As Isabel Toldeo so aptly expresses in her book, “Style is content. A person with true style is displaying a fertile and thinking mind.”  – obviously by now you all realize that my nemesis could not possibly have REAL style as they have no REAL content of character nor a fertile thinking mind of any sort. Yes, it is true that the “ugly American” syndrome that showcases so well that similar to the loser Michigan, Chicago and Pennsylvania evil doers taste is what REAL designers chafe at … their middle of the middle priced furniture store look belies that theirs is only a pretense at good taste; whereas, the more REAL lovingly selected and well placed, no matter how little or much in cost, is that which REALLY thoughtful people combine in their dwellings. Quality, quality, quality is the tone that all must and can easily be aspired to – that is, of course, by those only who have REALLY refined taste. I want to share a bit of my and my husband’s personal [soon to be multi residential] quality driven décor quest and that which the tomes of design describe as REALLY worthwhile. As a young bride in the 1980’s I decided that I absolutely must have red lacquered Chippendale reproduction dining room chairs – that was accomplished with great effort and much expense but after my late husband passed away in 2000 and I remarried my darling Chester Michael Eliasz-Solomon in 2003, I decided new shared furnishings were the thing most important. The meaning of this lesson is that it is REALLY the experience and not only the thing that gives joy. Each day I pass the Tzedakah box that my dear husband had designed and created for my Chanukah last year – not being Jewish himself, Chester Michael sought out artisan importer Reuven Masel  [in Miami] to produce this precious item in the form of the historical Philadelphia Synagogue, Rodef Shalom. I adore this beautiful addition to our home because it is something added on account of the great love and respect my husband has for me and my faith. It is the same with the Marc Chagall Rabbi print that I inherited from my beloved Father – my husband had it reframed and perfectly hung above the mantel, where the gold Menorah he bought our first shared December holiday season was placed, in the first home we shared together after marrying in 2003. As bon vivant, the clever Vogue writer and international editor at large, Hamish Bowles, states about his recent decision to auction at the iconic Bonhams his “objets”, the term possession itself represents both that material and erotic. Bowles is astute in this observation – for does not the small child’s marble collection or my many Limoges items, among other collectibles in my homes or his own 30’s Syrie Maugham and Dorothy Draper pieces all equal a REAL visceral reaction to those in receipt of such affectionately held acquisitions? The answer is a definitely YES and so we must stand vigilant in allowing the enjoyment of  things in our life while never overvaluing them above what REALLY matters – REAL love, REAL family, REAL friends and G-d.

In other blog posts I have written about how important home and other building designs are … both interior and exterior building décor affects each of us in many important ways. In my post Le Petit Trianon and Why Architecture DOES Matter! [28 July 2012] the emphasis I wanted was on how both private and public spaces are to be taken quite seriously – the importance of how REAL style can change a life is given great detail. The senses of time and place often defined by structure and interior furnishings have proven to change outcomes in learning, health and overall happiness for us humans. Décor can promote a social cause or make a political statement – Stalinist Arcitecture in the Soviet Union was an attempt to control a population through his own imagined ideals of design. There is empirical evidence that low income housing when well designed can minimize crime levels and including well designed public green areas in disenfranchised neighborhoods create huge social and personal benefits. What is included in ones home or office is equal in importance as to that which is absent; surely my post Why The Library Is The Most Important Room In Any Home … No Matter Size or Location!!! [7 July 2012] stresses how very important I feel books are in a home – never trust anyone where books are not part of their chosen home design. Any faux setting should be suspect – a staged presentation without REAL artifacts always a denotation of unscrupulous personalities [in my not so humble “opinion”]. Genuineness is an absolute requirement – one can not cloak a lesser self or a reality defiled by misdeeds in fashion or furnishings … this is as true a fact as a movie set not REALLY being a home – for pretense is only subterfuge in the end, no matter how entertaining.

My husband and I have both Sotheby’s and Christie’s, as well as MoMA online accounts – together grouping and marking choices from auctions we plan to attend, as well as purchases we are hoping to complete soon. Just this week I contacted a Christie’s Chinese art sales associate in New York for a gentleman who was a guest at home where we celebrated Thanksgiving  – what fun I had chatting with this knowledgeable individual despite having to admit that none of hubby and my new homes would include much in way of Asian artifacts. Working with decorators and interior designers does not mean we will not be heavily involved in both the outside and inside of our home’s designs – comforting for me is that my husband shares my taste and we two REALLY trust each other in such choices. There is a thrill in deciding on a well placed Stickley or Edward J. Wormley chair, a chic updated 18^th century designed piece by French furniture maker Micheline Taillardat to set off other more contemporary pieces in one of our rooms or custom designed carpets from the marvelous The RUG Company, chandeliers, creative lighting choices, something from the New York century old mirror atelier, Mirror Fair and such – a REALLY shared couple experience in our life these days and, G-d willing, for many years to come. I am so happy that my darling husband looks forward, as much as I do, to our New York Times Style Magazine – a periodic home style extra magazine that comes with our NYT Sunday paper a few times each year. Hubby and I both are appreciating having decided on Poliform to do our individual closets/dressing rooms in soon to be NYC and other homes. Never will I forget the excitement my husband and I felt when decorating our first time home (twins) nursery a few years ago – we are both sports enthusiast and so that theme was easily chosen. Costs are not the defining attribute of REAL style – instead a REAL sense of self and respect for craftsmanship should rule the nest. Setting out to so-called flea market sales can prove successful in filling ones home – all that is needed is a REAL sense of honest style and intuition. Equally enjoyable to organized acquisitions is gathering items through REAL travel [not that mid-west budget tourist travel stuff]… no status requirement necessary for one to bring home a well chosen accessory from a trip or day excursion. So you see that I am not being a “snob” or elitist in my statements about home décor here but only a bit righteous toward the falsehoods and nearly pathological pretense of certain unsavory types. I am a committed egalitarian but will never accept the reverse snobbery of those lesser. Oh I assure you that these bottom dwellers I write about are so psychologically unstable as to see this blog post as signs of jealousy – professionals will tell you that it is specifically that delusional idea that denotes a personality disorder … you know the type – no matter how insignificant or obviously unsuccessful/unattractive they REALLY are, they think everyone envies them. Sad to think how potentially destructive these people are to themselves and others – as in previous posts, I tell you that 100% of this situation was caused and perpetrated by The Miscreants ™ [hubby, I, legal team, etc. keep detailed timelines and REAL records of everything]. Now on a funnier note – the crazed looking Michigan (mother/mother-in-law of one couple we are suing and possible her as well) old lady in this scenario seemed to confuse or lie about reading Architectural Digest, Town & Country, Hampton Magazine with People and US type periodicals: when I mentioned in a post that an adviser shared with my assistant and I that my new homes would probably be featured in former three after my book was published and that he was excited at how jealous bottom dwellers would be, we gals immediately assured him those types never read such classy publications  – in response to my words, this ridiculous senior wrote on Facebook that she just donated hers to a public library or some similar venue… trust me – this creature meant the latter, lol. All this brings us back to what being REAL means – no cheap paint or fake pressed wood furnishings nor even copying a favorite Good Housekeeping type magazine photo will provide a classless person REAL style – where no intrinsic qualities exist there can be nothing of REAL value. Posed pretense is just that – a sad and pathetic attempt to be other than is REAL.

In my memoir, Heiress Mommy … A Modern Super Woman Life! a very few chapters will reference the troublesome individuals you read about in my blog posts or discuss with me if we know each other personally but rest assured everything that is written about myself and them will be REAL – just like my REALLY well decorated homes!!!

P.S. I promise – as long as publisher’s attorney agree – ALL REAL names and some photos will be included in my REAL story … mine and The Miscreants ™ and certainly THE REAL Devil’s Daughter ™ +++ all their cohorts!!!

Note: We are still considering adding a country NY home to raise our growing family in and to be a get away from our NYC place, as well as affording me space where I can finally have my much desired Orangery and hubby can work with a landscape designer on his much desired intricate garden ideas. The one we like most is near to both Martha Stewart and the Ralph Lauren family … my hubby seems to think RL will drop by to toss some pillows strategically for us and that, being Polish like my husband, Martha will help us bake babka – surely neither is likely but one never knows – as my REAL life never fails to present the most fabulous situations and REALLY great opportunities!!!

UPDATE: The above referenced nemesis did many more crimes and egregious acts against myself, husband and family since this essay was first published 2012 … after my first & second books, a third will be published after the lawsuits and hoped for prosecutions are complete in our determination to help others who have suffered the same as us but do not have the resources we had to fight back. Additionally beginning Spring 2015 the Eliasz-Solomon family will be bi-coastal … Our life always exciting but now WOW. Oh yes, my hubby still obsessed with him ex-wife [divorced 20 years March 2015] who fled to California from East Coast [more on that in my book] need not worry for we are living in the better neighborhood – best California Real Estate where her kind can neither afford or are welcomed … sorry dear readers to sound snobbish but trust me it is not at all that but only REAL facts and yes I admit a wee bit of pride!!!

A Wedding Anniversary Tale: How NPR, Jaguars And Eagles Got Me Married!

A REALLY good looking guy walks into a diner and … sounds like a set up line for a joke but no joking here – the love of my life, Chester Michael Eliasz-Solomon did just that August 2003 and made me his wife just a few months later on 29 November 2003. Yes indeed, my blue eyed Prince and I married on a snowy Saturday evening in formal attire surrounded by REAL family and friends. Everyone was dressed in gowns and tuxedos – all in my chosen color theme of shimmering black and white – with red and white rose flowers for all attendants that were the choice of my groom. I still am moved and flattered when recalling the words my soon to be husband spoke when he first saw me walk down the aisle; “I have NEVER seen or known a more beautiful woman in all my life!” Our wedding video shows us both with tear filled eyes that express the pure joy that we two felt at being so blessed to be joined in holy matrimony; Photos taken at French themed wedding dinner that followed make evident the glowing passion we have for one another. Now you are surely wondering – what National Public Radio, Jaguar Cars and the Philadelphia Eagles Football Team have to do with our ninth wedding anniversary – of course, I am going to tell you my darling readers. No – not every detail – that full absolutely amazing story is being saved for my  memoir, Heiress Mommy … a Modern Super Woman Life!, but still sharing here enough to make you all know that REAL and true everlasting love does happen when one least expects it. Prepare to do the “Oh My G-d” exclamations because our story is definitely that and so much more.

I think we all know that moi is a bit of a “snob” – only in the good sense in that I am also quite egalitarian. I do readily admit to adoring the finer things in life but singularly because of quality and not status. As such, I do NOT like diners or chain restaurants or other similar middle of the middle type food establishments – certainly NEVER a place similar to those decidedly “un-hip” and far from/totally not “trendy” and definitely NOT in any way upscale venues frequented by often referred to loathsome miscreants [that they apparently keep manically posting photos of/likes for on their Facebook pages] you have read about in my posts. None-the-less, there were circumstances beyond my control placing me in that location during summer 2003 and there it was that I found my true love. Widowed three years prior after twenty years of a good and solid marriage, I was not looking for a second trip to the altar but love rushed in and REALLY swept me off my feet in a suburban diner – where normally I would NEVER have been under any usual occurrences. Meant to be is how I see it because despite the serendipity nature of our meeting and my best efforts to not get involved, I fell head over heels in love with the most amazing man in the world not very long after the day we met and  first chatted about NPR, Jaguars and Eagles Football.

I am a naturally gregarious friendly type – love people and enjoy interesting conversation. Me being me, I asked blue eyed Prince if the Jaguar parked outside was his – my own latest Jaguar car being a [bought with my own cash by me/for me] brand new champagne colored 2001 XKR convertible with custom tires and his a “starter” Jag X-type, which he proceeded to tell me was leased. Actually it turned out that we both had acquired our cars at the same Main Line, Philadelphia dealership. Hmmm – “leased” Jag I thought … still, it showed good taste in cars – which I uncharacteristically for a female know lots about. Thank G-d cute guy made no mention of a juvenile affection for Volkswagen so called “Beetle Bug” [yes my dear followers, yet another Michigan miscreant 50 year old loser lady reference, lol]. Noticing this sweet voiced fellow was reading an Eagles Football Team’s new hometown stadium brochure, I then mentioned that I was a very proud born and bred Philadelphian and I loved football and all sports in fact. That began a serious conversation about team loyalty – seeing how intelligent and well spoken my new acquaintance was, I asked if he ever listened to my favorite radio sports show on NPR, “Only a Game!” – I explained that this listening pleasure combined erudite thinking with well thought out sports analysis, which for me was best of two worlds. Prince guy answered no but he liked NPR and would be sure to tune into my suggested listening choice ASAP. Now I would love to tell you it was only my keen mind and sports acumen that hooked this cutie but you know how men are … here I will only vaguely admit and allude to what my darling later told me he thought as I walked away towards the diner’s lavatory in my form fitting black Capri pants and little white summer top – something like “Wow, I would like to get to know her BETTER …”. Be good dear readers – whatever blanks you are filling in are probably true and maybe – just maybe – the full thought my guy was having will be detailed in my memoir. Suffice it to say, this fine gentleman tells me it was the full package – what he describes as my élan – my mind, body and soul that had him think he must act on his intuitive feelings and ask me out then and there.

“Why don’t we get together for drinks or dinner some time and continue our conversation?” was cute guy’s suggestion. I explained that life for me was complicated at that moment and being widowed so recently – well, I was not sure. Cleverly, blue eyed Prince quipped back that he was not proposing marriage but just a friendly get together – and so we exchanged telephone numbers on back of diner’s business cards. It took a week but we did get together and were never apart after that – daily meet ups and travel in that “starter” Jaguar of his, multiple phone calls every day, long letters and a REAL almost instantaneous knowing that we two were meant to be husband and wife. We shared our REAL life stories – each full of blessings but also sorrows – agreeing, as I put it, that each of us had suffered more than some but less than most. My darling loved my biography and still, as then, expressed an amazement and appreciation for my REAL optimistic love of life. I admired his decency and brilliance – his goodness and kind manner. Needless to say, we found the other adorable – a REAL mutual admiration and attraction developed quickly and so it was that, as I detailed in my blog (9 September 2012)  post “My Own 9/11 Story”, Chester Michael proposed to me on 11 September 2003, with a magnificent diamond ring he designed himself just a few weeks after we met. Fast you are thinking – well my friends – when it is REALLY right, it is the only thing to do … seize the moment, Carpe Diem, as the saying goes. I accepted the beautifully worded [poem included] proposal and we immediately began planning our formal elegant wedding – my new finance doing most of that task and thus allowing me to feel the security and confidence that he REALLY wanted me as his life partner because NOTHING and NO ONE would prevent our marrying. I can not wait to share all of this truly glorious tale in my memoir – for ours is a REAL love story that will inspire many in that we thwarted all those naysayer and evil doer miscreant types to do as we believed G-d intended by becoming husband and wife.

He is strong and handsome, and I love him for that, and I admire him and I am proud of him,

but I would love him without those qualities. If he were plain, I would love him; if he were a

wreck, I would love him. And I would work for him and slave over him and pray for him and

watch by his bedside until I died. Yes, I think I love him merely because he is mine and is masculine.

—The Diaries of Adam & Eve, Translated by Mark Twain

[For my husband, Chester Michael Eliasz-Solomon: Happy 9^th Wedding Anniversary my darling

… the best is REALLY yet to come!!!]

P.S. Ours was a civil ceremony  – having always wanted to add a religious aspect, we are now involved in planning a Rabbinical marriage vow renewal ceremony and grand celebratory fete on our next wedding anniversary  … by then we will [G-d willing] be living more months as California residents and so either in our new hometown or that which we recently began giving serious consideration to – the possibility of a castle somewhere in Europe, with a few hundred of our REAL family and friends, we will again say “I do … promise to REALLY love, TRULY honor and COMPLETELY cherish until death do us part and then be joined throughout eternity”!

Anna Karenina and Jay Gatsby Should Have Lived!!!

True to my tenacious self, I have decided to rewrite the endings of Tolstoy’s Anna Karenina and Fitzgerald’s The Great Gatsby. I actually will not be the first nor the last to rethink these iconic literary characters. Why now? Well you see Hollywood is in a literature mode and as such will be releasing new versions of both the original movie versions [Keira Knightley as Anna Karenina and Leonardo DiCaprio as Jay Gatsby video] based on these two books end 2012 and early 2013. My hope is people will actually be inspired to, as I have more than once, read the books. For me, it has been a long held feeling that both Anna and Jay got ripped off – killed off when each could have very well lived happily ever after. So I am not REALLY rewriting these grand tomes but only wanting to suggest an alternative and very importantly delineated view of these beloved characters – their life – the world that caused their demise.

Reality – truths – myths … all present narratives that demand action of us. Religions, countries, families each develop story lines that attempt to regulate the members of that group – forcing, despite contrary evidence, individuals to adhere to a program often detrimental to self and the group alike. Rituals are a must – moral codes an absolute requirement but never the dictate of others – especially never those wanting to control for self aggrandizing.  Leaders send citizens to battle, relatives subjugate members to roles, bosses use workers for selfish gain and each keeps someone, in some way from a better destiny.  Whose fault you might ask – everyone I answer. For do we all not participate – turning a blind eye and often agreeing with those prescribed dictates? To strike out – leave – change and demand rightful place in this world takes courage and strength. Even the very successful like our Gatsby fellow are defeated by illusory ideas of what should be their path and for dear Anna Karenina the role of a woman as defined by men and even supported by others of her own gender leads to life being intolerable.

A mistake in life – a singular wrong doing by someone is too frequently used by the lesser types among us as their only means to diminish those better than themselves and then attempt to falsely elevated their own sorry existence. The trouble lies in allowing yourself or any other REALLY good person to be ostracized by cowards – losers – miscreants and misanthropes. Without fail [trust me as I have the documents] those I and others are forced to deal with and who spew lies and misinformation as a route to their ill gotten gains, are themselves guilty of much larger and disgusting misdeeds – even crimes. Yes my darling readers, again, more that I can not fully discuss on account of ongoing (personal) litigation/lawsuits and obligations for my soon finally decided on publication date book, Heiress Mommy … A Modern Super Woman Life!. Suffice it to say, that as is far too often the case, those most loathsome are those most anxious to falsely accuse and to attempt harm by misplaced ideas about one better or more achieved or just more decent then they could ever hope to be. Were the literary imagined Jay Gatsby and Anna Karenina not better and more special than those in judgment of them? Of course, in many ways these two were of better quality than those around them. Neither – as none of us are if honest about things – were without sin but neither were these two as deceitful or without grace as their accusers. All through each book – both Tolstoy’s and Fitzgerald’s – we pray and nearly beg that the REAL truth will survive. The reader wants desperately for Jay and Anna to realize their own worth – rally, stay, be ok we shout in our minds as these two submit sadly to an undeserved fate. How then do we avoid the same sort of demise? Not easy but quite possible I assure you. I have written in other blog posts about my Jewish faith, my amazing REAL family and REAL friends, as well as my own discipline and determination – all that has made it possible for me to overcome the hateful attempts of others to diminish and deny me. Let us examine the how and why that Jay Gatsby, Anna Karenina and the rest of us can and should always use to survive the wrath of evil doer types – overcome those miscreants hell bent on our being quiet or G-d forbid, gone forever. Of course, Tolstoy and Fitzgerald would have written much different tales if their main character in these two books were able, as I have been, to thwart the miscreants – those so obsessed with telling untruths because of their own diminished life. Lawyers, a great publicist and very devoted family and friends are something I have that our Anna Karenina and Jay Gatsby did not. Even without the amazing support system I have been blessed with, one can defeat the jealous bottom dwellers by always denying them voice – never letting these misanthropes do as was done to our literary characters being discussed here – you must strike out through every means possible to stop the hater class … for myself/my husband, as you dear readers know by now, that is through the legal system and the pen – a tell all tome is REAL justice. Your enemy, as mine, will even deny reality and as many have suggested to me, that is usually because they have and do lie frequently about their own life … as my very wise late Mother often said, “A lie teller thinks everyone lies, a thief assumes all are thieves, a cheater believes everyone does the same and so on”. The tragedy for Anna Karenina and Jay Gatsby is that they never owned that knowledge – as such allowed the loathsome to define them. Never me and never should you.

God knows what you’ve been doing, everything you’ve been doing. You may fool me, but you can’t fool God!
The Great Gatsby, Chapter 8.

Poor darling Jay Gatsby – worked so dam hard to achieve financial success and status – get a foot hold into society and then to have it end suddenly at the hand of a loser. How different it all would have been if this up by the boot straps American fellow had realized the REAL dream was to be achieved in striking out – getting away from the poseurs. Isn’t our Gatsby like so many who think if only they had ____________, then they would be truly happy? But is that whatever only what others make us think is the thing to get happy through and not REALLY what will bring contentment? More troubling is those others want us to not be really successful – certainly never more than they are for that would highlight their own lesser status. I wrote a blog about denial – interviewed mental health professionals for that post who assured me those unable to fathom or reach certain levels of success in life often deny the reality of others who are REALLY achieved and accomplished in order to feel better about themselves. Seems unimportant except in Gatsby’s case it got him killed – proof that yes it does REALLY matter what others profess is the truth about you. Jay Gatsby was an original – authentic – the real deal as they say but he unfortunately let the miscreant types define and ultimately destroy him. You and I must never fall victim to the delusions of others – fight hard to have a REAL place in this world. Defeat the myth making – embrace the true glory of your narrative. Fitzgerald did not deny the great American dream but demonstrated through Gatsby that the dreamer is often sidetracked by those less worthy and so we of good intentions should head the warnings of too much fantasy determined by others with only selfish motivation or simply those so insignificant that world will never remember they even existed. I relate to the confusion and disbelief  Fitzgerald has us see in Jay Gatsby as he views the small mindedness and narrow life view of those around him … often when my dear husband hears myself, friends and colleagues discussing why the classless individuals he and I have been forced to deal with act, do or say something, he advises that people like myself and those I associate with need not waste our time on such concerns as we of  REAL value can never fathom the motives of those so distasteful. Tragically it is similar for Gatsby as he was immature in his understanding of others deficiencies – neither I nor you of REAL goodness should ever allow as he did, our faith in others to be the catalyst for our own defeat.

Be bad, but at least don’t be a liar, a deceiver!
― Leo Tolstoy,   Anna Karenina

Beautiful Anna Karenina had love bring her down or was it social mores that did our aristocratic lady in? Shame misplaced and set upon by others – again those unworthy of G-d’s grace daring to decide the value of another person. Tolstoy allows Anna to internalize the insults and hateful jealously of those defining status and worth in her world. Yes too often throughout history those good and special are subjugated to the slings and arrows of usurpers – neither REAL reason nor ultimate gain for the hater class in most circumstances but only their own ignorant and pathetic attempt at some unwarranted retribution. Shameful when others buy into the wrath of the devil’s spawn – oh my, hyperbole you are thinking on my part. No – just a seasoned recognition and deep believe from experience that evil truly does dwell among us in the form of what might appear an average person but is really a life draining and sinful creature. How else to explain the chatter that Tolstoy so brilliantly includes in his story from those around Anna Karenina – is it not the opposite of good when for purely hateful reasons others seek to destroy another of G-d’s children? Poor lady – if only Anna had someone to point out the loathsome position of those ostracizing her – if only, like myself, she had champions and defenders by her side. It never fails that the loudest critics are exactly those with the most to hide and the very people with most to be ashamed of in their own life. The deficiencies in both intelligence and judgment of those who oppose without REAL basis or facts must not be tolerated nor ignored. It is the self satisfied types that judged Anna so harshly who are themselves incapable of REAL development and REAL success. Sad but still dangerous that the least among us try to deny the best of us a rightful place in this world. Enemies strive to both physically and spiritually destroy the object of their envy and will use any faux means to achieve their nefarious goal – Tolstoy has Anna Karenina weaken in response to these evil doers – we of REALLY good character must never allow the same in our lives. All prejudice is exactly this form of insecurity disguised as righteous belief – simply a means to allow one insecure group to dominate another. No matter personal, community, national or other – no misplaced determination of ones value should define a life. Fight against what Anna Karenina succumbed to – do NOT ever allow your worth nor direction in life to be decided by the enemies of REAL truth.

So in my stories Jay Gatsby leaves Daisy to her vacuous existence – marries a REALLY great lady and sires REALLY great children … maybe runs for Congress some day. As for Anna Karenina, I have her living on into a grand dame of 90+ years, reunited with her child, having many grandchildren by her side and having great love again with a REALLY great man. Jay and Anna are gone except in the pages of these great works by Tolstoy and Fitzgerald but we dear blog readers can honor lessens they taught us by not letting your life story be a “if only” scenario – I surely will not let mine!!!

P.S. I was first inspired to “rewrite” the ending of Anna Karenina when my dear close friend & REALLY talented Pennsylvania hairdresser, Marina discussed the book with me one day. While she doing my nearly daily blow out we chatted about one of our shared pleasures – books & reading. I mentioned that a new movie version of Anna Karenina was soon to be released … there & then, we two decided too sad & too unfair that she came to an early demise. So I suggested an alternative or two with our heroine living happily ever after. Now that is a REALLY great hairdresser/gal pal … makes me look GREAT & makes me think GREAT thoughts. I adore you M.I.!!!

Note: Hopefully all of you who read & follow me are being entertained, inspired & a bit intrigued … certainly I have gotten wonderful & much appreciated feedback – especially interesting are the questions/suggestions as to who exactly are the often referred to miscreants & why the capitalized REAL/REALLY words. I & my support team like to think of it as a somewhat erudite version of “Where’s Waldo?” But seriously, ALL the REAL truth, about EVERYONE [documents & photos included], will DEFINITELY be understood once my  book is published. In the mean time – thank you, thank you, thank you – from the bottom of my REAL heart for the support, love and interest – each of you who subscribe, read & reach out to me bring happiness & comfort into my life. Shalom!

… oh yes, one more thank you – to all of you darlings who “warn” hubby & I, forward information/Facebook & Twitter & such about the enemies of truth – we REALLY love you!!!

My Own 9/11 Story

“The Horror! The Horror!”, proclaims Kurtz in Joseph Conrad’s Heart Of Darkness. Yes, we all thought or spoke those words as watching that day’s events on 11 September 2001. I watched the second tower fall as turning in my private hospital suite bed after breast cancer surgery. A dear relative surgeon had arranged a lovely private extra large room and to have my private nurse be sure cable news was [as he knew I am a news junkie] on for me when I woke that morning – never realizing or imagining my eyes would open to see that horror and hear Bryant Gumbel saying this was probably no accident after all.

After my first wonderful husband, David Colin,  died in Spring 2000, I decided that doing a little – shall we say – sprucing up was in order. Being a life long runner, I felt my knees had become a bit chunky/muscular and that a breast lift might be nice as well. I had grown quite close to a distant relative [very talented] plastic surgeon and so I decided to ask what he thought – yes no problem but this dear man suggested that even though I  already had routine yearly mammograms, another pre-op was required. So off I went – mammogram complete, organizing all in order to have a week or two recovery time where biggest task would be finally reading all those wonderful books on my night table. Being a wee bit compulsive I scurried to and fro paying bills, stocking up on necessities and taking a friend’s idea to arrange staying at the Philadelphia Ritz Carlton while recuperating in order to have REAL [yes I got a miscreant hint in even here, lol] concierge assistance 24/7. Now some shopping needed to be complete – a doctor gal pal explained that I would be needing loose fitting front buttoning tops for easy access after breast lift surgery. While driving in my new 2001 adorable amazing gorgeous custom champagne colored XKR Jaguar convertible – yes, in love with my car – my cell phone rang and seeing relative plastic surgeon number, assumed a quick pre-surgery get together lunch date being offered. “Hello sweetie – are we getting together to break bread before you and I meet in operating room next week?”,  was my greeting. An unusually somber voice responded that yes but he wanted me to come to his office asap – I somehow knew instantly what was going on. I turned that sweet car around, headed across town, took elevator up to the beautiful office I had entered so many times before to be greeted by a teary eyed doctor. No question now – something very bad was happening. Obviously, by now, you readers must realize they had found cancer – fortunately it was in duct situ carcinoma , which is a rather mild form/early detected breast cancer, of one breast and in my 2013 book, Heiress Mommy … A Modern Super Woman Life! all that journey and more will be detailed. Suffice it to say that vanity saved my life and love of my surgeon friend made that journey much, much easier. Also, Ritz Carlton recuperation a very pleasant way to get back on one’s feet. Of course, the horrors of the 9/11 terrorism attacks not so easily remedied and that is why unlike many, when asked when my breast cancer surgery was – I answer precisely with day, date and even time – that day of national horror never erased from our collective world memory.

Well I fully recovered – knees, buttocks [yes had that lifted too] and breasts looking better than ever. The two years that followed however, just like our nation after 9/11, presented some serious and for me, unexpected challenges. I, as always, must remain vague here and simply ask for your patience, as my 2013 book will detail fully the entire story – much to be learned by everyone and inspiration as well for those who read my story. I hope and pray that my complicated and triumphant journey will help others overcome and rally to their own great destiny. One of the main reasons my amazing second husband, Chester Michael Eliasz-Solomon agreed I should sign a book deal was how many folks we believe my story will give guidance to and that many will be made better for knowing that like myself, they too can thwart all enemies, fight against those who lie and hate and go on to find true happiness against the odds. My darling hubby has always called my Tereza Triumphant ™ – in fact, among our now owned 28 trademarks/copyrights is that too. So here we are at my next 9/11 saga – meeting the love of my life.

Oh my, so sorry my darling readers and followers but vague again I must be about the exact circumstances of how and where I met my amazing second husband but trust me that as my self titled “team” [lawyers, advisers, publicist, et al.] constantly say, it is definitely a REAL Oh My G-d love story – one surely to go down as great in the annals of timeless romances. What I will share in reference to the historical date this writing is about is that on 9/11 2003 my man proposed [in his Jaguar] with a magnificent diamond ring he designed and a poem he wrote that referenced the tragedy both nationally and personally for me that occurred on 11 September 2001  – his proposal speech included how he hoped that I would agree to make him happier than he ever thought possible by agreeing to marry him on this the same calendar date 2003. YES, YES, YES  I instantly responded seeing my new engagement ring through tears of joy. WOW – what a guy – right? And so it is that each year on 9/11 we two thank G-d that our love has grown and that in remembering those who perished and all the heroes from the tragedy of 9/11, our coming together as man and wife and the children our union has created is a stick in the eye of those devils that wanted to destroy this great nation – for we two and our children represent, as I believe my Jewish people do concerning the Holocaust, G-d’s design that good does REALLY triumph over evil!!!

P.S. My breast cancer experience was made much easier because of my insurance coverage, access personally to REALLY good doctors, funds for private nurses and yes being able to pay for staying at the Ritz Carlton to recuperate. In my blog post Why ACA Is Obama’s FDR Moment!, I discuss and even show my signed by President Obama framed certificate thanking me for my participation in passing that ground breaking health care bill. One of my plans is donate a part of my books proceeds to and continue to work for ALL women to have similar health care options – maybe I can not put you up at the Ritz but I surely, with other determined like minded individuals, get you mammograms and the best possible medical care that you can find. Both my husband and I are devoted feminist – committed to saving women from the draconian current crop of GOP cuts – PLEASE join us in November 2012 and vote out/against those who would deny any woman her rightful health care coverage!!!

Our Modern Day Historical Love Story!!!

The man said,

“This is now bone of my bones
and flesh of my flesh;
she shall be called ‘woman,’
for she was taken out of man. ”

That is why a man leaves his father and mother and is united to his wife, and they become one flesh.

–Genesis 2:23-24

When I die … hopefully as a very old, well coiffed, couture clothed,  hell on wheels tough ass broad – I will be giving G-d thanks for so many, many things. Mine has been [to say the least] an interesting life – full of more ups than downs. One of my own coined remarks concerning life difficulties is: I have had more than some but much less than most. The material things – the travel and events that others can only dream of experiencing, have been plentiful for me. More important is that I have been blessed with REAL friends and REAL love. I often tell my best friend, Mark K. and his wife [my REAL sister] Susan K., that even though we knew one another since college, it was not until I went through a horrible experience [all in my hopefully soon  book: Heiress Mommy … A Modern Super Woman Life!] did I get to know – though this couple – the glory of deep, devoted and unwavering friendship. These are definitely my extended family and we share everything – now looking forward to the glory days with them and the others who believed and supportive me and my husband through it all and against all enemies. So here I am at the title of this blog post – about myself and my amazing husband, C. Michael Eliasz-Solomon – for ours is truly a modern day historical love story. Our tale easily comparable to those throughout time that are written about and repeated often. We were joined by G-d, sustained by love, completed by deeds and shared task and united in effort to thrive, produce, do good and fight ALL evil. Oh my, again such flowery and dramatic tonality in my writing – but trust me my darling readers and followers that you will agree here and definitely after reading my 2013 memoir – that my marriage is worthy candidate for a template of what a REAL relationship should be in this complicated world.

Adam & Eve were not what you think. While courting my darling husband sent me Mark Twain’s The Diaries Of Adam & Eve. The biblical idea of this first couple will never be the same as you read the nuances and often reflective thoughts of these two love birds. In fact, my hubby and I have decided to include quotes that the clever Twain has ascribed to Adam & Eve when we renew our wedding vows on the tenth anniversary in November 2013. Like these two, my husband and I sincerely believe G-d was our match maker – we were destined to be man and wife, to procreate and bond through eternal life. Other couples surely felt the same and others, also like us, unable – no matter the problems or difficulties – to be apart. We had the need and absolutely conviction that ours was a relationship meant to be in this world. Cleopatra & Antony could not deny their love even though an empire was at stake – these two thwarted enemy and friend alike to be together. In my life, that choice was also made – my husband and I denied all others  – those evil and determined to break us apart. Unlike Cleopatra & Antony, my husband and I will live [G-d willing] a long life together surrounded only by those loving, supportive and as devoted to us as we are to them.

Now here the comparison of my marriage to historical love stories gets really surreal – for you see my Hebrew name is Bathsheba, her beloved was David [my first husband’s name] and my last name, which is also the legal last name of my now husband and our children [made official in Court, January 2012] is Eliasz-SOLOMON. As my husband and I produce children, who are Solomons – it is as that other Bathsheba & [her husband] David did  in producing their wise King son Solomon. My husband Chester Michael Eliasz-SOLOMON is as wise and great as King David and I am sure our twin sons will be good Jewish exceptionally men, as their son Solomon was as a Jewish King. Yes, I am prejudice – my husband is the most amazing man in the world and I am grateful to be the mother of his ONLY children.

The most famous royal couple in history, known as the Catholic Monarchs, are Isabella & Ferdinand (video). I despise their reign of terror/their Holy War that forced Spanish Muslims and Jews to convert, leave or die – who even if converted were abused throughout Spain. However one can not help but be impressed by the joint solidarity of shared ruling these two had throughout their married life. My husband and I are equal partners as well – in all endeavors and are never anything other than united in effort to build our own little dynastic family life. We too will fight any usurper who threatened our union but unlike Isabella & Ferdinand we are liberal and fair unto all people unless evil and truly unworthy.For Chester Michael and myself it is a primary fact that no other person will ever divide us and as such we remain a force unconquerable. I suppose that the Spanish monarchs saw their joining similarly – sad that they could not have been as G-d demands toward ALL people of Spain during their reign. No denying that a united front allowed Isabella & Ferdinand to succeed beyond any other nation at that time – for my husband and I the same has been true as each day success seems to grow for us and we protect our family at all cost.

Queen Victoria & Prince Albert are a royal couple I much prefer to see my marriage to be like in how these two benefited others by their combined decisions. As my husband and I have designed our life to be not only beneficial to us and our children but our extended family, friends and community as well, so did Victoria & Albert for the British Empire. Like Victoria, I am in a powerful position these days and for the foreseeable future and it is my husband, like it was Albert, who guides me toward the right choices and directs my decisions on all matters. The young Victoria wrote in her dairy on 11February1840, the day after her wedding:

“… how can I ever be thankful enough to have such a husband!“

— I too give thanks to have such a husband as mine to grow and accomplish much in this life.

Another British royal love story to be noted as undeniably special is that of Prince of Wales & Wallis Simpson. To give up a kingdom, a throne and status unequal for a woman is to have demonstrated real love. Whatever my opinion of these two – the rumored Nazi sympathies and such – I relate easily as my husband legally disowned and fully legally disinherited ALL his relations in order to protect me and our children. My husband legally took my last name and had his/our children do the same as an honor to my parents and to further and permanently distance himself/us from those unseemly, threatening and not beneficial to our life plan. The difference between the Prince of Wales & his American wife, Wallis Simpson and us is that my husband gained a ruling place by his choice. Yes, my darling readers/followers I am again being vague and yes ALL/EVERYTHING will be detailed in my book: Heiress Mommy … A Modern Super Woman Life! – rest assured the outcome is magnificent for my marriage. When King Edward VIII abdicated in order to marry Wallis Simpson he stated it was because he could not do his job without her by his side and that is the same as what my husband tells me often when expressing that my presence is the how and why he can live happily. Reciprocation is as true – for I also can not live well or happily without my husband at my side. We get Edward & Wallis – giving it all up for love seems quite sane to us.

My husband’s writes of our love and of me in his blog Stanczyk – Internet Muse™.  The Polish King Jan III Sobieski & his wife, Marysienka is who my husband most analogizes to our blessed and special marriage. Their very literate love letters during the King’s absence while waging military campaigns makes my husband reminisce about our love letters from a few days after we met until we married only three months later. This 17th century Polish royal couple lived a long life with many children – this is my Polish husband’s wish for us.

I relate my love story/marriage to famous currently talked about couples also – the Clintons, Obamas, movie and sports stars because like them my husband and I have been forced to tolerate and deal with miscreants, misanthropes, vandals, usurpers and lie spewing loathsome individuals – yes, those are apt descriptions that are shared by my friends, extended family, attorneys, advisers and even law enforcement and investigators helping us. Sounds complicated, doesn’t it? Again, you darling readers and followers must trust that ALL will be FULLY understandable after my 2013 book is published, TV, radio and magazine interviews out and lawsuits and charges that are filed written about in many venues – as with everything these days there will surely be much internet coverage as well.

Our modern day historical love story is a tale of salvation – we frequently discuss how we each resurrected the other from situations not conducive to our value or life destiny. The union of our two souls produces a strengthened singular oneness that is truly not to be defeated by any circumstance or usurper, no illness or strife nor happenstance could break the bond of my marriage. The biblical to death do us part is something my husband and I take seriously. Equal is let no man put asunder – and so it will remain until we pass from this world and join through an eternal life as one forever more!

P.S.  I fret about teasing my readers & followers – unable to share EVERYTHING on account of ongoing litigation and now/recent civil criminal charges that are being pursued against the often referenced miscreants plus book contractual obligations. Let me reassure everyone again – ALL will be completely detailed in my book and interviews and also trust me that you will be amazed and impressed about my historical love story … how we met, how we loved, how we persevered and how we triumphed beyond any one’s possible idea of what would be for us as a couple. It is a great example of G-d’s blessings, irony and REAL love in a REAL marriage [don’t you wonder about my constant REALS – more to come]!!!

Rear Admiral Grace Hopper And My TWO Husbands!

Nanosecond, nanosecond, nanosecond … it takes ten nanoseconds to “shake a lamb’s tail” but more time for me to tell you why being an egg  head chick has gotten me married to two amazing computer advance degree guys in my lifetime – which got me an introduction to the amazing Grace Hopper and a gifted nanosecond from her. Yes I like the brainy fellows and apparently they really like me too. My first dear husband, David, who I was widowed from at nearly 21 years of marriage in Spring 2000, worked for IBM and his father, The Colonel was a brilliant computer specialist, Pentagon official, Air Force officer and senior citizen ranked tennis player [is honored in the Newport Tennis Hall of Fame]. It was my dear father-in-law who got me, his science interested daughter-in-law, an invite to a reception where I was introduced to and fawned over Rear Admiral Grace Hopper … lucky me must have charmed this brilliant lady because she reached into her pocket, pulled out a bit of wire, twisted it and handed it to me saying here dear is a nanosecond. WOW!

My parents thought ALL areas of science, history, art and so on should be a part of their daughters and sons education … both my parents, like myself and my second (married in 2003) genius husband, C. Michael Eliasz-Solomon [who has a Masters in Computer Science], were feminist. My husband and I agreed at the start of fertility treatments that our sons AND daughters would all have the same exposure to hard sciences. Our plan is to follow my parents example with our twin sons and any other children G-d blesses us with by having excursions in nature and home projects that ignite an interest in science. My father got me a salamander, which I named Solomon The Salamander and so even though quite the Jewish Princess, me as a little girl loved experiments and reading about things that in those days were usually reserved for boys – not in our home – myself and my brothers got exactly the same direction and opportunity.

I studied speech and then medicine at Temple University [where I graduated from] and other Philadelphia learning  institutions and then, much later/plan on finishing soon, law. As a woman wanting to learn about everything – for me to be able to chat with a woman like Grace Hopper who seemed to never allow her gender to even be part of her professional conversation was a thrill. Around the time I had this wonderful experience [early 1980’s] I had begun to give serious thought about a possible doctorate in science and being a Zionist/huge admirer of Israeli military, actually considered applying to the War College. I know you can not picture this JAP couture dressed, professionally coiffed, manicured Democrat at such a place and only those who know the REAL me could. People I was closest to understood that for me the draw was that science and military combined can actually be a peaceful endeavor – by adjusting the program from destruction to intervention the U.S. and other nations have brought military personnel into peace maker status. Of course, I have a bit of a macho side too – in fact, I had a subscription to Jane’s Defence magazine because I enjoyed reading/learning  about military hardware.

I mention my two husbands …yes, I am blessed – married twice [basically all my adult life] to two amazing, brilliant, well educated and totally in love with Tereza guys. It seems moi has a thing for computer men – as I wrote earlier both David and C. Michael have advanced computer science degrees. My first husband was with IBM for most of our nearly 21 years of marriage and my now (2nd) genius husband and father of my children owned his own computer firm [first and still only member of his so called “family” or childhood Michigan friends to ever own a business or ever have an advance degree] when we married in 2003 and then/until a few years ago was a Data Architect consultant famous in his field. One anecdotal story concerning my Oracle expert rather famous husband Chester Michael happened to me at a Villanova computer law class, where I was learning to use Westlaw & Lexus Nexus  [boy has that come in handy for me – more in my book: Heiress Mommy … A Modern Super Woman Life!] – at one point somehow the professor realized who my husband was [then his name was Chester Michael Eliasz but since January 2012 he legally took my last name & became Chester Michael Eliasz-Solomon] and was very impressed, to the point of almost asking for me to get hubby’s autograph but settling for my promise to give my husband his business card. My husband is now stay at home Dad and my Web Master and is working on our over twenty trademarks, pending patents and copyrights plus attempting to continue as a consultant in the computer industry. This blog is Chester Michael’s design and he is a integral part of all my endeavors – partner, adviser and all around always smartest guy in the room person, along with being my LSAT tutor.  I love that both my husbands love that I am smart too – no little woman bare foot and pregnant in the kitchen role for me – although I love being pregnant and do not mind some baking time either and yes barefoot on the beach a happy time too. The point is both David and C. Michael [husband 1 & 2] knew having a intelligent and interesting wife would make theirs a happy life … my husband and I not only laugh but talk constantly about all sorts of topics, including Grace Hopper and her being the originator of term “debugging”. See I got that point into this post …yep, there was a moth [real insect kind] in a computer and when Hopper was asked about how they go it out, she apparently coined the term right there and then. Just thought you my readers might enjoy that tidbit … see why I am so great at cocktail parties and soirees – I know lots of stuff. I could never be married to someone who did not indulge my variant interest … for example I was really into the String Theory for a while and yes, husband #1 and #2 not only made sure I had books on the topic but found and discussed endlessly with me the principles involved until I finally got over that particular science fetish. Are you thinking that this gal enjoys HARD science fellows – your are correct – I do but they must also love the arts, design, opera, plays, culture, sports, travel and the whole gambit of what this big world offers.

All my readers and followers are by now quite aware that I believe far too many individuals limit their life experiences to minimum and safe venues – traveling a bit but never reaching for more than the status quo – staying in or very near their hometown from birth to death. People like this spend their energy convincing themselves that theirs is a really good and productive life …. and indeed it may be in that they raise children, pay bills, do some church or civic events but they never [in my opinion] really make a difference for themselves or anyone else. There is a definite however and exception I feel compelled to mention here – I personally have close and dear people I absolutely adore who also, like those small minded folks I so disdain, have chosen to live their life in or near the place they were born and likewise have time for mostly just family and such but these individuals are NEVER demeaning nor insecure enough to attempt denying those like myself who have chosen bigger and grander existences. Probably not one of my best analytic points but let it be known that because my loved ones are able to deal with truth and grandeur, my husband and I have and will include them – as they wish – in our travels, events and it seems not avoidable soon to be celebratory lifestyle. This gets me to the issue of those who attempt to minimize us who do reach for the stars and who do at least give effort to seeing and being part of the bigger picture. Oh my, here I am  again thinking of those much too often mentioned miscreants hubby and I are needing to thwart … true those folks are the very, very middle of this great nation but dear G-d do the rest of us really, really successful and oft times famous folks have to tolerate their pest like  intrusions. Um, science and philosophical questions here, don’t you think? Enough of that – as a few of my advisers said this past weekend while reprimanding me – I should not have such kind largess concerning the misanthropes – one must remain vigilant to the efforts of such evil doers. And you my dear readers thought I could not possible get  a mention of the much referenced enemy into this science and marriage topic blog post – well I am good at my work – surely you will agree.

As I write this hubby and I are listening to BBC radio and we are keeping eyes on our ipad as the Curiosity Rover lands on Mars – we woke even earlier than  our usual 4:30 A.M. daily wake up time in order to be  a part of this scientific event – same as when CERN announced the so called g-d particle recently. For us it is a matter of being a part of a G-d inspired large universe where all things matter – in science, in history, in arts, in religion, etc. – mostly in our love!!!

P.S. In my book: Heiress Mommy … A Modern Super Woman Life! my complete life journey – EVERY REAL detail will be shared and no challenge left unanswered. I so look forward to offering an example of survival and glory with all my followers & readers – hopeful that my complicated narrative will give an example of how G-d’s grace and my own dogged determination, along with the blessing of a devoted husband, supportive family and always there for me group of friends/colleagues can make anything possible … in a nanosecond.

P.P.S. My sweet 1st husband, David is currently interred with my parents and beloved brother Albert in a cemetery outside Philadelphia. My 2nd husband, Chester Michael & I have decided on a Mausoleum in our soon to be home state of New York – for us, our children and growing dynasty to have a final resting place. The plan is to move my parents, my brother AND my 1st husband David there as well [#2’s idea actually] – so you see me & my TWO husbands will have eternal rest together … trust me, there will never be a #3 for me because once you have had the best, no need to try any of the rest.