Dear Dena and Dan :
A few weeks before my 98th birthday- with so much time on my hands-I feel like I should make you aware of
my feelings at this stage of my life. First, let me state that I feel so blessed to have had you both at my side
for such a uncommonly long period and I am so grateful to you. It is always a highpoint in my long life to have you
near me and to know that you care.
Truthfully I can state that my long time on this Earth has been one of joy and little upset, having been uprooted
and brought to a strange country at age 20 is one of the many miracles bestowed upon me. That I escaped the
holocaust unscathed and was able to save my dear sister and parents from a dire fate is miraculous. Having
survived as a soldier in a threatening foreign country counts as another blessing. Finding a wonderful life companion
and together watching our so dear daughter grow up counts foremost in my life story.
But, to begin at the beginning : Born to a wealthy father and a benign and understanding mother, my youth was an
unblemished period,despite a life threatening bout with appendicitis at about 10 years of age, I miraculously
survived and to this day have been blessed with good health. Even at this late date my eyesight improved.
From age 11 on, I had to wear glasses and now,bless the Lord, I no longer need them to get through the day.
I could read without them ,but find it easier to put them to use when I read the newspaper or a book.
Schooling was no serious handicap,I was an easy learner. Had good friends growing up,especially
the only son of a British-born mother at whose home I learned to play bridge and the command of the
English language which proved such a big plus later on.I could have gone to University,my grades were
adequate,but I wanted to follow in my father's footsteps.He was a fine business man with great ideas
and,had he had the right engineers, I would have been the son of a millionaire motorcycle manufacturer.
But that was not to be and I had to make my own way in the world and am blessed to state that I did
so successfully.Of course, fate played another beneficial role,when on my visit to the Unites States,
Hitler came to power and I could not return home and had a safe place to stay.

Lady Luck then smiled again.My cousin in Germany supplied me with the name of a schoolfriend of his
whose uncle in new York owned two factories and ,after being recommended to him, he graciously
met a total stranger and , out of the goodness of his heart,gave me a job: pulling threads out of the
splintery floor of his ladies underwear factory.This enabled me to save enough money to bring my
dear sister to New York from Berlin where she and my parents had found temporary refuge after
fleeing Nuremberg,my home town..Together we were able to rescue our aged parents. My brother's
whereabouts were unknown to us, but he survived. His wife did not want to live in the United States
and they returned to Nuremberg and were able to take care of our parents in their last years of life.
Having been promoted to traveling salesman, I did well and together with my sister we were able
to support our penniless parents until the time when Uncle Sam demanded that I pay back for
letting me stay in the U.S. and after giving me the so desired American citizenship,wanted me
to fight for my new country.Lucky me again, being overage I was able to soldier for two years
in beautiful downtown Burbank,able to see my parents and sister occasionally and to help support
them with my meager army pay, to which I could add whatever I earned at Lockheed Aircraft
after duty hours.My colonel liked me and prevented my possibly being sent to Germany where
the fighting was very heavy. Then , to make up for this blessed time,we were sent to Okinawa
where,fortunately, peace was declared a month later. But they needed me in the office there,
made me a Master Sergeant and kept me for another seven months.
While in Burbank my dear sister and my future brother-in law arranged a blind date for Corporal
Ross and his future wife Bella. On the second date I proposed,was accepted, and our blessed,
long marriage began .After my return and discharge there were no jobs in California where
I would have loved to stay, and Belle and I had to return to my former job in New York.
Again blessed fate intervened and my new in-laws visiting in Los Angeles with their son,
now a doctor, found a shoe store for sale and invited us to join them in that undertaking.
It took Belle and I one minute to accept the offer and we and our one year old daughter
"Diane' joined them in this so successful venture. The best thing in our lives was watching
our dear daughter grow up,do well in school, and the continuation of this report is up to her.
Dear Belle left me,now ten years ago, and I look forward to rejoin her when the time comes,
feeling that I have lived a charmed, happy and successful life for which I am most grateful !

HOLIDAYS

HOLIDAYS

The government says : this is such an occasion:let's make it a holiday.
So it is thus proclaimed and will endure forever,come what may .
Of course the religious feasts are ordained for years beyond measure:
we either fast or repent and thus must forgo much earthly pleasure.

Now there are so many official days when we are entitled to relax,
really it is surprising they don't make us celebrate the day when we pay tax!
Just look on your calendar -there are so many days marked in red,
all government offices are firmly shut,the money-markets too, you bet.

So put your family in your vehicle and do your best to leave the city,
unfortunately you have to swallow each others' fumes ain't that a pity ?
Or you attend ball games, pay a small fortune for a place to park the car,
if you find a place to relax in the country -you deserve a gold star.

They say holidays are created for relaxation and you should unwind,
but if you are retired each day is when some work you try to find.
So,let each one celebrate these red-marked days in their own fashion:
they represent a respite from daily grind,do it quietly or with much passion.

HEAT WAVE

The sky is blue,the air is still-not a cloud in sight !
To go for a hot stroll certainly will show no delight.
Spending all day cooped up, that's what is in store,
yet you should be glad your only trip might be to the store.

You have air-conditioning but want to avoid that icy blast , -
there are those who do not have this, it is not fair, at the very least.
You might be prone to curse, try to stop moisture on your face-
but there is no avoiding the wetness that is now taking place.

Trying to stop it will lead to hankies that are sopping wet,
the only consolation that you are not alone in this, you bet!
The city is sweltering, tar is melting, cars too hot to the touch,
you are praying for relief, arguing with heaven: this is too much !

Of course, you must know that this condition will not last-
many such heat waves have been recorded in years past.
Surely it is our privilege to complain but it is of no avail:
just remember you'll do the same thing when there is snow and hail.

EITHER TOO HOT OR TOO COLD

The daily temperature easily can drive you to salty tears.
Especially when you are at the stage of now advanced years.
There was a time when you took the weather as it came-
but now you are apt to curse it loudly, isn't that a shame !

You are either too hot or too cold-there is no in between,
your intolerance of the daily weather can clearly be seen.
You would like to take a walk but you hate the cold air,
then again it might broiling outside, it's just not fair.

Of course there a days when you use the weather as an excuse:
a longer stay in bed-it is clear you have nothing to lose.
And so it goes-be it spring or winter you can make a choice,
because now you know what separates the old men from the boys.

Of course you prefer warmth, it makes you feel snug and secure,
then again, it lulls you to sleep-you might miss something that's for sure.
Now you can avoid shivers should the winds huff and puff :
there are easy choices should the weather be too tough.

OTTO ROSS
NOVEMBER 2010

THOUGHTS ON THANKSGIVING

Aren't we blessed to be able to give thanks to that higher power
who so benevolently looks upon us from that so high tower.
No matter what our station is in life, we are so very blessed
to be able to live and breathe,his benevolence should be stressed !

Thus we have been given this day to search our inner being,
that we can think and act is a miracle, you will be agreeing.
There is much to be acknowledged to whom we owe this existence,
no matter what your religion to each other we should give assistance.

Why do we have wars and feel that we are better than all others-
were we not created to love each other as grateful sisters and brothers ?
Let us feel that to be in this world is a miracle of such great wonder,
to live and breathe,to think and act should make us much ponder.

Thus this day is so aptly named "Thanksgiving", we should realize
that to be grateful to our maker is most necessary and very wise.
Can we hope that some day humanity will find the way to peace-
is it not time to quit acting selfish and to stop doing as we please !

Otto Ross, Thanksgiving 2010

WINTER OF MY CONTENT

The days are getting shorter, the evenings call for heat-
but, living in California the weather is still a fine treat.
Remembering snow and ice in New York I am so blessed,
to look for winter clothing I am no longer stressed.

So, it is darker earlier on a newly adjusted day :
but I know I will enjoy this climate, come what may.
My sincere thanks go to the U.S.army, they sent me here-
even if it took five long days to make me finally, appear.

Now, in old age ,I am fortunate to feel the warm sun
life here has been good to me, I'll not change with anyone.
To stay put is now my desire, I've been gadding about,
that I can walk on my street makes me so very proud.

Sure, I have been many places on this earthly sphere,
but, believe me, my last home, has become so very dear.
It is now the winter of my content that I am able to enjoy:
take my word for it-this is the best place for any old boy !

HOLIDAYS

Holidays come and holidays go :
each time we are a year older-wouldn't you know.
Be it Christmas, Hanukkah, New Year's to celebrate:
I know one thing: at our age we cannot stay up too late !

With pleasure we remember occasions, much in the past-,
now it is difficult to keep open the eyes, we tire too fast.
In our youth each feast day found us so full of vigor-
now we have to abstain from too much food or hard liquor.

Our hair got grayer, our backs are much more bent,
we have to have a nap before time to celebrate can be spent.
Yes, here you have it: you are just not what you used to be:
just do not put any Easter eggs under the Christmas tree !