Happy New Year!

Well, here we are! 2022! The end of 2021 was a whirlwind at Albert Central - how about you? If you know me, you know I love NYE and at the last minute, my NYE plans switched from spending the night by myself to something a lot more fun. If you're curious write me back and I'll share some spicy bits!

But hey, we're here now. And right now my mind is on a couple of things.

  1. I made a fun survey for my biz list - Please take a couple of minutes if you're in the mood.
  2. I'm trying to save this gorgeous magnolia tree at 48th and Belmont. It looks like this.
It's a long shot, but as Yehudah mentioned to me "nothing ventured, nothing gained".
  1. I'm loving watching Dr. Robert Campbell's daily talks on the pandemic. It's the most comprehensive and straightforward understanding I've ever seen anyone present anywhere. He gives me hope and it's just fantastic listening to this smart man give us the news straight.
  2. Our Quiet Clean PDX group had a nice win at the end of the year. Multnomah County and the City of Portland will next form a workgroup that will move us towards a ban on gas-powered leaf blowers in the Portland Metro area. Meanwhile, these devices are being banned all across the country and it's only a matter of time before they are gone gone gone. If you have a chance - speak out about these SOREs (that's an actual acronym describing them!). California just banned them (small off-road engines...).
At the end of 2021, I headed to the basement and pulled out a box of memorabilia. I spent days immersed in letters, photos, and memories from 1979-1988. Then, I took a bunch of the letters and sussed out addresses for the writers of the letters, and made up some fun, surprise envelopes. I had so much fun with this particular box. It was filled with memories of my 2 proms; high school graduation; some NYU times; letters from people during the 80s; and all sorts of Habonim-related stuff. The people whom I mailed this to have been getting back to me and minds have been blown. If you have letters that people wrote you years ago consider sending them back to the writer. My sense is that they'd be more interested in what they wrote 40 years ago than you are now :) I've also had lots of conversations with people about this and I can understand this is not for everyone. My friend David suggested that I am a "social experimenter" and this is certainly proof of that! I had a blast with this and it also reminded me just how much love I've had in my life. How many amazing love relationships and friendships I've had over the years. I ended the year full of gratitude and renewed and ready to start 2022.

So yeah, there's a lot in motion in the world right now. We're probably going to have a pretty wild ride for the next couple of weeks, but I suspect Dr. Campbell is right and that things will level out come February. So, hold on and keep taking exquisite care of yourself and those you love. If you're not vaccinated, now's a great time to get started :) If you're not boosted - now is definitely the time for that.

Need cheering up? Check out the recent Kennedy Center Honors show.

I hope life is treating you well. Soon we'll have a new roof on Camp Smiley in Sumneytown, PA! I'm looking forward to that. Our precious family cabin is getting some help it's needed for years. My family is all doing well, thanks for asking :)

OK, that's all for now - see you in a month!

Much love,

Albert

PS - songs about the pandemic? Of course there are! See below!

PPS - I'm happy to chat anytime about how life is going for you, or just to reconnect. Reach out!