Something Extra

NOTEBOOK

Can't Complain

"treated" to what seems
here are several
to be nine months of
cited differences
winter, we hear the
between the opti-
usual griping about the
mist and the pesssimist.
extreme cold, the ice,
For example, the opti-
the snow, the wind chill.
mist sees the glass as
Ah, we muse, if only it
half full; the pessimist,
were summer; that's the
as half empty.
good time. Really? So
Sometimes it seems
Sy M anello
where are all these wish-
that there are more pes-
Edi torial
ers when we experience
simists around us daily if
Ass istant
19-plus days of 90
we are to judge by the
degrees and over? Oh,
amount of grousing we
it's s000 hot! Oh, if it would only
hear. Is there anything that
cool down a bit.
makes us happy? Apparently not
People, get with it. If you are
the weather, our health or our
going
to live in this area, you
children.
have
two
weather possibilities:
In Michigan, where we are

T

hot and cold. Find ways to adjust
to each; there is not much you
can do about it and your com-
plaining doesn't help.
Do you recall hearing a parent
say, "Well, the important thing is
that you're healthy"? Health is to
be valued, even more so, it
seems, as we age and the likeli-
hood of medical complications
increases. Our eyesight diminish-
es; our bones begin to ache
more; we move a bit more slowly.
OK, so what? There are glasses
to wear; there are ointments to
rub in (heaven forbid you should
consider exercises that may keep
you more limber); there are very

stylish canes that can be used.
Hey, if you are still able to
move around, that's a blessing.
There are many who can't.
Since these "problems" are
commonplace, no one wants to
be treated to your litany. The
ones who really get to me are
those who constantly bad-mouth
getting older. When I tell them to
consider the alternative, they are
usually taken aback.
As for our children, well ...
Learn to get over the fact that as
of a certain age, they are pretty
much their own people. Offer
suggestions, offer support, but do
not get bent out of shape when

they do not live life as you see fit.
If you have grandchildren,
keep in mind, as my wife says,
that they are your reward for not
killing your kids when the temp-
tation arose. Enjoy.
The next time you catch your-
self about to complain, try think-
ing of something positive to
comment on. Less stress, more
life, especially when you can't
control the "problem" anyway
Now if you want to discuss cell
phone users, parents who can't
control their kids in public and
inconsiderate drivers ... well,
don't get me started. ❑

Our New Look!

We continue to tweak our
redesign, unveiled last week
(right) in your IN. It's fresher,
crisper, airier and bolder with
better use of pictures and
graphics. IN Art Director
Michelle Reska oversaw the
redesign in consultation with
Creative Director Deborah
Schultz.
We'd love to hear what you
think about the new look and
feel of the M. Please e-mail us
at letters@thejewishnews.com .
Indicate if your note is just for
the editors or to be considered
for publication on our letters
pages.

Technion
Leader

Matthew Englebert is the
new director of the
American Technion
Society's East Central
Region. He was hired
Sept. 16 to replace Nancy
Gad-Harf, who became
Matthew Englebert
ATS New York
Metropolitan Region
director.
Prior to joining the ATS,
Englebert was an assistant dean at Wayne State
University Law School in Detroit and held senior
development positions with Michigan State
University, the Jewish Federation of Metropolitan
Detroit and the University of Michigan Medical
Center. He lives in Ann Arbor with his wife Caroline,
twin daughters Ariel and Zoey, and son Eli.

To Reflect,

To Atone

Yom Kippur presents a keen
opportunity to evaluate where
we've been as a community and
where we must head in the new
year ahead. Zionist and proud
of our heritage, we're a commu-
nity of 96,000 Jews in Metro
Detroit, with another 7,000
Jews who live in Ann Arbor and
6,000 Jewish students at the
University of Michigan. The
Detroit Jewish News readership
area has much to be thankful
for and has much in need of
repair — spiritually, organiza-

JN

October 6 . 2005

— Harry Kirsbaum, Staff writer

tionally and service wise.
The beauty of the week
between Rosh Hashanah and
Yom Kippur lies in inspiring us
to move from reflecting on our
shortcomings in months past to
seeking God's forgiveness on
Yom Kippur, the Day of
Atonement, which begins at
sundown on Wednesday, Oct.
12.
L'shanah tovah tikateivu
v'techataymu. May you and

yours be inscribed and sealed
in the Book of Life this High
Holiday season.

Shabbat shalom!

/ 1 111-EFnET 'cha Don't Know

Who is the only native-born Israeli to head a Jewish fed-
eration in North America?

Robert A. Sklar, editor

— Goldfein

.pled ‘awawenes jo auegoN

:Iamsuv

13