February 28 • 2019 5 jn M ost people tell someone who’ s waiting for them, “Look out for the red car, ” “I’ m driving a green Honda” or “I’ m in the Toyota Sienna” — things like that. I just say, “Look for the vehicle that’ s held together with fluorescent orange duct tape. ” You can’ t miss me if you try! Sadly, I’ m not kid- ding. If the duct tape comes off, the entire rear window will fall out and we’ ve already paid for it once, an experience we’ re not eager to repeat. Besides that, my van also makes this grumpy “What do you want now” sound when it sits in my drive- way; only one back door opens (and only from the inside), there’ s something stuck in the key hole so you can’ t man- ually unlock the car on the driver’ s side and we have to keep reattaching the bumper with zip ties so it won’ t drag on the road. But I don’ t mind (too much.) I like to think my car has character. And you know what they say about things with character: A strong character can move mountains. In my van’ s case, at least it moves. And I don’ t take that for granted! It’ s always good to know you’ re in good company. I enjoy hearing about other vehicles that should have been condemned years ago that are still get- ting folks to their desired destinations. When I was growing up, my father drove us around in his beat-up white van with a bumper sticker that had nothing on the “26.2” or “My child’ s the world’ s best student” or “My dog is smarter than your student” ones you see these days. My father was so proud of the “Dad’ s Limo” bumper sticker I got him, he kept it INSIDE the car, on the dashboard, so it wouldn’ t get dirty! We’ re definitely in the market for a new vehicle one day, but, in the mean- time, I say: Love the one you’ re with. I’ m not going to romanticize it and say my van’ s a dream because it’ s defi- nitely not, but at least I know all its quirks and idiosyncrasies. We’ ve been together more than 10 years now; I know what to expect from it. It might drive me around the edge, but as long as it gets me home in one piece, there’ s really nothing to complain about! One day we’ ll have a new car and we’ ll look back on all our times with this duct-taped one with fondness. We already have tons of anecdotes to share at dinner parties (or, more likely, in the waiting room at the car dealership). We’ re the ones starting every story off with, “So there I was, driving down the highway at 65 mph when suddenly boom! The hood flew up!” and “So there I was, driving around this small town in the middle of nowhere and all the locals kept waving at me, I thought it was the friendliest little town ever, then I discovered one of my headlights had somehow broken off and was drag- ging along “’ or “Remember that time the car broke down on the side of the highway two hours from home and it was 92 degrees outside?” Yup. Fun times. So, that’ s the thing about cars. It’ s not a person, it’ s not a forever relationship, but because you’ re creating stories and memories every minute of every hour of every day, you might as well take the high road and make the best of the one you’ ve got! ■ Binyamin Burstyn, 10, doesn’ t mind the duct tape or zip ties if he gets to ride in the front seat. continued on page 6 views for openers Cars with Character letters Music Study Club Regarding the article about Mark Slobin’ s new book “More than Just Motown, ” in the Jan. 24, issue, I would like to expand on the Music Study Club of Metropolitan Detroit. Although the club may have met at the JCC at one time, it was not affil- iated with the JCC. The Music Study Club was founded in 1924 so Jewish Detroit women musicians would have a place to meet and perform monthly, have a student group, give scholarships, and sponsor, introduce and promote major young talent in a yearly artist concert. Among those artists who per- formed in their youth were Seymour Lipkin, 1943; Joseph Silverstein, 1957; Ruth Meckler, 1958; Itzhak Perlman, 1963; and Pincus Zukerman, 1966. My own mother, Ethel Mendelson, was the counselor of MSC for many years. I, too, was a counselor of the Music Study Club Student Group for many years when Annie Kafavian, David Syme and others were mem- bers. Both my mother and I served as presidents during its existence. It was a very prestigious organization that gave thousands of scholarship awards to deserving youth and introduced many wonderful aspiring pianists to the public. — Helen Kerwin Southfield 36 Under 36 Pride It was with great joy and pride that I read the individual biographies of the 36 under 36 young men and women impacting the community, who are chosen annually by the partnership of The Well and JN (Feb. 14, page 22). These 36 distinguished young peo- ple, each in his or her way, are engaged in what we call tikkun olam in the full sense of the word and are deserving of the honor bestowed upon them. However, there is no doubt in my mind that there are more modern-day Lamed Vovniks, the 36 hidden righ- teous men and women that, according to Jewish belief, in whose right our world exists. Granted, the number 36 is Rochel Burstyn For information, contact Tracey Proghovnick (248) 661-1836 jslmi.org RE-IMAGINING Senior Living Living Your Best ... Jewish Senior Life Jewish Senior Life is far more than a place to live. It’s six beautiful residences where older adults can embrace life and community in a secure and supportive environment. JSL is proud to provide inclusive residential communities, programs and services. We welcome all people without regard to race, color, national origin, religion, disability, gender, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, familial status and marital status. JSL is looking toward the future for our residents, ages 85-94, the fastest- growing segment of the US population. We have engaged thought leaders, Perkins Eastman, the global architecture through fresh eyes and to help us position our communities for the future. They bring to this process insights gained through their Clean Slate Project, a year-long effort to explore and re-imagine senior living by consideration of and collaboration with other industries including healthcare, hospitality and retail to inspire innovations. They point to technology as the number one trend that will help seniors live independently and longer in their own homes. AI, robotics, and virtual reality are posed to change how older adults engage with the world. Already, the use of technology to connect us via video conferencing has won over grandparents worldwide as they stay in touch with grandchildren on Facebook and facetime. More and more people moving in today not only understand technology, they thrive on it. But will technology replace living in communal environments? While our community partner, Jewish Family Service, already assists people living in their homes through adaptive technology i.e.., personal emergency response systems, pill dispensers and will explore with Perkins Eastman, how to employ and utilize new trends for our residents. One thing we know for sure, nothing can replace human touch and connection. In JSL’s communities, friendships and support provide the human touch so vital for engagement for older adults because, for most, screen time is just not enough. This is just the tip of the melting iceberg at Jewish Senior Life. We continue to think and plan for us all.