I attended the Celebration of Harriet Savitt's Life today.  As when Marvin died, 15 years ago, there was music and story-telling, laughter and tears. 

But the overriding feeling was warmth (it was not the weather, but the sentiments). 

Joe reminded me, as soon as we got there, that Dad had taken Joe AND Marvin out on the Sunfish one day and sailed from Kings Point up to and under the Throgs Neck Bridge!  I thought only Judy and I were crazy enough to try that one day.  And, aparently, something did not go according to plan, because they wound up in the drink, clinging to the boat, and Joe had lost his glasses.  I had forgotten all about that.  I can only try to imagine Dad, Marvin (both good sized men) and Joe (a bit on the chubby side as a kid), all on the sunfish at the same time!  We had a fun but crazy father. 

Anyway, I have warm regards and wishes for all of you Beckers from all of the Savitts.  Tanya, Joe's older daughter, sang "On a Clear Day" at the Cemetery.  Aparently that was one of Harriet's favorite songs to sing--she even had it on her answering machine at some point.  Tanya has inherited the family voice--she sounds so much like Harriet when she sings. 

Ellen & Jeff have finally moved into their new house in NC--southeastern part of the state, minutes from the beach.  They love it but are in sore need of a vacation so they are planning to explore other parts of the state some time over the summer.

Seth has just moved back to NY--Manhattan.  He was laid off in CA and decided that he really wanted to be back east--Jeff said that once they left NY, Seth came back!

Todd looks great--still has a pony tail, still in Oregon, managing or owning a brewery, and having a great time.

Mikayla, Joe's younger daughter, is going into her Sr year in HS, and looking at schools in NY and CT as well as Clark, near home. 

Julie is kind of stuck.  Out of work for an extended period of time and still living with Shelley, although she is desparate to get out of that living situation.  She and I are in touch frequently. 

Aparently Laila is in MI or IL, near at least one of her kids.  She has severe dimentia at this point so she and Harriet had not talked much recently.

I was glad that we were there (Stan and me--Paul had Fire Dept. obligations).  I thought there would be a lot of people there--and I think the kids did too because the chapel was huge.  But it turned out to be only about 45 or 50 people at the chapel and fewer at the cemetery, so I was glad we did both.