Alan (Fritz) Kreisler's Comments

Hi Alan! Since you do remember Paula Cohn, can you hum a few bars for me? Remind me of who she was, some salient characteristics. Tkx. Betsy

HI ALAN!
SO NU--HAVE U RETIRED YET?
I CAN IMAGINE IF SOMEONE IS FINANCIALLY SET, IT CAN UL BE GREAT FUN.
GOT A RESPONSE FROM ANOTHER P.S.164, 1958 ALUM--PAULA COHN. DO U HAVE ANY RECOLLECTION OF HER? HOPE U & YOUR FAMILY HAVE A WONDERFUL SUMMER. I AM LOVING THE 3 MOS BEFORE STARTING MY 2ND OF 4 SEMESTERS AT NURSING SCHOOL. CHEERS, BETSY
betsytaub@ gmail.com
betsy.taub@skype.com

HI Alan - I didn't graduate till '61, so we didn't know each other; but I happened onto your posting about Googling John Janoska, and it jogged loose memories in me from kindergarten/first grade. Do you recall if John had a younger brother? I think his name was Michael. I'm not sure, because I have no memory of him after that. I'm thinking they must have moved away.

He was the first good friend I made at school, and I recall the Janoskas lived in the Regency apartments, on the block behind the stores. I learned to play Monopoly at their place - the family played it together. Michael also had one of those "swirl-a-graphs" or whatever they called them that guided a pencil into drawing patterns of curved lines forming elaborate florets. We'd draw them for hours.

Interesting folks. I'm sorry I didn't know them longer. Can you shed any light on these dim recollections of mine?

He is running our family toy business - e mail is marlontoys@aol - I'm sure he'd get a kick out of hearing from you.

I love northern California. I lived there too for a number of years, in SF, Berkeley, Napa, and Davis. We've been here in the SD area for about 18 years now. I had occasional contact with Alice but not since, oh, probably 1999 or 2000. I think a touch of that nostalgia hits a lot of people "at a certain age" (not us, of course). Nice to hear from you.

Hi Alan! Thanks for your quick response. I used to live in California for 37 years--25 in San Jose and 12 in Pacifica, a wonderful, sleepy town on the coast, five miles south of San Francisco. We had a fabulous view of the Pacific Ocean from our expansive living room window. I do miss being able to see the ocean. There's something very calming about the water. My partner of 15 years and I moved to Wichita, KS a bit more than two years ago. We could no longer afford living in California. So we moved three blocks away from her son and three grandchildren. We left her daughter and two other grandchildren back in San Mateo, CA. It was a necessary move. And it's worked out o.k. It's not even as cold as I thought it would be. It's not as cold as I remember growing up in New York was. Have you kept in touch w/ Alice over the years--now Alice Billings. She lives in Colorado near Dennis Weaver's family. Dennis died of cancer around five years ago. I don't know if this has happened to you--normally, I am not a nostalgic person, I don't look back much. However, in the last year or so, I've started to think of friends from my old neighborhood, from elementary school, etc. I figure it's part of the aging process. By the way, how is mental health on the college campuses these days? Sorry to hear about JJJJ. I too am ecstatic about having Barak & Michele in the White House. They are both a breath of fresh air. It's too bad he's getting such rough treatment from the Republicans, but he's a realist and knew what he was signing up for. And he has bright people around him who know how to play the game. I believe many of his efforts will have positive results--even if it's taking longer than any of us would have liked. I believe his legacy will be that he was one of our best presidents. Can you imagine what it would have been like if McCain & Palin had been elected? We would definitely be in a deep depression right now--on all levels. Take care. It's nice to reconnect. Betsy

Hi Alan - It's Alice Rehns -Max & Lila's daughter - you were friends with my brother Michael - we lived on the same block - the back of all our houses was an alley - we still pass it and call it Alan's Alley! My mom still lives in that area.

Anyone out there still outraged that the Dodgers left Brooklyn? I am.

How many of our classmates are thrilled about Obama's election? I sure am. If there's anyone out there who has a head for math: what percent of my elation is due to Bush's tenure ending, and what percentage is due to Obama being President? Can there be such a thing as 100% + 100% = 100%? I have one great, vast sigh of relief, and one great inhalation of hope!

Hi, Ann. We live quite close to Palos Verdes, maybe 20 minutes down "the 15" from there, very close to the WIld Animal Park. The photo is one of me and my youngest daughter (21 now) in Colorado...just liked it.

No, my father died in 1979. My mother stayed in the same house until we persuaded her to come out here in the late 90s, and then she passed away in 2001. My childhood "issues" became apparent in junior high and beyond so you were lucky to have missed them :-) But, yes, that was long ago.

Sounds like you are mostly loving retirement. I am on the verge of semi-retiring. We have a plan available to shift to part-time for the last few years we work here. I love my work and it's a bit hard to think about life without it, yet it's time...the typical minor dilemma. Happy new year!

Hi again Alan - and happy new year!!
A few years ago we attended a family bar mitzvah in Palos Verdes & took a daytrip to Temecula Wineries - country just as beautiful as my memories of the Napa Valley. Do you live near?
Thanks for sharing the flattering memories of me - i do remember a cute, funny & bright kid who always made me laugh - and i remember we shared initials, which we thought was important!! at camp, you always said that your mom told you not to waste a minute, even if it meant banging your head against the wall to keep busy - sounds like you had childhood issues i was unaware of - glad you worked things out. Are your folks still around? We love south Florida, but we are sharing Paradise with my folks & my mother-in-law - which is a mixed blessing & a curse!!
What is the significance of the backwards picture?
Ann

Happy New Year to all of you!

I'm not sure where that photo came from or which one it is...I couldn't find it on Google. I think it was connected to the local artists studio tour here. I do have other photos, but they are pre-digital age. Of course I had my own brand of parent "stuff", but thank goodness, it's many years behind me. Your counseling position sounds wonderful. I was also lucky to have long-term teaching positions that I really loved. And I'm going to work on calling you Fritz...

woops...forgot to mention that I still go by "Daisy".

Hi Alan,

This site has certainly been a great way to re-connect with folks from so far back. I've been in NM permanently for 30 years and visited since I was 18 (my sister moved here first). I live out in the hills and built my own small adobe house back then. I retired last year and work in my studio, bike and walk and love to travel. Thanks for writing and checking in. Do stay in touch.