The Perils of Bird Feeding

Here in New England we have a variety of wild birds that migrate and live in the Valley. It is a pleasure to hang a feeder near a window and watch the various flocks feast. Often seen are Black Capped Chickadees, nuthatch & finches of all varieties. There is a pair of Cardinals who are regulars at the old seed shop. It is a rare occasion when something more exotic drops by but today I saw an Oriole.
Blue Jays are loud, aggressive birds-scaring away the smaller ones. They also eat a great deal and therefore are a nuisance. Squirrels also can hog the feeder and take most of the seeds back to their nests high in the pine tree. Not cool; since after all I am trying to feed birds,not the squirrels.
For last Fathers day I thoughtfully recieved a specially designed pole that made it impossible for the squirrels to take the seed from the bird feeder. It worked fine the birds were happy and had a regular supply of Black oil sunflower seed. The kind most birds preferred. The seeds were also a favorite of other wild animals. On a cold dark night in early spring bears came, bending the pole while greedingly, gorging themselves on my bird food. They even ripped apart the feeder requiring some minor repair.
Despite the nuisances and pitfalls I continue to feed the little winged creatures and marvel at the nature they bring into to my yard. I am a loyal friend to the birds.

Good bye Rabbitt it's been good to know you.

Rabbitt one of the nicest & best known guys in our town succumbed from a long illness on Friday with his beloved wife Kathy by his side. He was a real people person involved in serving the community, delivering the mail and making people smile. He served his country as a combat Marine back then in Viet Nam. Rabbitt was a great listener and remembered everyone's story and situation. He loved animals and children.
He was the kind of guy who would go the extra mile in helping you out. When involved in the town politics as a Selectman he was always especially concerned for the Senior citizens and those on a fixed income. Rabbitt will be missed. He was a true example of think globally act locally.

The Al Jolson impersonator

In the early part of the twentieth century their was an odd form of musical entertainment in which white men painted their face black and put on a minstrel show. They then sang & danced like "Negroes". As American society progressed minstrel was thought to be offensive and rapidly diminished in popularity and faded from view.
The most famous of the minstrels was Al Jolson. His biography was one of the first black and white movie musicals produced. In my youth this movie was frequently played in NY on Channel 9 around the Jewish Holdays. This film was somewhat of a mainstay for my family in the fifties. Jolson was superstar of my families immigrant generation being one of the few highly identified American Jewish entertainers of the time .
His saga "The Jolson Story" depicts Jolsons psychic clash between modern and traditional music. Culminating on the High Holiday of Yom Kippur where he must solve the dilemma of whether to sing the Kol Nidre for his people or perform his vaudeville for an audience . An unforgettable scene where one hears his fantastic cantorial tenor chant the prayer near his Mothers death bed.
As a youth my cousin impersonated Jolson at family functions where he lip synched a heart stopping, tear jerking rendition of "MAMMY". A song that made Jolson famous.
To this day almost fifty years later my cousin Steve has been known to still belt out this tune. People fondly remember Jolson and have asked him to perform this number. Believe it or not Steve has now traveled around the country making Jolson come alive again. I think he symbolizes the coming of age of a new era in both entertainment and civil rights. A blurring if you will of two important cultures in American society. For better or for worse some folks have nostalgic feelings for this American/Jewish icon.