Different Slants

Comment by Don Larson

August 29, 2014 @ 12:18 pm

Bob,

One of your best.

A true life story of Father and Son dedicated to each other.

Don

Comment by Anara

August 29, 2014 @ 1:12 pm

This is a powerful story, Bob. Thank you for sharing. I think it is one that other youth should read–can give them hope. –Anara

Comment by anna kong

August 29, 2014 @ 1:28 pm

It made me cry. So thankful for my loving family – mom, dad and siblings. Will call my mom today and tell her how much I love her.

Comment by Katrinka Threet

August 29, 2014 @ 2:20 pm

All of us have many stories, it’s good that you are able to write yours down. Mine are buried inside where they eat at you! We do care about what you had to endure !

Comment by Dobie Maxwell

August 29, 2014 @ 6:42 pm

B-

I wish I couldn’t relate to this but unfortunately I can to all too much of it.

I don’t know why life has to be SO damn difficult, especially for those of us that only want there to be peace with everyone. I don’t care who is Jewish, Polish, Irish, Italian, black, white, whatever – and I know you don’t either.

Proud of your heritage? Of course,and there’s nothing wrong with that for anyone – but it’s not a definition of who we are. We are all a lot of things, and you are a brilliant writer, very nice person and I’m delighted we crossed paths. You struggle just like I do, and much of the world just doesn’t care about anything but stupid things. I wish it were different, but I totally feel your frustrations.

I guess we wouldn’t be who we are without having to face these struggles, but somewhere in the back of my mind I have to believe there is a planet somewhere that longs for peaceful and creative people like us. I hope we get a chance to go there at some point. This planet kind of stinks from my observation.

All good vibes your way, and please don’t ever quit on your writing. That’s what you do, and you are REALLY good at it.

Your friend,

D

Comment by Louisa kaiserman

September 1, 2014 @ 12:07 pm

First thing I’ve read here. Twice. Powerful story.

Comment by Paul eisenbacher

September 1, 2014 @ 9:46 pm

Bob
I did not have the childhood of your hard experience. However, my father died in my arms. His eyes I will never forget. His life was hard. He was abused and neglected by his family. I found that out later in my life. He gave to me the value of responsibility and personal empowerment through a seres of events in my early life. This helped me to become the person that i am today. I understand your words. Cherish the good memories. We are what others have given to us. We are what we have given to others. As a writer and the person you are today you are his reflection. Well done. Be well and happy my friend. Paul

Comment by Bernard White

May 15, 2017 @ 2:35 pm

Dear Bob,

please indulge my familiarity for I believe we are family.

I have the good fortune, by the Grace of God, to be married to Jackie Katzman.

Jackie is busy today, working lovingly and fiercely at her art so I have to wait to ask her all the questions, to clarify who you are and who we are to each other.

this comment, couldn’t wait, it seems.

I know this, already, from reading about 4-5 of your entries on this “different slants”, I know that we are artistic soul brothers, who share the same Holy Father.

Jackie and I sometimes walk in that beautiful park along the water in Evanston and she tells me about a big house and we try to find that big house that her cousins used to live in.

a place for which she has fond soul memories.

I believe this big house has to do with you.

I am tearing up as I write this thinking of the loss of your dear wife, Joyce.

even though I know so little of your lives.

I am buoyed and strengthened by your Love and your Faith in the face of this time of such profound loss.

I am inspired by your mitzvah to help repair the threshold to that “lost” Jewish Cemetery 5 months ago.

I am moved and inspired by your love of the word.

I am so so very sorry for your loss.

Jackie and I were just walking in that park in Evanston about 2 weeks ago.

We were there to be at the bedside of Jackie’s sweet and precious brother Earl who had a massive stroke about a month ago (maybe 3 weeks) and was resting in a coma at Presence St. Francis Hospital near Ridge and Austin.

So close to the synagogue where Jackie and I celebrated Passover a couple of years earlier.

Earl Israel Landau (born September 21, 1951) passed a day after we returned to Los Angeles, May 4, 21017. He was buried last Wednesday in a small and sacred Jewish ceremony.

I am looking forward to reading your other writings.

I am looking forward to Jackie and you being back in touch, if time and desire and the will of God allows.

I am looking forward to meeting you and learning of your life.

Jackie sobbed upon learning of Joyce entering Hospice and sobbed again upon learning of Joyce’s passing yesterday, less than 24 hours ago, on Mother’s Day, surrounded by you and her children and grandchildren.

Oh this precious and mysterious life.

Thank you for trusting in Hashem.

Thank you for your faithfulness to the mysterious healing magic of the word.

you are and inspiration, brother.

God bless you and your family in this time of irreplaceable loss.

gratefully,

Bernard White

Comment by Bob

May 15, 2017 @ 6:10 pm

The address of the huge house was 1632 Sheridan Road. We lived there from 8/80 until 10/85. jackie ran around the house and up and down the stairs as a child. The house, now yellow, I think, is directly across from where the boats get launched and where that big pond is. The big maples on the property were planted by me in 1983, thinking we’d always be there. If you write me at robertmkatzman@gmail.com I can communicate a little better. Tell Jackie we all appreciated seeing her perform years ago in the Skokie NorthLight Theater while naked. Made our day. This is a very hard time for me and I miss Joy terribly, especially when sleeping after 42 years. There was a poem i wrote on DS called 1632 Sheridan Road if you put my last name first and type that title in on the search bar, maybe it’ll appear. You’ll learn a lot about that house. Joy loved Jackie and was very happy to rediscover her. She would want Jackie to know that. Glad you two are together and i hope you’re happy. Her life was a tough one, i believe and jackie deserves some good times.—love, Bob