Shalom My Gantseh Megillah Family and Friends,

Sunrise, sunset, sunrise, sunset, swiftly flow the days…………Over sixteen years of such days have passed since we moved into our current home, but the time has come for us to move on.

The move was not our idea, as we have been very happily ensconced in our simple abode with nary a major complaint of accommodation or neighbours. But situations happen of which we have no control, and decisions of this type are all too often made for us.

We live in Montreal, an old city, with architecture distinctly its own. Our building is a small triplex, each floor consisting of a self-contained apartment. Each apartment has its own access, which is reached by way of an outdoor spiral staircase leading to the upper landing of each accommodation. When I first moved to this city, I questioned the wisdom of outdoor staircases considering the frigid and icy winters. As it turned out, the reason for these slippery climbs was the Catholic Church, which for many years had enormous control over the entire province of Quebec. The church believed that by having all entrances to apartments visible from the street, neighbours would always be aware of who was coming and going from each other’s homes, thus making it more difficult to engage in sinful activity. Eventually, the church lost its hold on the city, and these staircases remain as a memory of the ecumenical yentas of yore.

Last month we were informed that, after so many years, our building had been sold, and the new owners wished to occupy our ground floor apartment themselves, which is their legal right at the end of an existing lease. After taking a day or two to adjust to the idea of moving our household lock, stock and barrel, to a brand new location, we began our hunt for new accommodations. We were surprised with the brevity of our search. Within the first week we found a lovely 4 ½ room ground floor apartment in a very historic and picturesque area of downtown Montreal. As a bonus, there is even a private fenced-in rear yard for our Pug Rosco. So, as of March first, our address will be changing.

When we first received the news that we had to relocate after living for more than a decade and a half in the same location, we felt as if we were being thrown out of our home. But then we began to think about the entire situation.
Our building was bought by a young couple just starting their life together. This will be their very first home, and when we met them, the excitement they were feeling was palpable. Arnold and I could imagine the dreams and hopes they were sharing for their lives ahead, and it seemed only natural that we should graciously move on and permit a new generation to create their own memories and ambitions within the comforting walls of what to them was their launching pad to the future.

We were privileged to spend sixteen happy, and at times difficult, years here. This home has served us well. But now that we have been called to move on, we too, just like the young couple starting out, have the opportunity of forming plans and dreams for the future in our new home. This move will permit us to shake some of the cobwebs of comfort and complacency we have settled into, and force us to look for opportunities and possibilities that we might otherwise have allowed to pass us by. Perhaps this entire incident was nature’s way of telling us we need to re-discover our talents and subject them to a new environment from which fresh ideas and directions will flow.

So as Arnold and I begin to pack the mementos of our last 16 years together and move them to a new location, we are anticipating a fresh chapter in our story. In spite of the aches and pains of using muscles and strengths we have not called upon in a very long time, we are looking forward to the new adventure in our lives. I will be turning 60-years-old this summer, and I am now ready to see what the next 60 years has to offer.

Much love to all of you,
Michael