Snow, Ice, and a Funeral

Every time Rebecca's Aunt Flora was upset with Uncle Bernard, she would threaten, "You think I'm cold now, wait! You will have to trudge through snow and ice for my funeral!" Well, she kept her promise. The ground was so hard they could not dig the grave for her funeral. Everyone, including Ira and Michael who had long since experienced Chicago Winters, had to slip and slide through the snow covered ice.

Usually funerals are a sad time, but everyone knew that Aunt Flora had the last word, and all they could do is laugh out loud.

After the funeral, with the casket still sitting on raisers, everyone went to the Shiva house to comfort Uncle Bernard, even though he was musing repeatedly about his wife's final statement.

When Michael and the Stones were at the airport to catch their return flight to Los Angeles, the flurries were so strong that all flights were delayed. "A bunch of pussys, afraid of a little snow," Jacob sighed. Rebecca and the boys just looked at each other and laughed. "What's so funny? Jacob questioned. "You Dad".

By the time they got home, a storm front had hit Los Angeles, and although it was raining, it was still 65 degrees which suited everyone. "Good thing your Aunt didn't live in L.A." "Don't tell me you can't take a little Snow Jack," Rebecca chucked.

Every year following, Rebecca would threaten Jacob, "You better watch it or you'll have to trudge through snow and ice for my funeral too!"

Pride In Our Differences

It was 25 years since the Stonewall Riots of 1969. In those days, gay bars were regularly raided by the police. But on June 27, 1969, the patrons of The Stonewall Inn had had enough. As the police raided the bar, a crowd of four hundred patrons gathered on the street outside and watched the officers arrest the bartender, the doorman, and a few drag queens.

The crowd, which eventually grew to an estimated 2000 strong, was fed up. Something about that night ignited years of anger at the way police treated gay people. Chants of “Gay Power!” echoed in the streets. Soon, beer bottles and trash cans were flying. Police reinforcements arrived and attempted to beat the crowd away, but the angry protesters fought back.

Ira and Michael were proud to do their part in the fight against discrimination, especially honoring the memory of Stonewall, which turned out to be a pivotal moment in the Gay Rights Movement. They volunteered every year for the Gay Freedom Day Parade, But in 1994 there was a change, and more than just the new name of Gay Pride Day Parade.

Watching the parade from the bleechers, when Rebecca passed Ira and Michael as she and the rest of the even PFLAG group marched by, her boys ran up and joined her arm in arm. "Does Dad know your here?" "I'm sure he does now," as she pointed to the news camera crew.

Those Men in Uniforms

July 19 – U.S. President Bill Clinton announces his 'Don't ask, don't tell' policy regarding gays in the American military. Although it was all that could be done at the time, Ira and Michael felt betrayed. "It's better that way, it's nobody's business," Jacob said over the phone. It was one of those subjects that they could not talk about, so Ira swallowed and kept his mouth shut.

"Your not surprised by his views are you?" "No" "Then shake it off, there are bigger fish to fry than your Dad." "Your right, it's just..." "What?" Ira just sat down and buried his head in the Los Angeles Times. "You know you are more like him that you realize." "Can we not discuss this now?" Ira finished the conversation.

The next day, Ira and Michael went to the L.A. Gay and Lesbian Center to volunteer their services. They knew that the best way to move things forward was to help the community at large. When they got home that evening, Rebecca Stone was sitting in her Buick in front of their house. "Everything okay Mom?", Ira asked. "Can I spend the night?" Ira and Michael looked at each other, "Sure, why?" "Your Father is driving me crazy and I don't want to risk doing something stupid. He is done enough of that for the both of us."

They all walked in the house and the phone rang. Ira picked it up. "Is your Mother there?" "Yes." "Good." and then Jacob hung up. "What did he want?", Rebecca asked. "You." "Okay" and with that she turned around and went home. "Well at least I know where you get your inner Drama Queen," Michael laughed.

Jacob and Michael, Oh My!

There wasn't question who was getting the Stone-Davis vote for President in 1992. Bill Clinton was the only choice, and not solely because he was the Democratic Party candidate, he was the best man for the job.

It was one of the few times when everyone could sit at the same dinner table and totally agree on anything. Ira and Rebecca could only stare when Jacob put his arm around Michael's shoulder as he got up from the dinner table.

On November 3rd, Bill Clinton defeated incumbent U.S. President George H. W. Bush and businessman H. Ross Perot. Jacob was so happy, he invited Ira and Michael out for a celebratory victory dinner. After the meal, Michael offered to the server, "I'll take that..." "Don't be ridiculous, we invited you boys out, it's on us, " Jacob insisted. "Thanks Dad," Ira Chimed in. Rebecca felt like she was having an out of body experience, but just sat quiet and smiled sweetly, she did not want to do anything to ruin the moment.

Jacob's generosity was just like Chicago weather, it change with a gust of wind. Ira and Michael enjoyed it while it lasted.

San Francisco, Open Your Golden Gates!

It was Friday morning when Ira and Michael lazily awoke. "Happy Anniversary, Love," as Ira reached over and gave Michael a kiss. "Ummmmm, back at yah Sugar Bear."

They were all pack and ready for San Francisco. After a quick shit, shower and shave, the packed up the Benz, locked up the house and left for the weekend. Since it was only a weekend, Ira decided to take Interstate 5, which was his personal Autobahn.

They stayed at a cute B&B on South Van Ness called "The Inn San Francisco." It was a restored Victorian that was as beautiful on the inside as it was on the outside. Once settled, the walked across Market Street for dinner and ambiance in the "Castro."

The weekend was perfect. They even had an art faire featuring local artists. Of coarse the scenery surrounding the fine art was as interesting as the art pieces themselves. The Boys would be back soon for another visit.

It's A Big Universe Out There

"Ira, it's Mom on the phone, hurry!" Ira picks up the extension, "Is everything okay?" Your Dad just had a car accident..." 'We're leaving now, are you home or at the hospital?" "Cedars Emergency, I am so scared..." "Everything is going to be okay," Michael added, "We're on our way."

When they arrived, Rebecca was sobbing. "What happened?" Ira asked as he held his Mother tightly." "That stupid man didn't see the car coming. He has been procrastinating on his cataract surgery." "That's Dad for yah, always hanging tough."

The doctor came out and said Jacob was fine, but they were going to keep him overnight as a precaution. "Come on Mom, let's go see him." "I'll wait here," Michael offered. "Nonsense, I need both my boys with me when I chew him out. The three of them walked in and there was Jacob, flirting with a nurse looking like he was caught with his hand in the cookie jar.

"What the hell are you doing Jack?" Rebecca shouted. "Oh, this is...." "Not the nurse, your eyes!" she said impatiently. "Ahhhhh, well..." "On our way home tomorrow, you are calling Dr. Sharpe and you are making an appointment to have those damn cataracts removed." "Becca..." "Don't, Becca, me Jacob." and then she shot her husband the look, you know the one. Either you do as I say, or I will make your life a living hell.

Michael had never witnessed the power of the "look" before, and was quite impressed.
"Hey Dad, before you know it you'll be able to see as good a looking at images from the Hubble telescope." Jacob just shook his head, he knew he was out numbered and it was a no win situation.

Jacob had his surgery and was already recovered to see the first pictures of planets and other space objects taken by the Hubble telescope. "Wow, it's a big universe out there," he commented.

Humpty Dumpty Sat on the Wall.

The Berlin Wall began it's construction during the Cold War and began to come down on November 9th, following the conclusion of an international press conference in East Berlin, when greater freedom of travel was announced for people of the German Democratic Republic.

One of Ira's first memories was the night of August 13 of 1961, the East and Western halves of Berlin were separated by barbed wire fences. Over the next few days, troops began to replace the barbed wire with permanent concrete blocks. The government authorities deemed it necessary to stop the influx of people moving from the eastern sector of Berlin into the free West.

The London Herold said "Beginning of the end for Communism."

Ira was so moved by the event, he called his father. "Dad, did you hear about the Berlin Wall?" "Yes, you were just four years old when they built it to divide East and West Berlin." "I remember, we were watching TV on your birthday." "So many people died because of that wall." "I know Dad, but its a new era, you should be very happy. Michael and I are happy." "I should be happy? Well, as long as you two are, right, that's all that matters. You have no idea how I feel." And then the phone went dead.

"Why do I even bother?" "What's wrong now?" Michael asked. Ira just shook his head, "Next time I have an urge to connect with my Dad, please discourage it." "OK."

We're Moving In!

"I'll get it," as Michael picked up the phone. "Can I talk to both of you?" Rebecca asked. "Sure ... Ira, pick up the phone, it's Mom." "Hi Mom, what's Up?" "Your Dad sold the business and we want to move to California." Ira had mixed feelings, he definitely wanted Rebecca to move, but was hoping Jacob would stay in Illinois and visit occasionally. "Great, what's your ETA?" "We have to sell our house yet, I am guessing about three to four months." "Will you guys be buying a house or renting?" "We were thinking about a house in Santa Monica" Ira thought, that could work well, close but not too close.

Mom's guesses were always right. Three months to the day she called her boys and said the house had closed, the movers picked everything up and they were on their way. Michael and Ira were relieved to discover that the Stones had even rented a furnished apartment till they found their new home and moved in.

A couple of weeks later, they all met for dinner on the Third Street Promenade. Surprisingly, Jacob was extremely pleasant which made Ira concerned. He even grabbed the bill which bewildered Michael. Rebecca was her usual FABULOUS self, recanting their adventures on the road to Santa Monica.

Ira and Michael's hunches were correct, payback was hell! All of the Jacob's belongings arrived a few days later. When Ira called his folks to find out where to send the truck, his father said, "just store them in your garage, and consider ourselves square." "Square," what the hell for, Ira asked Michael. "I suppose for dinner in Santa Monica," he replied.

Of course their stuff didn't only fill the garage, it also filled the spare bedroom, living room, dining room and attic! This motivated Ira to help his folks find a home, and fast! When the moving van eventually picked everything up, they though it was the perfect time for a vacation, a long, peaceful, vacation.

Jacob's Ladder!

After a three week transatlantic holiday, Ira returned to a new boss at Leo Burnett. The 23 year old son of the branch's Vice President and General Manager. Now at the age of 31, Ira found himself to be antiquated by this young kid who was still wet behind the ears. And yet, his employment was terminated in the middle of promoting Huey Lewis' hit title, "Jacob's Ladder."

Michael knew something was wrong when he came home that Friday. He found Ira stuffing his face with 2 McDonald's Quarter Pounders, french fries and a chocolate shake. "Are you okay?" "Sure, I'm doing research for my new job!"

Once Ira got past the hurt and anger, he realized that his job was extremely stressful and it just wasn't fun anymore. Michael encouraged him to start freelancing. "With your talent, you will find lots of work." And he was right. Over the weekend, they took the front bedroom and transformed it into an office, complete with desks, files, computers, printers, copiers, faxes, phones and supplies. On Monday, Ira called an agency to find an assistant and he was off and running.

Before the end of the week, he had picked up Jons Market, a local grocery store chain. This was right up Ira's alley, marketing, advertising and a fifteen percent discount on groceries to sweeten the pie (no pun intended).

Slowly, Ira picked up more retail merchants and this made Michael happy too. There was much less travel for Ira and more quality time together. Ira was no longer full of stress, and usually would have dinner waiting for him when he came home from the hospital.

On one particular evening the lights were off and a bunch of candles lit the dining room. There were two wine glasses and a bottle of their favorite Merlot. Ira comes out with a beautiful rack of lamb, roasted baby red potatoes, creamed spinach, and a home made carrot cake. "What's the occasion?" "Leo Burnett just offered me my job back." "What did you tell them?" "Thanks, but no thanks." Michael ran up and squeezed all the air out of Ira. "I love you." Ira smiled and replied "So I guess that was the right answer to give them, huh?" "You did good Babe!"