Life Can Change in a Second!

Ira held his Mother's hand. He would never forget the look of fear in her eyes when she realized that she could not speak or move. All Jacob could do is pray, "God, I will take her any way you give her to me, please don't take my Becca away," as he sobbed. Ira held his father. He never saw him so emotional before.

They were at the hospital every day, and finally on the forth day as Jacob was pacing a rut in the floor, Rebecca said, "please sit down." Caught off guard, Ira and Jacob looked at each other and began laughing with happiness. She was now ready to begin speech, occupational and physical therapies.

Rebecca had always been meticulous about her hair and make-up, almost on the other side of obsessive-compulsive. Her drive to always look her best, supercharged her occupational therapy. Within a week, she was able to apply her make-up as flawlessly as before her stroke. Her speech and physical therapies were a bit slower process, but eventually, Rebecca began to start doing things for herself.

As in many stroke survivors, Rebecca ended up with Aphasia from the neural pathway damage that occurred during her stoke and effected her waking and speech. She would think she was saying one thing but often it had nothing to do with her intended message. Ira would come over several times a week using flash picture cards in an effort to help his Mom rebuild those pathways. Jacob would do the shopping and run other errands during his visits so that Rebecca was not left at home alone unnecessarily. His efforts were tireless. In addition to doing all the cooking and cleaning, Jacob would work with his Becca on the homework that both the speech and physical therapists given him.

Finally, after several months, Michael, Ira, and his parents celebrated Rebecca's recovery with a long weekend in Las Vegas. Rebecca enjoyed her dollar slots, Ira and Jacob were at the Black Jack tables, and Michael passed his time on the nickel slots. Saturday evening they ate at a steakhouse and saw Wayne Newton's show.

The tally at the end of the weekend showed that Michael had the biggest win of $1,400. "How is that even possible?" Ira asked, "you were on nickel slots." "I guess I'm lucky I guess," Michael smiled.

London Weekend

Ira and Michael's eyes were glued to the news " Today, Princess Diana, Princess of Whales, died in a car accident.  Her chauffeur hit a bridge post in a Paris tunnel.  The car was traveling at 100 miles per hour.  The only two survivors were the driver and the bodyguard of Diana.  Both of them were wearing seat belts.  Diana and Dodi Fayed, were not wearing seat belts."

"Oh my God ... I can't believe this," Ira cried, "people around the world will mourn her death." "I think we should go to the funeral." "Do you really want to?" "Yah, we should go."

Over the next few days, they followed the sorted royal family laundry on the BBC as decisions were made for the funeral. Finally the location was announced, Westminster Abbey on September 6th.

Making travel plans last minute was a nightmare, but Ira had a connection at Marriott Corporate and got accommodations at the London Marriott Hotel Country Hall on Victoria Street, fairly close to Westminster Abbey.

Arriving on the fifth gave Ira and Michael time rest from their rushed travels. On the sixth, the four-mile journey from Kensington Palace to Westminster Abbey, Diana's casket, itself was followed by her sons, her brother, her ex-husband Prince Charles, her ex-father-in-law Prince Philip, and five representatives from each of 110 charities Diana had supported. Ira and Michael had a good view even the the streets were lined with millions of people.

The service was attended by celebrities and political figures. Diana's two sisters spoke at the service, and her brother, Lord Spencer, delivered an address that praised Diana and blamed the media for her death.

Elton John, whom Diana had comforted at Gianni Versace's funeral less than six weeks earlier, adapted his song about Marilyn Monroe's death, "Candle in the Wind," retitling it "Goodbye, England's Rose."

An estimated 2.5 billion watched the funeral on television, about half the people on earth.

When they arrived home, Ira and Michael were physically and emotionally drained. "The world seems so different without her," Ira said softly. Michael just held him as he sobbed.

Mom and Dad !?!

Ira grabbed the mail from their mailbox and started sorting through the envelopes. "Michael, a letter from your sister." as he walked back in through the front door. Michael grabbed the envelope and tore it open. Ira read it over his shoulder.

Hi Michael - Gary and I are getting married on September 1st.
Will you and Ira to stand up together for us? Dad and Mom
have been getting along real well planning this for us and
they want you both here too. Let me know. Love, Robyn

"Looks like we are going to Chicago ... what's wrong?" "I haven't talked to my Father since we moved to LA," Michael said looking down. "Well you are overdue, besides, sounds like everyone is getting along." "Yah, it sounds that way, but..." 'It'll be fine, you'll see.

And Ira was right. When they arrived at O'Hare, Robyn and David were waiting for them at the gate. "Mom and Dad are parked right in front," Robyn announced. Michael gave Ira a long and silent look that translated to "I am not ready for this!"
Ira put his arm around Michael and gave him a tug.

The ride to the North Shore Hilton was surreal. Robert and Loraine Davis bantered as though they were the ones getting married instead of being divorced for 19 years. On the way home, Robyn explained that Michael and Ira were the Maid of Honor and the Groomsman. "Which one am I?" Ira joked. "I'm not sure," Michael answered. "Don't worry, neither one of you are wearing a dress,"Robyn laughed. That was definitely and icebreaker and broke all tension.

The wedding was intimate, about 50 people and beautiful in every detail. Seven round tables of eight including the head table. Michael and Ira watched the bride and groom have their first dance. Soon all four parents joint on the floor. Robyn motioned to her brothers to join in but Michael shook his head, so she grabbed Michael's hand and Loraine reached for Ira. All the guests joined the dance floor. There was a quick shuffle of partners when Ira and Michael were left standing while everyone was dancing. "Oh, what the hell ..." and they started to dance as well.

By the time everyone left, the wedding party could barely stand. Robert announced they would have breakfast the next day. Morning came very quickly, too quickly in fact. Robert and Loraine, Robin and Gary and his parents were all at the table as Michael and Ira arrived. Memosas were poured and then Robert stood up and looked at Loraine, "Should we tell them Lainey?" she just smiled. All mouths dropped when they announced they were getting re-married. "When ... how..?" Michael stammered. "Does it really matter, as long as we're happy." "Congratulations!" Ira offered.

Michael seemed to be in a daze the rest of their visit. But on the way home, he was more peaceful that Ira had ever seen him.