Fridays with Manny

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HOW TO FOCUS

A few weeks ago, I have shared my stories with you about two people who had a dream and how these dreams were realized. The first story is about our daughter Allona, whose book The Weaver became a bestseller on Amazon in a very short time. The second dreamer is Adar, whose dream to bring joy of good ice cream keeps growing. Both of them, and anyone else who accomplishes anything, used the most important ingredient — focus. Though I’m a focused person, I’ve learned the real meaning of what it really is from our labradoodle, Max.

For Max, life is in the ball. He probably thinks that it is me, who likes to play it. It doesn’t matter where we are, he brings me one of his balls, which he wants me to throw so that he can retrieve it until he gets tired. But Max has one incredible quality – the ability to focus on what he wants – the ball. When we go to the park these days, I no longer carry a ball. Max just looks at my left pocket, where I used to keep his ball, I show and tell him that I do not have it, and he immediately goes on the hunting expedition, sniffing every bush. Recently he went deep under a bush, and then pulled himself out with the ball in his mouth. After we play for a while, he usually leaves the ball in the park, perhaps for another dog to find it.  While thinking about this essay, I came across a video on YouTube about Elon Musk’s ability to focus and work very hard to reach his dreams. I strongly recommend checking it out.

Last week I shared with you some images of Max and his ball. I am sure some owners can make the same statement about their dogs’ ability to focus.

Enjoy these three images above and share this story with your friends!

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Fridays with Manny

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HOW SMART IS YOUR DOG?

Two dog owners bragged about their dogs. One said that his dog goes out, picks up the newspaper, tips the delivery boy and brings him the newspaper. “I know”, the other answered, “my dog told me about that”. This joke appeared in my book “42 Encounters with Laughter”. Most dog owners believe that their dogs are smart. When I googled “books about dogs smarts” the list was quite impressive.

When people interact with our labradoodle Max, most make a comment that he is smart. One of the books I saw online is “Your Dog is Your Mirror.” Am I really as smart as Max and as good looking? I have a book on my bookshelf titled “Inside Your Dog’s Mind. What They Really Think”, which has many articles where experts share their research and express their opinions. Last week I wrote about how Max teaches me to be focused. But I also had to learn his language, which is expressed with his paws, body movements and his big eyes. When I ask him where the ball is, he goes to the door and starts scratching it. Behind the door is the stick. Then with eyes he looks towards the cabinet. My job is to get on my knees and get it out with the stick.

When I am driving home, even before the garage door opens, he appears in the window with the ball in his mouth, and then waits on the top of the stairs to throw the ball down for me to pick it up and throw back to him. This was a game he invented. In the morning at about 6:15, he comes to my side of the bed, wakes me up and then goes back to sleep. Somehow he knows when I need to get up. The list goes on. And I am sure that you have your own stories about your pets. I decided to share images of dogs. I am not sure how smart they are, but they are definitely very cute.

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Fridays with Manny

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THE FUTURE IS HERE

On a walk with Max one recent evening, I noticed my neighbors boarding a driverless cab by Waymo. Online I learned that the day before, on Thursday, August 10th, after six hours of deliberations, California regulators gave approval to two robotaxi companies – Cruise and Waymo, to operate their driverless cars 24/7 across all of San Francisco. Of course there were some who disagreed with the decision. That brought to mind events which happened at the end of the nineteenth century, when the first American cars were built, with many non-believers that the new invention would replace horses and carriages.

During an interview on November 17, 1895, Thomas A. Edison said, “Talking of horseless carriage suggests to my mind that the horse is doomed. The bicycle, which, 10 years ago, was a curiosity, is now a necessity. It is found everywhere. Ten years from now you will be able to buy a horseless vehicle for what you would pay today for a wagon and a pair of horses. The money spent in the keep of the horse will be saved and the danger to life will be much reduced.” These words are as current today as almost 128 years ago.

You can read more about robotaxis in the article which appeared in the San Francisco Chronicle on Sunday, August 13, 2023 titled, Questions remain on robotaxis’ viability. In spite of naysayers, we are privileged to live in the part of the future. However, horse and carriage transport did not disappear completely. When we visited New York in 2016, we encountered them near Central Park as part of the tourist attractions, as you can see from these three photos.

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Fridays with Manny

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WHAT IS THE NUMBER 56?

August 8th is a special date in our family. On that date fifty-six years ago, Elfa said “I do”. I was twenty, my wife twenty-one. Since then, I count our blessings every day. So, what is the meaning of the number 56? Online I learned that “the number 56 often brings good luck and positive energy into people’s domestic lives”. And also, that it is a sign “to be grateful for what you can do and the people you have in your life”. It is also “a symbol of new beginnings”.

 At the age when many people retire, we decided not only to keep going, in spite of the current challenges in mortgage industry, but to begin a new direction by focusing on helping people who retire to have a better life with reverse mortgages. I have even written a book on the subject – “Retirement Solutions for Smart People”, which is going to be available shortly.

As you can see, all three definitions of the meaning of the number 56 are correct. To commemorate this important date, we asked our gardener to plant two young magnolia trees, which, as you probably know, produce beautiful flowers.

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Fridays with Manny

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WHAT IS YOUR DREAM?


I was recently helping my client, Adar, get financing to buy the property that he and his wife were renting. It seemed like an ordinary purchase transaction. What was special, was his source of income, which was coming from the ice cream store he owned and operated together with his brother. I knew this place very well, since it is located on the 9th Avenue, not far from Golden Gate Park. I have enjoyed their delicious flavors on several occasions. When I mentioned to Adar that I am trying to hold back on sugar because my pants are getting tighter, he responded that this is what he advised his clients, whom he was training at the gym across the street. “Do not check the scale, check your pants.” It turns out that he used to be a gym instructor while going to Law School. But at the same time, he was dreaming that one day he would have an ice cream shop on the 9th Avenue. Eight years ago, his dream of opening San Francisco Homemade Creamery, became a reality.

Adar continued to dream. He decided to convert a dilapidated VW minibus into a store on wheels. He was told that this was not possible. Now his red minivan, which on the weekends is parked on Scott and Marina Boulevard is attracting locals as well as tourists. When my wife and I came there last Sunday to take photos, I stood in a long line and we tried Madagascar Vanilla and Chocolate Sorbet. It was delicious. When I asked Kenneth, who works there, for an extra spoon for Max, he gave him a small scoop instead, which Max licked up in no time. On the way home, we went to the 9th Avenue shop to get two pints to take home for some guests we were having.

If you love ice cream, please read my poem which appeared in my book “42 Encounters with Love”.

Love Of Ice Cream

I love how ice cream tastes,
But I do not like how it affects my waist.
Can I indulge once a week?
And which of the flavors shall I seek?
Perhaps vanilla with cherry?
But I do not care about Ben & Jerry.
How about two flavors,
Covered with berries, in a bowl?
However, this will definitely mess with
My weight-losing goal.
What about dark chocolate on the cone?
By the time I decided, it was gone.
I scream for ice cream;
I love how it tastes.
But what about the size of my waist?

And what is your dream? Enjoy It and Share!

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Fridays with Manny

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HOW TO WRITE A BESTSELLER?


How would you feel if someone you love wrote a book, which became a bestseller? Our daughter Allona has published her first novel, The Weaver. It is filled with suspense, love, mystery, surprises and self-discovery. The story is about a woman, who reaches the top of her career and seems to have it all in life. And then suddenly it is all gone. She finds herself in the forest in the company of a mysterious woman, the weaver. But she does not remember of who she is or what has happened to her. You will find out what happens next after you get the book.

Allona is not only a gifted writer, but also a deeply spiritual person. She has had an incredible life journey, from an art gallery owner in New York and an art adviser in Paris, France. Now she is an author and lives near us in Sausalito. Allona brings the richness of her life experiences into this book, and much more, her spiritual connection and inspiration. I am sure that like me you won’t be able to put The Weaver down.

If you’d like to find out more, you can check out the book’s website or just get your own copy of The Weaver on paperback or kindle on this link. Please help The Weaver stay an Amazon Bestseller by getting your book today, and make sure to write your review.

I decided to share with you three images of the forest, where we could get lost and find ourselves.

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Fridays with Manny

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WHAT MAKES PORTLAND WEIRD



Years ago, when my wife and I first visited Portland, I saw a sign on a store window that read: “Keep Portland Weird.” The word weird means strange, odd, fantastic and often has a negative connotation.
Browsing the web, I learned about one of the reasons they call Portland this way. “Portland has been affectionately referred to as “weird” for decades perhaps because it has the most strip clubs per capita in the nation.” https://www.goseewrite.com/2016/03/7-reasons-and-more-why-portland-is-weird/



Of course, there are other reasons Portland is on the list of weird cities, which also includes San Francisco. During our recent visit to Oregon, I encountered some weirdly positive changes. A year and a half ago, downtown Portland was filthy, and had a very large homeless population living in tents. Now, it was nice to see it clean. There were still “stoned” people sleeping on benches, but for that I could stay in San Francisco. The streets were crowded with locals and tourists. Restaurants were filled with diners. There were a lot readers at the famous Powell’s book store…


…When we entered a Whole Foods store, a female guard greeted us with a smile. Suddenly, some commotion forced us to turn around. The same woman and another uniformed guard had their hands on their handguns, and without a smile, escorted an unwelcome visitor out of the store. These actions probably would be considered weird in San Francisco. If not our tolerance to the bad behavior, Whole Foods and other stores would still be open. For me, another weird thing was to see a number of people, especially young women covered with tattoos. As another weird city, San Francisco has its own share, however Portland beats us in many categories.

 

These three images show some of my experience.

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Fridays with Manny

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HOW TO MOVE


In the Real Estate section of the San Francisco Chronicle recently, three real estate agents shared their view on moving, which is the intricate part of any real estate sales transaction. Any change in our lives can be stressful – moving can be very, very, very challenging, unless you have enough time in advance to prepare. This is a great opportunity to get rid of accumulated stuff. If you can afford it, add the cost of a professional organizer
to your budget. You can also check Japanese organizing consultant Marie Kondo’s book “Kurashi at Home”, or watch her videos.


I am writing about this subject in Portland, Oregon, where we came to help our daughter and her family move to their new home. Our primary job is to unpack boxes. We did such a good job a few years ago when they moved to Portland, that we were invited back. Of course, this was a great excuse to spend time with our granddaughter who is going to be three in September. Though we’ve lived in our house together with my wife for over forty years, we just moved our business office to a smaller space, and I know first-hand how stressful it can be.


To end this essay, I am going to give you two suggestions, regardless of whether you are moving or not:
1. Do not clutter your life with the stuff you can live without.
2. Get rid of the things you are not planning to use during the next year. Donate those things to someone who might need them.
Our daughter and her family moved to an area called Mt. Tabor. During my walks in the neighborhood, I encountered some of the blooms I’ve never photographed before. These three images are a sample of my experience. 

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Fridays with Manny

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I THINK, YOU THINK, I THINK…

Many years ago, when our children were much younger, we used to play a board game called “I Think, You Think, I Think”. The essence was to guess what other players were thinking in given circumstances. There were cards with questions like, “You found a wallet with 100 dollars, what would you do?” Another card would list three options. And the guesser had to choose what the other players were thinking about the choice. I had a lot of fun when one of our daughters would think what I think about one of things, while I made a different choice. To this day, I hear in my head, “Dad, you would not do that.”

This game came to my mind when recently during some turbulent events in Russia, when I saw on the news one of the “experts” was asked a question about what is going on. He expressed his opinion by stating, “I think.” The next day the events turned out to be the complete opposite to what this expert was thinking.

And this, I think, can be said about anything in our lives either our personal affairs, economy, or politics, since we never know what the other person thinks and what actions are going to be taken as a result. Therefore, do not think too much, just enjoy the moment. What do you think the three images I am sharing with you represent? Please let me know.

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Fridays with Manny

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LIFE CYCLE

I received a phone call recently, with the name Taya on my phone’s screen. However, instead of Taya’s voice, it was her husband Peter. “I am returning your call to Taya”, he said. “Taya is gone.” This was very shocking news. “When?” I asked. “Half an hour ago, I am calling you from the hospital,” -he said.

I first met Taya many years ago when she was a real estate agent. Later on, she and Peter became our clients and this relationship evolved into a friendship. We would meet for a dinner, sharing our latest life stories, about their children, and their grandchildren. A year ago, they told us about their trip to Florida, where they planned to retire. This did not happen. Taya was a very nice person, considerate, reliable, and a good friend. She complemented and stood behind ambitious Peter’s projects. Together they were a wonderful couple for forty-four years.

Being 76 years young, I hear more and more about people who left me behind in our life’s cycle. From the moment we are born, we all have one destination. The question is, what we do in between; how many lives do we touch, and how many positive differences do we make?

Three images of roses show the life cycle of flowers as a reminder to enjoy life while we still can.

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