Dear
Folks,
I hope everyone is having a great summer.
To get the ENCHANTMENT started today I would like to share with
you an excerpt from my mother's new book, "FEEL GOOD
STORIES!"
My mom turned 85 years young this year and together we have compiled
many of her stories from before she was born to her days at Reed's
Landing, a retirement community in Massachusetts.
Her stories reflect the best of THE ENCHANTED SELF as they are
indicative of our capacities to rise above disappointment and bad
moments and still find ways to experience good feelings, humor,
insight, love and joy! I hope you enjoy these stories.
Her book is available on my site,
www.enchantedself.com and her site
www.storiestofeelgood.com The price is $14.95
The book is a fast, joyful read that is perfect for a summer
afternoon. It is also a great gift to give to your mom, your aunt,
your grandmother and even your 10 year old. I have found that children
love the stories. As a summer treat I will include free gifts for you
when you order, including an ENCHANTED SELF bookmark and
several paper newsletters!
Please share your stories with my mom and myself also by writing to me
at encself@aol.com I would love
to have your story appear in my e-newsletter soon!
Thanks, Dr. Barbara Becker Holstein
The Movies: by Bernice Becker
When I was a small child, I watched many movies in the Shawmut Theater
in Roxbury. It was located close to Eagleton Square, which was
bustling with activity and safe years ago. Today you don't venture
there if you value your life. The Shawmut was more than a movie house.
It was a community center, a second home, a retreat, a social
gathering place, and of course, an entertainment facility. It allowed
thankful parents to get a few hours away from their children as long
as they had someone responsible to take their kids to the Saturday
matinee.
Tickets were either five or ten cents each. There was no food or drink
sold in the neighborhood theaters when I was five years old, but there
usually was a confectionery store nearby where you could purchase a
generous amount of candy for a nickel. What could be more satisfying
than your sweet- tooth treat as you sat patiently through the news,
laughed aloud at the cartoons, and intently watched the main
attraction and the important cliffhanger that made you want to return
the following week?
I walked along with my two older brothers, who were threatened with
horrible punishment if they neglected to take good care of their
little sister. It wasn't my fault that on the way I managed, God only
knows how, to swallow a fairly large buzzing fly. I screamed as it
tickled my throat, its wings beating in protest. Finally it slid down.
I wanted to go home to tell my mother what had happened but my
brothers didn't want to do that. They were thoughtful enough to assure
me that flies were not bad and actually were good for you as long as
you didn't consume too many. Little Bernice swallowed that bull along
with the fly.
We entered the large, imposing building of our weekend retreat and
found seats. I sat between Arnold and Howard as always. Mom said that
was the safest way. But what happened if I needed to visit the
bathroom? They couldn't take me. My mother told me I could go if it
was an emergency and we would have to ask a lady or older girl whom we
knew to take me. I realize now that on Saturdays I was given very few
fluids until I got home. Then I was urged to drink a lot to help the
dehydration I'd been subjected to.
We were surrounded by familiar, friendly faces. I waved to my
neighbors. We were all in a jovial mood, anticipating a wonderful
afternoon. There was chatter and laughter. Occasionally an usher would
come around to shush people and to warn us we'd have to leave if we
couldn't behave. To me, an usher was like a policeman. I didn't dare
misbehave.
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