COnfessions of a MAD Antique Dealer

Now that my novel is done, and copywritten, the next step before going to publishers..is editing. Not as much fun as writing...and Cynthia is helping me. I edit it, and then she goes over it again.  I add and subtract ideas, correct grammar and spelling(that spell check couldnt do)  Meanwhile, I am rewriting the book as a broadway musical why not. If Andrew LLOYD Weber can do it, so can I....You know,  that we humans, always under estimate our potential. Whether form parents who told you everything you did was wrong, or over protections...or miserable teachers who took away your confidence......Too many people do not take chances being creative in way different from the exact path they are on in life. They might just be afraid to fail.  What is the worse thing if we fail...then try somnething else.......and something else....I am sure, the first painting that Da'Vinci did wasnt a masterpeice...I think he was an orphan....but if he wasnt, and his mother said, that painting is a piece of shit......he still would have persevered and become great.  He wasnt afraid to fail.

  I have t o songs so far for the play version...of Jesus Christ in Search of Himself." But I think the play might have a simpler name, Possible just "ADAM" after the main character.  WHo knows, that is a marketing issue, and there are people who study these things.

Today, was Yarmulka Day. I had a lot of Orthodox customers. That is the DAy they can come shopping. They work MON-FRI. and SAturday is the Sabbath.....as holy as any Holiday. A day of rest, a day of prayer, a day of family.  I think it is a wonderful concept, and although I wasnt brought up in that relgious mileu, I do respect it, and mentally yearn for something I never had.  Not the religion part and all the guilt, rules, and thou shall nots, but for the special feeling of that day, and how the family is so close,  One of my customers not long ago invited me to a FRIDAY night dinner. The family had two sons  17 and 23. They sang joyous songs, then the father said a prayer blessing his children, and kissed them on the head. My eyes watered. I cried inside.  This was something I missed.  The we ate a glorius meal..There was the blessing of the Halladh bread, the cutting, and passing a taste all around the table, the blessing of the wine....and then the FOOD> two kinds of fish, all kinds of salads, meats, chicken, many veggies, then many cakes,candies and tea.  I ate so much, that on the way home...I was afraid I wouldnt make it ...I fumbled for the key, raced to the bathroom.  THE food was awesome, and the evening, refreshing to my soul.

  Two of the customers, schlepped all the way from BRooklyn. Now this is a compliment. We are getting well known in the Jewish community in Monsey, who normally runs to Brooklyn for their bargains. and MOnseyites are shrewd shoppers, so when they tell Brooklynites that GRannys Attic has such bargains...and they come out and buy...you know......We must be giving bargains, although they never admit it...

Ok, enough schmoozing....about my customers..who today.....both JEws and non jews were all delightful, freindly, and good spirited. I talked with most of them, one couple was from New Mexico...I forgot to ask her how she heard of the store...it was a good day....and I left in a very good mood.  I met JOHN, who is runnig the MAHWAH store now on weekends...and Mike who is are finantial advisor, friend, confidant, and resident kibitzer....and we went to La Hacienda Mexican Restaaurant in Sufferen. The deocr is great and the food greater..I had chicken in Mole sauce..that is made with choclate and garlic..sounds awful, but GREAT,. I will get the recipe and post it here soon.  Todays recipe will be for Chinese Butter CHICKEN, but you can use  any meat or fish, and use the sauce on anything.....like tofu, or veggies and put over rice or noodles.  Here goes:

Fry one chopped up onion for about 5 min till translucent, then add 2 cloves chopped garlic and fry another two min.  Now melt at least  1/4 pound of butter or butter flavored margerine, to this mixture at two teaspoons of curry mixture...(the amount will vary with the strenght of the curry) you will taste and adjust.  Fry the curry for two minutes or so.  Remove contents into an iron dutch oven or heavy pot.  Take a cut up chicken or just cut up chicken mean, and brown in some more butter a few min on each side.  Put chicken and butter,onion curry mixture in the dutch oven or pot, add one can of tomatoe puree.  Simmer slowly for half an hour on very low flame. Then add the chicken ( or beef ,lamb, pork) and cook again slowly on top the stove or in the oven for at least 30 min for chicken and over an hour for beef.  Adjust with salt at the end.   You can ad yougurt just before serving, or put on top of the serving.  For Shrimp, fish,tofu or veggies.  Stem then first, then pour sauce over it.Serve over rice or noodles. This is an icredibkly delicious dish, if you like Indian food....You can make it very mild with less curry, only with a hint of it, or make it VINDALOO...which is HOT....by adding a lot of curry.  This is great with a cucumber and yourgut salad call Raita.  Grind cucumbers or chopp fine...put a bit of salt on it, wait 30min....then drain all water out of it. Ad yougourt....and chopped dried(or fresh) mint leaves.

Tomorrow is AUG 29th.  A day I will never forget. 25 years ago I was to leave with my wondrful friend(and antique dealer) Sherry KAtz for a vacation in Mexico. I got a phone call t hat she died. I went beserk. I cried and screamed. I got into my car and drove at 80 miles an hour for three hours to a friends house in NY state. David was a shrink, and Bryna was an artist,  they comforted me. This was the first time that I lost someone that I was very close with.  Sherry, kept me going....emotionally....I bought a house in 1969...a basket case. It needed to be  copmpletely gutted and  a new house built inside. A week later, my store was destroyed by a flood, which mean, years before I could rebuild my house and store.. Everyday, she would call , talk, soothe me, and say take it one day at a time. She kept me going. She was one of the warmest, most intellegent, kindest person I ever knew. I never forget her. She was my guiding star. SHe lives on in my heart.. and tomorrow is her "yar zseit" anniversay of her day. Most people say prayers. Prayers can no longer help. I dont belive in  that. I just remember her. I dont light a candle. The candle is always lit in my heart for people I love. DAY and NIght...and I dont have to wait for a special day.

We have a lot of house calls and lots of stuff coming in.. Next weekend is our labor day event!! HOO  HA....it means, I am goint to price a bunch of stuff that I want to get rid of really cheap to make room for fresh stuff.. and WE WILL FEED you will food.......lots of it..Eat all you want, just no doggie bags. LAst time, one customer and his wife came in and just wanted us to give him food to go because he was in a hurry. I asked him if he had browsed all  3 floors. He said no, I just came to eat...but I can stay, so I will take it to GO.  Now that is an illustration...and definition of the word  HUTZPAH.

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