Anna Hertzberg's Blog

Avi is 75

Avi is 75 years old today. He is well and alive and continues to teach and support me every step of the way, as I am sure he does for many of you. When I talk about him and people say "he sounds amazing; I wish I had met him", I say immodestly " you just did. I am full of him". (Which btw is like being full of myself, only a lot better).

I carry him with me wherever I go. He is part of my daily reality. I draw strength from feeling his love (still!) and I share with the world, restate,…

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Added by Anna Hertzberg on January 3, 2013 at 1:01pm — 1 Comment

Our Gathering on March 13th, 2010

Dear Friends and Family,

Adina, Gabe and I thank you from the depths of our hearts for contributing your presence, your poems and your loving thoughts to the memorial honoring Avi Bob, on the day of (almost ) the anniversary of his passing into a different realm. He would think it "astounding" that so many of you showed up with your hearts full of love and memories of him, while he wanted "to be remembered for someone who did not need to be remembered". Remember?

Thank…

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Added by Anna Hertzberg on March 18, 2010 at 12:00am — No Comments

Saturday, March 13, 2010, 6pm

Dears,
I was told the link I had posted contained two addresses. We are going to be in the Chapel, not at Broughton Hospital. Please take note. If you have any questions, call 828 390 2962 or 917 378 2378.

Added by Anna Hertzberg on March 12, 2010 at 10:30am — No Comments

Aviversary

This is the link to Riddle Development Center where our Aviversary Memorial is going to be held.…

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Added by Anna Hertzberg on February 23, 2010 at 12:41pm — No Comments

1st AVIversary

Dear Friends and Family,
There will be a get-together for Us Who Love and Miss Him :-) at the chapel in Morganton (same place as where we gathered the first time) on March 13th, 2010 at 6pm. Since it will be around dinner time, let's bring some food to share. I will post more info on this website, so please check frequently in between.
Love to you all,
Anna

Added by Anna Hertzberg on February 22, 2010 at 12:09pm — 1 Comment

J.D. Salinger

Remain in peace in the unity of God and walk blindly in the clear straight path of your obligations...
If God wishes more from you his inspiration will make you know it.

~J.D. Salinger 1958

Added by Anna Hertzberg on January 30, 2010 at 10:12am — No Comments

Today is your birthday, happy birthday to you

I woke up not remembering. Nina reminded me in her email and now I realize my temporary amnesia was his doing, his wish to spare me the sentimentality I easily fall prey to and due to which I shed torrents of tears, like now. It was always his preference to ignore birthdays (his own as well as others') but he played along when it was necessary (or was told to). For his last birthday we walked twice around the Park and then went to see "South Pacific" at Lincoln Center. He sang the tunes from… Continue

Added by Anna Hertzberg on January 3, 2010 at 12:00pm — No Comments

Such a great story

Our most favorite meal was breakfast. We would sit across from each other at the table in the dining room, which was our favorite room in the house in New Jersey because it was flooded with light and because I had designed it exactly to suit our life style. We would have coffee (which he would prepare before I even got up) and oatmeal with berries and talk, talk, talk. We talked about the absurdities of the world, about our thoughts on current events in the world as well as in our lives, he… Continue

Added by Anna Hertzberg on November 26, 2009 at 6:30pm — 2 Comments

6 months today

It is six months today
that my world came to an end
how am I still here?

I am here because
I am here because I am
here - you taught me this.

Added by Anna Hertzberg on September 13, 2009 at 11:17pm — 1 Comment

My dad's 92nd b'day

At his birthday table
My dad makes a speech to us
his chin quivering

He says: "thank you all
but one of the closest people
in my life's missing

He looked like Karl Marx
His mind: Sigmund Freud's, his heart
Mother Theresa's."

My dad's speech over
image of white-beard angel
lingers in our minds

At birthday table
We contemplate in silence
The gift of Avi

Added by Anna Hertzberg on August 10, 2009 at 11:30pm — 3 Comments

avihaiku

I found a haiku in Avi's little notebook that reflects how I feel about him:

I am filled with you
It is something we have earned
By having opened

Added by Anna Hertzberg on August 6, 2009 at 8:58am — 2 Comments

4 months ago

Just four months ago
I told him be my guest
go take your Journey

I would not have known
How to allow him to leave
Had he not coached me

Gabe: I regret that
my children will not know him
I: through you they will

Little Adina
remarkable at his side
From where such big strength?

Choking on her tears:
"d'you think he knew I was there?"
I know you're here now

Added by Anna Hertzberg on July 15, 2009 at 1:00am — 3 Comments

Avi Haiku

Avi believed that in order to truly understand a concept (like inevitability of death) you need to practice, spend time pondering the meaning of it, like you do with a mantra. This haiku, again, reminds me to stay alert in preparation for more (inevitable) loss:

There's no bargaining
With our life's impermanence
There is no sale price

Added by Anna Hertzberg on July 11, 2009 at 8:31am — No Comments

beautiful words

Few days ago a letter arrived in the mail, addressed to Avi. I opened it and I realized the person who wrote it did not know that Avi had passed, so I let her know. I feel I should share her beautiful response:

"Thank you so very much for emailing me and letting me know of your beloved's transition. I was quite stunned, and yes, I did cry with sadness, gratitude, peace and joy in my heart. While our paths crossed but for a short time, his presence and what he shared was and is… Continue

Added by Anna Hertzberg on July 8, 2009 at 9:55am — 2 Comments

One Hand Haiku

I came across a minature (2" x 2") hand made book of haiku made by Avi .

Here is the content:

I want to make sure

that life's end doesn't find me

wishing I had laughed more

This is the lowdown

those things that matter, matter

those things that don't, don't

No matter my age

I will always house a child

who won't understand

It's just this simple

how I see it is how I live

how I live is me

How… Continue

Added by Anna Hertzberg on July 3, 2009 at 9:00am — 3 Comments

In Avi's House

While in Avi's house
Things around me speak to me
What should I tell them

That my heart is cracked?
That their fate is unsure?
I say sweet nothings

Added by Anna Hertzberg on May 28, 2009 at 11:00am — No Comments

popcorn white, satin finish

My life with Avi
did it really happen or
was it just a dream

Avi's gone two months
I can't remember details
just what love feels like

My life without him
Barely breathing between sobs
I paint my studio

Paint roller in hand
I think how he would have loved
To see me like this

Added by Anna Hertzberg on May 22, 2009 at 10:30pm — No Comments

"Autopsy in the Form of an Elegy" sent to me by Janet

by John Stone

In the chest
in the heart
was the vessel

was the pulse
was the art
was the love

was the clot
small and slow
and the scar
that could not know

the rest of you
was very nearly perfect.

Added by Anna Hertzberg on May 11, 2009 at 7:53pm — 1 Comment

mom haiku #1

In the car with mom
She: "I wish it had been me"
I: "I understand"

Added by Anna Hertzberg on May 11, 2009 at 12:40am — No Comments

Mother's Day

My sister-in-law

Moved to tears by Samir's song

I feel connected

She says that Avi

Drew out what was deep inside

And then applauded

It's two'n the morning

We cry for Avi, stirring

tomorrow's oatmeal

Now it's eight am

Breakfast table's set for three

That makes eleven

Same walk in the park

Why are we just three, not four

Passer-by's are quizzed.

He runs in the park

He asks: where is your… Continue

Added by Anna Hertzberg on May 11, 2009 at 12:30am — 1 Comment

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