One of the first things that drew me to the music of Allan Sherman, besides the fact that Dad really liked his stuff, was a song entitled "Shake Hands with Your Uncle Max." I was in wonderment at how Sherman could know about my Uncle Max! I eventually concluded that everyone must have an Uncle Max, but I think mine was more of a hugger than a hand-shaker.
I adored Max, always looking forward to trips to my "ancestral spawning grounds" and the house in Nyack wherein he and my Aunt Kenie had lived since before I was born. Happy memories of visiting that house are practically imprinted into my DNA. And it was all because of Kenie and Max and their children, my cousins Mara (whom I still worship; we're the only two girls among my generation of "Friedman cousins") and Jeff. The photo below, taken at Mara's son Micah's graduation party a few years ago, is how I usually picture Max in my mind's eye.
The last time I saw Uncle Max was at my brother Jay's house early last month. Last evening he passed away, and I'll miss him more than I can say. He and my Dad were two of a kind in many ways. Members of my family are certain that they're together now, somewhere, talking about the stock market, just as they're probably doing in this photo:
Yes, that was taken at the Nyack house. I'm glad I didn't listen to Dad and Uncle Max when they kept saying (as I recall) "What are you taking so many pictures? Put the camera away."
I adored Max, always looking forward to trips to my "ancestral spawning grounds" and the house in Nyack wherein he and my Aunt Kenie had lived since before I was born. Happy memories of visiting that house are practically imprinted into my DNA. And it was all because of Kenie and Max and their children, my cousins Mara (whom I still worship; we're the only two girls among my generation of "Friedman cousins") and Jeff. The photo below, taken at Mara's son Micah's graduation party a few years ago, is how I usually picture Max in my mind's eye.
The last time I saw Uncle Max was at my brother Jay's house early last month. Last evening he passed away, and I'll miss him more than I can say. He and my Dad were two of a kind in many ways. Members of my family are certain that they're together now, somewhere, talking about the stock market, just as they're probably doing in this photo:
Yes, that was taken at the Nyack house. I'm glad I didn't listen to Dad and Uncle Max when they kept saying (as I recall) "What are you taking so many pictures? Put the camera away."
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