The fact that you two met again after so many years has me thinking of the new Web Site, almostmetjew.com. It's a site similar to the "missed connections" on craigslist that gives people another chance to really meet. I wrote a top 10 column for The Jewish Week to spoof this, but they decided to go with something else. But here it is for all the Seraphic friends:

Top 10 Least Popular Posts on "Almost Met Jew.com"
by Jake Novak

10) "Me: smiling at you on the #7 train. You: Running out of the subway after I used my yarmulke as a tissue."

9) "I never actually saw you, but my mother says you looked like a doctor."

8) "You seemed intrigued by my 27 Kaballah tattoos."

7) "I didn't cover my eyes during Sh'ma to get a better look at you!"

6) "I liked the way you frisked me before I boarded El Al flight #517."

5) "Was that a lulav in your pocket on Sukkot, or were you just happy to see me?"

4) "Our hands briefly touched as we both tried to grab the last piece of kichel."

3) "Sheila, this is your mother... I'm using this service because you're like a stranger to me these days!"

2) "The smell of whitefish on your breath made me hungry... for love!"

1) Me: "Smiling at you from the other side of 5th Ave. at the Salute to Israel Parade. You: Running across to meet me before you were run over by the Rokeach float... are you okay?"

It's good to have some authentic humor here. Thanks so much.

As a huge fan of the Marx brothers may I say that I love the stateroom analogy.

Stay tuned, it gets even more crowded as more people suddenly show up.

"Stay tuned, it gets even more crowded as more people suddenly show up."

i know it wasn't funny at the time, but it sure is great sitcom material now.

Judith: Truer words were never spoken for one of the surprise visitors to my one room apartment that afternoon was G, a lovely girl from Boro Park who I had just met and...

In reference to Karen's comment...I think it is a gift to be able to partition our psyche at times...to be able to find a place that exists outside the pain. Otherwise, it seems that there would be no relief at all from your broken hearts. It's good that you are able to go back to those memories and out of your pain, even if it's for just a little while.

Karen - I think your observation is wise.

Randi: It is not only a gift, it is a survival necessity. If not for this ability to partition, Karen and I would simply cease to exist.

Rabbi Fleischmann: My wife is the wisest person I have ever known. She should rule the world.

"a lovely girl from Boro Park who I had just met and..."
Robert...too much teasing again...hurry up!

I just realized that the title of my entry actually has a double meaning, a view from the couch could also mean a view from the couch of the analyst. I interpreted the reason Robert and I are indulging ourselves in the memories of our initial meeting and romance--it's a way of avoiding the pain.

I love that Karen is providing her perspective on the memories described by Robert.

And I do hope in some small way that this nostalgic look back at the beginnings of a love that is clearly besheret helps to ease some of the pain.

Thanks Stacy for your comment. Sometimes all this scrutinizing and reflection can drive you crazy, but there is no alternative. Hearing from people like you helps.

Karen,

Considering the description you've given of the couch and the apartment, and thinking back over the situation, do you think you might've preferred to be able to instead entitle this post: "A Broad's View from Abroad"--I'm guessing at the time, you would have liked to be far, far away from that apartment, from the awkwardness of the situation...!

I'm guessing that time -- and the continuing thread of posts in this saga -- will reveal all. It's very clear to me, without having to read on in the Avrech-Singer saga, that the prince managed to entrance the princess with his charm; the princess managed to entrance the prince with her keen intelligence, and together they have managed to slay some of the dragons that reside in Hollywood!

Pearl, actually, I don't remember wanting to flee, I just recall a funny situation, and almost a sense of farce. I'll let Robert tell the story, but the way things turned out, I think I used timing to my advantage. You'll see.