WHO KNEW?

The most amazing email arrived from Israel, while my husband Arnee and I were visiting our daughter and her family in Southern California. We were babysitting our grandchildren, as my friend Else (pronounced “L”-sa) told me about the many trips she and her husband, Kuno, took with their children to babysit their grandchildren.

That unexpected and unrivaled email on August 18, 2025, came from Else and Kuno’s daughter Pearl living in Israel. That was after we sent well-wishes to her via her brother Joe and his wife Cindy when they attended our 50th anniversary celebration on August 10, 2025 (see The Party’s Over, dated August 19, 2025).

Pearl wrote in part, “…Heard about your lovely anniversary gathering and wishing you many more happy years together in the best of possible health and happiness.

“Tal [Pearl’s son whom we met on several occasions when he attended religious services with his grandparents whenever he visited from his home in Israel] and family stopped by shortly after Joe's Friday call and the ‘Adam Sandler story’...by chance I had just viewed the flick (these days sometimes you need such amusements) and so excitedly I reiterated your fascinating experience. [See When Adam Sandler Was In Our Yard, dated August 12, 2025 at sharonmarkcohen.com]

“... [Tal’s daughter] Shira (soldier in 8200), who is sleeping on the floor jumps up at the mention of Sharon's name..."I love her, I read her article about grandma at least once a year... she's my heroine! [Go to sharonmarkcohen.com and click the link in “articles” to read, My Shul Mate Else, dated September 24, 2015.]

“So much for Sandler, you’re the Star...

“So again happy to hear family is doing well .

“All the best

“Pearl and Ami

“PS.   Just a small request, if the tape of my mom's broadcast is put into the ‘Cloud’ please inform us...we don't seem to have the full recording and it's very special to us....”

You can only imagine my humbled and elated reaction.

You may never know the impact you make on others’ lives. Learning about the appreciation of my article throughout generations of my friend Else’s family highlights why I feel everyone deserves a legacy and what motivates me to do my best to ensure theirs is published and shared.

When our friend Joe told me that shortly after the story about his mother was published, he brought a framed version of that article to his sister Pearl in Israel, I was simply delighted. Learning that generations of their family cherish the story that I was privileged to know and share in the newspaper for others to learn gives me the desire to keep telling the stories of everyday lives.

My husband, host of The World of Work, interviews people he calls “the salt of the earth” about their jobs. Guests are heard over the radio airwaves on his long-standing show, which airs on Tuesdays at 5:00 pm EST at www.wdvrfm.org. After he interviewed Else, she said she had the time of her life. That’s the tape Pearl is requesting another copy of.

While my husband prepares for his shows, I’m at the computer writing stories of everyday people for the Jewish Link newspaper and my weekly blog posts at sharonmarkcohen.com. You could say we’re a perfect pair.

August 10, 2025 South Orange, New Jersey Arnee and Sharon Cohen with Cindy and Joe Roth