June 26, 2008

A trip down Memory Lane

By Shelly Simmons

For the Tidings

Editor's note: Shelly Simmons is a longtime Ashland resident who recently moved to Florida to work for Sen. Barack Obama's campaign for president. She will share her experiences on the campaign trail with Tidings readers.

June 18

A man approached our table this morning and told me that he thought he knew me. "Right," I thought. "Just what I need right now." Turns out he was right. We went to Miami High together 50 years ago! His sister and my brother graduated SW Miami High in the same year.

Sometimes I think the world has only 10 people in it, all of whom I know. I told him that I needed to find housing. He suggested Craig's List. I logged on and there was a brand new listing. Sharing a home.

Long story short, I called the woman. She's Cuban American and close to my age. We connected quickly. After my arrival, in less than five minutes, I rented my new home in Miami Springs. It's an older Miami neighborhood. The homes are so gorgeous: built in the '50s, very safe neighborhood, centrally located, on a tree-lined street. $500 a month. Includes wireless Internet, my own TV, laundry and full house facilities. Bonus: free conversational Spanish lessons.

Her daughter was born on my birthday 42 years ago. She's an Obama supporter. There's a statue of Michelangelo's David in the living room, in his full glory. She loves that I'm Jewish. I taught her the Hebrew word besherte (roughly translated: meant to be). And it is. I move in tomorrow. It will be so nice not to be living out of my car. I'm really too old for that.

Out team is meeting our goals as we continue to build our foundation in Miami. We're now connected with the Obama for President group on FIU's campus plus an environmental group. We're also connecting with local politicians and participating in their events. It's beyond exciting.

The only dampening thing is the weather. Rain and more rain. I registered a young gal this morning while we were standing under a parking meter canopy. It was impossible to walk even a foot. It's not a big deal. You get wet, you dry out. You get wet again, you dry out again.

We're creating new history every day and I'm feeling beyond blessed to be part of it. Driving in Miami's rush-hour traffic is a new experience for me. There are people selling things at every traffic light. At a busy intersection tonight, I bought myself a half dozen peach roses for $5. Their sweet scent fills my room.

Shelly Simmons is the Miami/Dade County Coordinator for Barack Obama's 2008 presidential campaign (miami4obama.com), responsible for outreach to the South Florida Jewish Community — all 2,000 square miles of it, minus the water and alligators — population 2.5 million. She can be contacted at shellyinor@aim.com.

June 22

My weekend began on Friday evening, when I attended services at Temple Judea in Coral Gables, near the University of Miami. I wore my new "Israel at 60" T-shirt, casual blue pants and my Phillies hat. I arrived just as services were beginning and took a seat near the front, next to a family with a young son.

My first Shabbat since my arrival in Florida. Not my first at Temple Judea. In October 1957, I often attended Friday night services at Temple Judea as my boyfriend and I double dated with the Rabbi's son. He was required to attend, so we went, too. I remember being less than enthralled at age 15. On Friday evening, I wept like a baby from the sweet memories, and my recognition of how important my Judaism has become in my life.

The 11-year-old kept smiling at me. Turns out that he's a Phillies fan. After services we discussed our favorite players. He invited me to his Bar Mitzvah — in two years.

I met some seniors who also knew Rabbi Morris Skop. Let's just say that I blew their minds with my story, plus revealing my age and not wearing any makeup.

During the meditative part of the service, I thanked God for guiding me in my journey. I thanked Aunt Doris for the Car Mezuzah she gave me (plus my Phillies hat) for my Bas Mitzvah almost 10 years ago. I thanked my Ashland rabbis for their travel blessings. My very special friends, O.B., and lastly Tina Turner for being one of my major role models and for singing to me as I journeyed across America. "Simply the Best," her tour, has stops here. I'll be there

Saturday I spent the day with my son Jeff. Brunch at Broadway Bagel. I had a pumpernickel bagel with chive cream cheese. Totally yummy. As I'm always "working," I wore my Obama Organizing Fellowship name tag. People in the restaurant asked me how they could help. I signed up several volunteers. We did our errands and ended our visit with coffee at Barnes and Noble. I bought Obama's books, which they can't keep on their shelves.

We spoke to my two granddaughters, who were at a Girl Scout weekend on the ocean in Trinidad, near Crescent City, Calif. Hard to believe I saw them only two weeks ago.

I drove home past Doral Country Club and the famous Blue Monster. Years ago, I was one of Arnie Palmer's Army. My son Jeff saw his hero Tiger Woods play there in March. He was five feet from Tiger on 13. He wore his prized T-shirt yesterday.

Last night I went to a team barbecue in Coral Gables at Heidi's. She's from Washington, D.C., and is getting her PhD at FIU and is a public policy research fellow. Hanging out together was fun. We're an amazing group.

After the mayors conference closes today, I'm scheduled to meet with the woman who created and organized Miami4Obama.com. Juan Cuba (his real name!), the Dade County volunteer manager, connected us. I may be getting a "promotion" after four days. Even for me, that's pretty fast. And I do look forward to playing with the grownups. I've made the most incredible contacts since I've been here. Monday evening will be one week.

I'm happy to report that I'm unpacked and settled into my new home. My "land lady," Nelda, gave me some fried plantains she made for Sunday brunch. The best! I gave her some T/Joe's Triple Gingersnap cookies. I also sold her my new (still in the box) Canon Digital camera. I like my 35 mm Yashica better, and I can get a CD when developing my photos. I'm already in technology overload, depending on my cell phone and new laptop.

Huge thunderstorms again today. Something that takes a bit of getting used to. Up to three inches of rain in less than 30 minutes. And just as quickly as it begins, it clears. The sun shines again and Miami's skies are every pastel color imaginable.