My parents, Abe and Bobbie, met in Miss Corcoran’s 6th grade classroom at Scranton Elementary, New Haven, CT. They developed a mutual crush, and except for a brief snag in 8th grade, at which time Bobbie felt the need to found the Anti-Flexer Society with a few other girls (it seems that Abe was pretty cute and knew it!); they dated throughout junior high, high school, and college, got married (in 1956); and had Kaila and her younger sister, Mindy. Abe and Bobbie are now 88, have been together for over 7 Decades and are still madly in love! Their relationship is completely egalitarian; they respect one another, value one another’s opinions and delight in one another’s sense of humor. #relationshipgoals! And they are also brilliant, kind and generous—and that is purely objective!
In 2015, my Mom was diagnosed with Stage 4 Grey Zone Lymphoma. Of course, she and my Dad approached this news with trepidation but also with the same even-keeled logic that they apply to other complex issues. They did tons of research, made lists of questions and took careful notes at each appointment with Mom’s oncologist, the amazing Dr. Menali Kamdar. After 3 different courses of chemotherapy treatments, each of which seemed to work for a short time but then stopped working, Dr. Kamdar, suggested enrolling Bobbie in a an experimental drug trial. Thanks to this treatment, along with the devoted support of my Dad, My Mom has been doing great for the last 7 years and counting. Our family and their large circle of friends are so grateful and relieved! I composed the pieces on 7 Decades in response to her diagnosis and treatment over course of several years. Gari, Elana and Josh and I honed, arranged and recorded these pieces along with very special guests (see below) at Opus Studios in Berkeley, California in 2019 (blissfully unaware of what was coming down the pike). As of today, both my Mom and Dad are healthy and sharp as a pair of tacks!
This project was made possible through a generous grant from Musical Grant Program, which is administered by InterMusic SF (Facebook page), and supported by the Clarence E. Heller Charitable Foundation, the Hewlett Foundation, and San Francisco Grants for the Arts.
Personnel on 7 Decades Project:
Kaila Flexer – violin, tarhui
Gary Hegedus – oud, saz (Turkish lute), mandocello
Elana Brutman – Cretan lyra with sympathetic strings
Joshua Mellinger – percussion (zarb, frame drum, cajon, snare drum, cymbals)
Special guests:
Ross Daly – Cretan lyra with sympathetic strings
Kelly Thoma – Cretan lyra with sympathetic strings
Miles Jay – double bass
Cookie Seigelstein – violin, viola
Joshua Horowitz – piano
Misha Khalikulov – cello
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