Just a very short note of good wishes. Today we met some friends for a lunch at the China Panda in Athens. Chinese food for Christmas… what else? After a delicious meal we went over to the Athena Grand and played arcade games until it was time for our movie… The Secret Life Of Walter Mitty. A great movie for Christmas Day indeed!
That’s about it… except for one thing:
Merry Christmas to all… and to all a good life!
Onward!
John b. I will call. Happy 14. Jan 12 tuna and Leon yeah here in va. Hft
They are predicting 5-8″ of snow late this week for Long Island and much of the northeast. Setting up for a winter wonderland for the Westhampton show. I’ll need a sleigh instead of a car. But it’ll be fun once we get there. Just a tip Jorma – take the ferry from Bridgeport to Port Jefferson on Friday.
It’s another year of being a devoted fan. I love you guys more than I could ever tell you. I wanted to share that seeing you at Bethel was a highlight of the year. I felt extremely privileged to have first row and it was just you and Jack. Wow. Anyway this is about Happy New Year !
God bless the entire Hot Tuna family and let 2014 be incredible.
Peace and Happiness
The Year of the Cap!
2014 brand new, best in town and safe aboard.
Glorious New Year Jorma!
Joey call me when you can- Joe please do the same. My cell phone broke and i lost your cell numbers. Be Well.
Thank you for sharing that story Mark. I have never read it before and shall not forget it. Jorma and family and all of my dear Tuna friends I wish for you a Happy New year.
Hey there mark. Just excellent. Primo… Thx. Have a good 2014
great storyPeace
Love All Ways
@Mark Kran
It’s a very touching, apocryphal story.
I’ve heard/read it before.
Stories like that serve the same purpose for adults, as fairy tales do for children, by reminding us to look outside of our own lives and be good to our fellow human-beings.
Happy New Year to all and drive safely if you’re going to be traveling on the road.
Have a Happy New Year’s Jorma
@Mark Kran
That is a very touching story, Mark. Thank you.
It is the act of helping one another that is a true barometer of our humanity.
Not how much the piece of paper with a designated number value in your pocket says you are worth.
It is good to remember this during a holiday season that is all too often about consumerism.
Money & profits are nice, but they don’t make for true happiness.
That story was a poignant reminder.
Blessings.
A sweet lesson on patience.
A NYC Taxi driver wrote:
I arrived at the address and honked the horn. After waiting a few minutes I honked again. Since this was going to be my last ride of my shift I thought about just driving away, but instead I put the car in park and walked up to the door and knocked.. ‘Just a minute’, answered a frail, elderly voice. I could hear something being dragged across the floor.
After a long pause, the door opened. A small woman in her 90’s stood before me. She was wearing a print dress and a pillbox hat with a veil pinned on it, like somebody out of a 1940’s movie.
By her side was a small nylon suitcase. The apartment looked as if no one had lived in it for years. All the furniture was covered with sheets.
There were no clocks on the walls, no knickknacks or utensils on the counters. In the corner was a cardboard
box filled with photos and glassware.
‘Would you carry my bag out to the car?’ she said. I took the suitcase to the cab, then returned to assist the woman.
She took my arm and we walked slowly toward the curb.
She kept thanking me for my kindness. ‘It’s nothing’, I told her.. ‘I just try to treat my passengers the way I would want my mother to be treated.’
‘Oh, you’re such a good boy, she said. When we got in the cab, she gave me an address and then asked, ‘Could you drive
through downtown?’
‘It’s not the shortest way,’ I answered quickly..
‘Oh, I don’t mind,’ she said. ‘I’m in no hurry. I’m on my way to a hospice.
I looked in the rear-view mirror. Her eyes were glistening. ‘I don’t have any family left,’ she continued in a soft voice..’The doctor says I don’t have very long.’ I quietly reached over and shut off the meter.
‘What route would you like me to take?’ I asked.
For the next two hours, we drove through the city. She showed me the building where she had once worked as an elevator operator.
We drove through the neighborhood where she and her husband had lived when they were newlyweds She had me pull up in front of a furniture warehouse that had once been a ballroom where she had gone dancing as a girl.
Sometimes she’d ask me to slow in front of a particular building or corner and would sit staring into the darkness, saying nothing.
As the first hint of sun was creasing the horizon, she suddenly said, ‘I’m tired. Let’s go now’.
We drove in silence to the address she had given me. It was a low building, like a small convalescent home, with a driveway that passed under a portico.
Two orderlies came out to the cab as soon as we pulled up. They were solicitous and intent, watching her every move.
They must have been expecting her.
I opened the trunk and took the small suitcase to the door. The woman was already seated in a wheelchair.
‘How much do I owe you?’ She asked, reaching into her purse.
‘Nothing,’ I said
‘You have to make a living,’ she answered.
‘There are other passengers,’ I responded.
Almost without thinking, I bent and gave her a hug.She held onto me tightly.
‘You gave an old woman a little moment of joy,’ she said. ‘Thank you.’
I squeezed her hand, and then walked into the dim morning light.. Behind me, a door shut. It was the sound of the closing of a life..
I didn’t pick up any more passengers that shift. I drove aimlessly lost in thought. For the rest of that day, I could hardly talk.What if that woman had gotten an angry driver,or one who was impatient to end his shift? What if I had refused to take the run, or had honked once, then driven away?
On a quick review, I don’t think that I have done anything more important in my life.
We’re conditioned to think that our lives revolve around great moments.
But great moments often catch us unaware-beautifully wrapped in what others may consider a small one.
PLEASE SHARE THIS TOUCHING STORYTimeline Photos · Sep 16, 2012 ·
Dear Jorma,
Happy New Year! looking forward to seeing you in 2014!
Be Well,
Cyndy
Dear Jorma
Joyful unfergettable festivities to You and your family!
Do I remain wide-eyed staring at that black & white with Jorma on stage in 1958.
I pray my Pleiades driving me Jorma’s way since then. How could it happen, luck and the faith an ant breathes shivering.
Steady As She Goes.
Hi Wishing you a happy belated birthday. I’ll be playing some of your music tonight on my Blues show. WUMB.org 8-midnight (east coast time) and again at 2 am. Playing you around 8:50 or so. We met years ago whne I emcee some festivals around Boston. Thanks, Holly Harris ‘Spinning The Blues’
I being a non observant Jew from NYC now living in the commonwealth of va took my 25 year old son and his girlfriend to the movies …. Saw the new hobbit movie on Xmas day. Good flick. Jorma for the birchmere va show on jan 12 I wonder if Leon will be opening followed by a Hft set or will Leon be playing along with Tuna the entire show. Either way I will be there front row. Good way to start a new year….. Tuna. Curious why you guys don’t play the state theater in va anymore? Last time tuna played there was summer 2010. As a fan it’s a much better venue then the birchmere. Just my view for what it’s worth. Anyways…..happy New Years to tuna and all tuna folk everywhere.
Belated happy birthday wishes Jorma!
We were so fortunate to see the acoustic Hot Tuna show at the musikfest cafe in Bethlehem pa.
Really hope you decide to come back soon!
Gonna have dinner tomorrow night at Mama Nina’s and we’ll be thinking of you.
As I type, Trial by Fire by the Airplane is playing on satellite radio!
Hope you and your family have a happy new year and thanks for the great music!
Before there were “movies”, what did the Jewish people do on Christmas day?
In Manhattan, they went down to China Town, as it was the only area where restaurants were open on Christmas Day. The old Yiddish theaters did a double-bill of afternoon and evening shows.
That’s where Raphie and his family ended up having their Christmas dinner after the stray dog got the turkey.
‘Peace On Earth And Goodwill Toward Men’
My dear friend Aldo would go to the movies on Christmas with his family every year after a traditional Italian Dinner. Zuppa de Pesce the night before of course. Rest in Peace brother Aldo.
Buon Natale
Peace
Love All Ways
Same here .So funny …Very cool ♫…Glad you had a great time ..Holidays and family time ..just perfect .Peace Jorma …Happy Holidays to you and your family
Happy Holidays Jorma to you and your family.
How was the movie, thinking about going to see it this weekend.
Enjoy
Hogan
🙂
Peace to your family, Jorma. I went against tradition as there are a lot of Indian restaurants near me.
Thanks Jorma…and peace to you and your family.
And we did the same yesterday. What else can us Jews do but eat Chinese food and go to the movies 🙂 Wonder where that tradition came from? Maybe because there was nothing else open back in the day… just a guess.