IT IS ME LESLIE....

If you don't me, I will tell you something soon:
My name is Leslie, I was born under the full moon.
I was born..study..married..and have a distinguished family:
Vera, George, Joanie, Gregory, Alex and a charming Jaclyn Emily.

I am just an ordinary man,
Try to be busy as much as I can.

I am not a rich person, don't call myself wealthy
The only thing I want to be: very, very healthy.

Don't try to analize me, don't wast your time.
On a scale of a new dollar, I worth maybe an old dime.

Even if you look hard, won't find my name in the library...
Quietly, I did my share of life, never been a celebrity.
You can ask me anything, except for my hard-earned money,
But if you need, I can give you milk, bread, or sweet honey.

When the time comes and I will this globe, who will miss me?
Somebody will look around and will ask: "Where is Leslie?"

Give me a short call, when you just read this letter,
I will be greatful to you and for a few days, I will better.

(Now you know me as Leslie Vertes. The date is 1997)

MOTHERS DAY, EVERY DAY.

I REMEMBER MY MOTHER.


A simple women, a good wife, she was a good mother.
Not having an easy life, like many, many other.
Good life she didn't have, tears were plenty,
But with good children her life never was empty.

To give good advice, to learn better manner,
Organize my closet, put everything in order...
She wanted me to look up, forward, to have good friend,
Not to follow the faulty ones, she said: "Backward you never bend!"

I REMEMBER MY MOTHER.

She was worried watching my first bicycle try
And when I fell, hurting myself, she was the one to cry.
Watching the clock when I came home late,
Worried, afraid, but she had in me lots of fate.

When I was in the hospital to take out my tonsils,
I couldn't talk to her, had to use papers and pencils,
But she made my favorite food, cooked the very best dishes
For her only son, me, to get better. That was her wishes.

I REMEMBER MY MOTHER.

She never was sick, always ready to clean, to cook,
One of her pleasures she had: reading a good book.
For my sister and me clothing had to fix,
Working, loving her children, it was a healthy mix.

My returning from gulag, she was far away, and sad,
Her heart was pulling both ways...this was very bad!
She moved to new promising land, with a flag BLUE and WHITE,
To work even harder, facing the future with little, little light.

I REMEMBER MY MOTHER.

My mother and me, we lived far apart for many years,
She never complained, holding back the painful tears.
Missing a husband, a son, good friends...she just hoped for the best.
And always worried for the family...she did not give her heart a rest.

I had to cut my vacation trip to fly to Israel,
Can not say good bye to her, just attend her burial.
The ground is dry now, she is resting forever.
Can't call me: "My dear son" anymore. Never.

I REMEMBER MY MOTHER.

To remember her, I feel happy with a smile,
And understanding her, it took me for a while.
Her life was not wasted, but I can't write to her a letter...
But when I think of her with love, I feel much better.

YES! I REMEMBER MY MOTHER!

(I did write this composition for Mother's Day and every day). Leslie Vertes.

SAN DIEGO TRIP AND WEDDING

We missed our connecting flight in Los Angeles, but arrived in time to celebrate our darling friend Marianne Carr's birthday in a Mexican Restaurant, downtown San Diego. As you in the picture we had a very good time and the cake was very good. She received some card, but the best gift was for her: after the wedding of Stephanie and Jeffrey she will have not two, but four wonderful children.
The next day we attend in the "Rehearsal Party" given by Jim and Marianne, in the best hotel in La Jolla, the La Valencia Hotel, on the Ocean. The guests were greeted and served in the elegant way. With the piano player in the background, we listen to good wishes, greetings from the Carr and from the Marsh family. After their request I made a short speech too, telling to the the future husband and wife, how God made a master piece when created Stephanie. "You will travel a life-long road together, calls Mr. and Mrs. Veltri Boulevard. Some part will be a little bumpy, some will be rough, but with love, understanding, appreciation, respect and compromise you will have happy family road to enjoy. This is my wish!"

The wedding ceremony and the reception was in the US GRANT HOTEL with 150 very elegant guests. Stephanie and Jeffrey promise each other the best of love forever, and they kissed each other first time as Mr. and Mrs Veltri! The Crystal Ballroom was decorated very lavishly, smartly arranged centerpieces, and strings of glass "diamond" pieces from the high flowers. The seven pieces of orchestra with an active wedding singer gave a non-stop music and the dancers filled the floor.

After some short greetings from the Carrs and from the Marshes the tasty dinner were served.

The ladies were mostly in elegant black or colourful dresses or gowns. Marianne, the happy mother has a dark chocolate colour highly elegant gown, as you see in the pictures.

The next day, Sunday, part of the wedding was a breakfast in the garden of Kathy and David Marsh's beutiful house in La Jolla. Everybody was very happy with the nice setting, the perfect weather and with the lots of tasty food. From here the young couple left for a short honeymoon to Hawaii.

NOBODY EVER WILL FORGET THIS WEDDING AND THE DARLING MR. AND MRS.

We did some sightseeing before and after the wedding. Walk and eat in the Horton Plaza, across the street from the our hotel. Took an all day city tour with the Old Trolley. Stopping in a few places, like Old Town San Diego, in the Hotel Coronado and spent long time in the MIDWAY aircraft cerrier museum. It was very interesting to see many of the old, retired fighters, listen to stories from ex-pilots. Spent a day in the BALBOA GARDEN to see the Sandiego Museum of Art and the Tinkem Museum too. It was our pleasure to see many beutiful paintings, statues, and other pieces of art. We walk inside and outside of the Garden too.

Our good friend Marianne took as to La Jolla city, we eat lunch, we walk, we enjoyed the ocean side caves, birds, and the hungry seals.

Judy and Nathan Laufer, old darling friends took us aroung the Coronado Island, walk on the "boardwalk", eat and talk in a nice restaurant. Than they showed us their beautiful home, a condo in one of the luxury building. The view was fantastic, to the city, to ocean. The apartment is furnished, equipped in the latest fashion, with a very modern kitchen. Walking on the special carpet was a suprise, like walking on the waves!

Our trip in San Diego was very special and we were very happy there!!!!!

Equitas

The EQUITAS is a Montreal-born human right organization, and runs a program called International Human Rights Training Program to train and educate human rights workers

from around the world.

In 2009 the closing convention was held in June 21. Amy Cooper was the main organizer with

the help of Emanuelle and Bruni from the Montreal Holocaust

Memorial Centre. They came from 57 different countries, and very

different cultures. Many of them from French speaking countries.

This year I have the following activist:
Claudia Kravetz from Chile
Marie Christian from Canada
Ana Zarraga of Venezuela (the picture on the right)
Tharwat Aalama from Egypt
Sao Sotheary came from Sri Lanka

George Gabisonia from Georgia

Esther Njomo Oman from Cameroon (in the picture in the middle).

I gave my testimony around the table during lunch and we

have a long discussion, questions before the closing speeches,

and than some of the activist told how they educate and fight for human right in their own country.

It was a very important and successful day.

In the foot note: last year I was talking to activist from Tanzania, Indonesia, Pakistan, Thailand, Ecuador and Uganda.

Voulnteers in the MHMC

May 12, 2009 the Montreal Holocaust Memorial Centre honored all the volunteers with wine and some food. Alice welcomed all the volunteers and said a big "THANK YOU" for the important work they do to educate the general public, mostly students from different schools . " The volunteers are the heart of the Centre.

The dedicated and hard working staff, every one of them, doing a great job to help the volunteers.

The new MHMC new website was introduced by the charming and active Manuella, and explained how to use it, how to inform everybody about the website. It is very important not only for the students, but the teachers too. With the help of Juli, Bruni and Laurel the event was very interesting and succesful.

Florida 2009

Winter in Florida 2009.

We spent 3 months in Hallandale Beach, in the Parker Plaza to have warm weather, sun and fun, and beach, and lots of walk. We had lots of sun, but with lots of wind too, and many cold days to heat the apartment. Yes, we did lots of walk in the Waterway (see pictures) and in the Aventure shopping Mall (see pictures). Swimming in the pool? Leslie five times, Vera only once. In the ocean? Yes, Leslie did for 15 minutes in the LAST day before going home. Shopping was easy, the prices were good for shoes, pants, grocery and gasoline. The best part was when George and Joanie with Alex came for a few days and later Jaclyn too. We had a good few hours with them, see the picture in the restaurant. They did lots of shopping, besige George was sick the whole time. It was a short, but nice visit.

When went to see a few good movies, and had a good time with our very good friends Marianne and Jim Carr. We walk with them, eat with them in the good restaurant and in their home.

Nothing changed in Vera's condition, beside we eat well, but the wind, or the humidity was not very good for her.

One thing for sure, we had better time in Florida, than being in the cold, snowy, windy Montreal.

Is it cost too much? Yes, we spent a few dollars there.