Scene Around Again?

Readers remember well the beloved writer Gloria Yousha who related thousands of stories in her column “Scene Around.” Nearly three years since her passing, the community greatly misses Gloria and how she shared so many different insights and experiences with us. A wonderful article about Gloria was written by Heritage editor Christine DeSouza and published on Dec. 9, 2022. Christine’s tribute column/obit earned a first-place award from the Florida Press Association!

There has been talk of introducing a new column that would tackle many of the same types of stories and would also be an ongoing tribute to Gloria. But who would write the column? Who would be willing and able to come up with stories and jokes and tidbits of interest and timely information? Who has the enthusiasm and the energy to get out and circulate and to find new material to write about each week? How amazing that Gloria was able to do all that! We may need a rotating group of contributors.

I’ve been wondering what it would be like to write such a column. It would require dining out at many different eateries. Okay, that’s a possibility. My wife, the adventurous eater, would be quite happy to join me; and I’d likely find grilled chicken, hamburger, and mashed potatoes almost anywhere. Or maybe I’d actually be daring and order salmon or another healthy item. In fact, I did recently eat some grilled asparagus! But broccoli? No way!

One would need to be reasonably polite and dignified when out.

I’d have to minimize my complaints about loud or otherwise annoying music. What about novel solutions when no one will lower the volume? There’s an app called “TouchTunes” for use at restaurants and bars that have jukeboxes. You can pick your own music from thousands of selections. Or I could use my phone to drown out the offensive stuff. Yes — my iTunes playlist of classical music!

What about seating problems? Sometimes, even in the largest of restaurants, the host will try to put everyone in the same section and as close together as possible. That means lots of noise and maybe being next to a table with screaming children who are unsupervised. I recall a lady who asked a mother to please be considerate of other diners and to discipline her unruly children. Oh, the stream of profanities unleashed by mommy dearest! Management had to call the police when physical violence against the other patron was threatened by the parent. She wasn’t the typical sweet and warm-hearted Southern church lady. Someone suggested a slight change in the restaurant’s name to “Barrel of Crackers.”  

Possible solution: If my seating request is denied I could wait until my food order is taken and then get up and move to a different table. If only I could do like my father did many years ago: Dad would grease the palm of the maitre d with a five-dollar bill or a 10 spot and get to sit wherever he chose.

I’d have to be a bit more circumspect. After all, even in anonymity, I’d be representing the newspaper. Let’s consider the time a couple had their dog sitting next to them in the booth. They were feeding Fluffy an order of chicken nuggets right out of the dish. As your writer I might have to refrain from snapping a photo of the cute but outrageous behavior.

Bad service? I could still be myself. Like the time I was out with a group and after numerous unfulfilled requests had to take innovative action. That was when I picked up my phone and called the restaurant. “Good evening! Clermont Outback Steakhouse. How can I help you?”  “Hello. Would you please send some Heinz 57 steak sauce to table 32?”  

Besides the menu, service, and ambiance you might want to know about the people. Who did I see? What happened? Who was Florence Henderson flirting with at the Carnegie Delicatessen? How many seders did Michael Savage come to at The Boca Raton Resort? And let’s move on to a variety of events. What did comedian Robert Klein say to me backstage? At whose wedding did my wife and I dance next to Scarlett Johansson and talk with Emma Stone? How did I get a personal audience with world famous Rabbi Henry Sobel in Brazil? What band was I invited to sing with while vacationing in Seattle, Washington?

Here’s a memory I’ve shared with audiences: As a young boy I lived across the street, in Philadelphia, from a sister of singer Eddie Fisher. Some of the residents got advance notice of his visits and we’d be outside awaiting his arrival. One year a limousine came down the block and there they were — Eddie and his lovely wife Debbie Reynolds. One year later … another limousine — Eddie and his new wife Elizabeth Taylor! 

I’d love to help keep Gloria’s memory alive through a column such as “Scene Around Again.” I could talk about my experiences. My wife and I try to get out together very often. She does her own things, of course: Mahjong, community choruses, lunch with her friends. But she’d love to enjoy more of what Central Florida has to offer and there is plenty. Readers would get two viewpoints about food, shows, and events. They could make suggestions about what to cover. At times there have been some people who would like to tell me where to go. Ahem. Be nice! And I’ll give it my best. Thanks for listening.