Tate, the youngest of my next door neighbors

Living next door to three young boys provide me with lots of laughs.  Tate, the youngest at 5, spilled a drink on my desk but failed to tell me. Ian, age 9 was sitting in the chair next to the desk also failed to tell me. They were playing a game on my electronics.  So, when I told Tate and Ian that they spilled something on my father’s desk.  As both boys were watching me clean up the mess and getting a little irritated they didn’t tell me---- Tate said “it’s a good thing he’s dead. “

I had to walk away so they wouldn’t hear me laughing.

At the boys home, they are re-doing the outside by cutting down trees (thanks for the fire wood) to install a fence for their dogs, Hoover and Joan. The fence will divide my property from the boys, but will have an entrance so we can still cut through their lawn. As I was telling Tate his parents would be installing a fence he panicked and said “how will we get to your house? “

Joan Rivers--I will always love you!

The first time I met Joan, I was five in an elevator with my parents. The elevator stopped and Joan and a friend got on. My mother told her that we were looking for Diana Ross and The Supremes (who were staying at the same hotel) and Joan said, "Forget her. She's not nice."

I didn't know who this woman was as she gave me an autograph with lots of xxxx and a smiley face on it. But my mother who watched Carson knew who she was.

The second time I was writing for a local newspaper as a entertainment reporter and she was appearing a theater in CT. I had contacted her Public Relations people and scored an interview. Then, it was announced she would be Carson's guest host replacement. I lost the interview, she didn't need the publicity, said someone for PMK. So, I did what I always do when someone says no--I wrote a letter.

I had tickets to see her twice and at the first show gave my letter to her opening act. Garry Shandling. Joan was terrific. After her standing ovation-I headed out to stage door, when over the speakers came this: Leslie Jacobs, will you please come to the backstage area.

My best friend Marianne Virtuoso was with me, as I said, "coming Mare"? "Right behind you Les."

As we entered the backstage area.  There were people from all around the state. We waited for the door to open. She came out and asked me who I was. I said Leslie Jacobs and I wanted to interview you. But, PMK said you didn't need the publicity. As I was saying this I could see Edgar and Bill her manager talking. Joan said, we'll do something nice for you...let me finish with everyone else.

After finishing with everyone, she turned to me and said come one, lets do the interview. I panicked and said--"I don't have my questions."

"I'll make it easy on you." She smiled.

Mare and I walked into the dressing room and sat at the table. She started to wait on us...what do you want to drink? Have you eaten? A typical mom. (Mare and I were in our early 20s)  The men were sitting on a couch in the large trailer like dressing room.

She talked, I scribbled notes and at the end of the interview I had finally remembered some of my questions. She signed photos for us, and asked us to "take a piece of fruit, the both of us."

Mare remembers that "She tried to give me the 6 pack pf Tab and yes all the fruit !!

 And she was SUPER sweet – I also remember she kept touching your arm throughout the interview and I thought it was sweet -- and even though I was not the one conducting the interview, she gave me the same attention as she did you"

Thank you Joan for all of the laughs.  The world is a lot dimmer without your light.