By Scott Morganroth

A year ago, the FAU Owls basketball team had a 21-11 record and were in first place in the Sun Belt Conference with a 13-3 mark. That earned them a trip to the NIT, where they would lose to the Miami Hurricanes.

What a difference a year makes. The Owls finished with an 11-19 overall mark and were tied for third place in the conference with Western Kentucky with 7-9 records.

FAU’s only chance to make it to the NCAA Tournament was to win the Sun Belt Conference Tournament in Hot Springs, Arkansas. But Arkansas State (13-19) put an end to FAU’s post-season aspirations by ousting the Owls, 70-55, Saturday Night.

Dennis Mavin led the 8th-seeded Owls with 12 points and Shavar Richardson had 11. FAU finished the season with a five-game losing streak. This was the last game for Richardson and his fellow senior Alex Tucker.

Richardson finished his career with 1,018 points, which is 9th in FAU history, while Tucker leaves as the all-time leader in assists with 538, which is also good for 7th all-time in Sun Belt Conference history.

FAU Coach Mike Jarvis’ career record at FAU stands at 52-71, while he is 371-273 overall.

After the Owls blew a double-digit lead to the Troy Trojans and lost an 83-82 decision, he had some critical comments about the way the season has gone, especially after the high expectations following last year.

“We’re still not ready to win and we may not be again this year,” Jarvis said. “This team should have been better, has the ability to win games and the games we lost were mostly mental. We haven’t played as hard as we can for 40 minutes all year. Until we do, we don’t deserve to win.

“We’re talented enough. I love my guys. They’re mature, but my children are not hungry enough like most teams in America.

“Last year’s team was much hungrier and this team lacks hunger. Lots of teams will go into their conference tournament, hoping the fairy godmother will get them to the NCAA Tournament.”

The players will be watching the NCAA Tournament like the rest of us on their couches or at sports bars.

During the Owls final home game against Troy, former FAU Baseball Coach Kevin Cooney was honored as the newest member into the School’s Sports Hall of Fame.

With basketball season over, this hasn’t been a good year for Men’s Producing Revenue Sports, as the football team finished with a 1-11 mark. In addition, the basketball squad reported an  underachieving year at 11-19.

Scott Morganroth can be reached at www.scottsports33.com.

DEERFIELD BEACH

March 4  A man entered Brazilian Depot at 700 SW 10 St. and demanded that a group of people there get on the ground. Victims reported the man had a gun. One victim got up and was struck by the suspect with the gun. The man then pulled the trigger of the gun and it sounded like a toy gun. Victims then got up and pushed the man out the door. The man fled and left the gun, which turned out to be a BB gun.

March 4 Two women were observed shoplifting clothing and shoes and placing the items in their purses at Super Target at 3599 W. Hillsboro Blvd. They were each issued a Notice to Appear in Court.

March 4 A woman reported that someone smashed out the driver’s door window of her car parked at 3001 Country Club Blvd. and stole a purse containing $200, a driver’s license, Social Security card, credit cards and a wallet.

March 4 A man reported his car stolen from 509 NW 36 Ave.

March 2 A man reported that a man approached him with a handgun and demanded his wallet. Victim complied and gave him the wallet with credit cards, identification and $150. Incident took place at 405 SW 13 Place.

March 2 A woman reported her car parked at 4550 NW 18 Ave. entered and between $10 and $15 worth of coins stolen.

March 2 A man reported his motorcycle stolen from 150 NW 42 Court.

March 1 Two men were arrested and charged with burglarizing a home at 1061 SW 7 Ave. and stealing $300 worth of property.

DEERFIELD — District 4

March 1 Loitering arrest was made in Riverglen, near 4500 NW 1 Place at 12:27 a.m. Deputy observed subjects walking into residential neighborhood, and, upon making contact, both subjects attempted to flee on foot. Subjects were apprehended and arrested for loitering and prowling. Post Miranda warning, subjects could not dispel that they were there to commit, or may have already committed a crime. Detective responded for interviews. Subjects live out of city and have extensive pasts for robbery, burglary and grand theft auto.

*If you notice unusual or suspicious activity in your neighborhood, call 911.

LIGHTHOUSE POINT

Feb. 2 A woman reported her car parked at 4500 N. Federal Hwy. entered and rummaged. She said that a back pack with clothing was taken.

To change [or not change] the date  of next Deerfield election

Dear Editor:

Time is of the essence. Some member of the commission has to step up to schedule a vote in the upcoming city election. Right now, the mayor and the commissioners from Districts 3 and 4 have to run for re-election on March 13, 2013 at a cost of $67,000.

The commission has the authority to make a change in that date. They can call for the election to take place on Nov. 6, 2012. This is the same date on which the voters will be electing a president. This change would cost the city in the neighborhood of $20,000 or less. The city would save almost $50,000 and would also see a greater number of city voters than we have seen in the past.

Although there are 42,000 registered voters in Deerfield Beach, fewer than 6,000 voted in the last city election. This hardly makes for representative government.

I plan to put the proposition of the date change to the commission at the meeting on March 6.

It will be interesting to see whether the commission takes some positive action. I do believe that if they do not take the opportunity to save $50,000 and have a greater proportion of voter participation, their lack of concern will surface at the next election.

Steve Krevoy

Deerfield Beach

Deerfield — part of Boca?

Dear Editor:

I enjoy reading Mr. Eller [the publisher’s] History of Deerfield. My great grandfather, Tom Bennett, purchased a plat of land at auction in Deerfield in 1927.

During a land search, it was discovered that this section of Deerfield was once considered Boca Raton. Will you please share the history of North Deerfield and PLEASE include the history of the bridge that once connected North Deerfield with Boca Raton?

Pamela Johnson

Deerfield Beach

Publishers note: Thanks Pamela for your letter. As you mention, Deerfield used to be part of Palm Beach County before Broward County existed. To get the complete story, go to www.broward.org/library/history and click on “A short history of Broward County.”

Extra “Thank you” from Founders’ Days

Dear Editor:

Last week, the Observer printed a “thank you” letter from the Deerfield Beach Founders’ Days Committee that listed the festival’s 2012 sponsors. We did wish to thank JM Lexus, which provided vehicles for our parade.

Yet in error, we left out a very important sponsor, JM Family, which not only contributed to the 2012 festival, but also supports many worthy causes throughout our community.

So, at this time, we wish to thank JM Family for their generous sponsorship and financial support.

Thank you,

Founders’ Days Committee

Deerfield Beach

Festival of the Arts Boca

Thursday, March 8 to Sunday, March 18

Mizner Park, 327 Plaza Real, Boca Raton, FL 33432

Classical concerts, intellectual talks and more will be presented in the amphitheater and cultural center. To see full schedule, visit http://festivaloftheartsboca.org.

105th anniversary celebration of Hillsboro Lighthouse

Saturday, March 10, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Hillsboro Inlet Park, 2700 N. Ocean Blvd., Pompano Beach, FL 33062

FREE event, Unveiling of Barefoot Mailman statue, debut of museum, cake, music and food. Lighthouse closed for repairs. Transportation to lighthouse grounds is by boat at $15 per person, or FREE to HLPS members.

www.hillsborolighthouse.org/tours.html.

Renaissance Festival Final weekend:

Saturday, March 10 & Sunday, March 11, 10 a.m. to sunset

Quiet Waters Park, 401 S. Powerline Rd., Deerfield Beach, FL 33442

This weekend is Arms and Armor Weekend, but all the regular vendors and entertainment await! For more information, call 954-360-1315 or visit www.ren-fest.com.

Beach clean-up

Sunday, March 11, 9 a.m.

First Presbyterian Church, 2331 NE 26 Ave., Pompano Beach Fl. 33062

Meeting at church and heading to beach (North Ocean Park). Don’t miss bake sale at church on March 18!
954-941-2308.

Meet Deerfield at Green Market!

Sunday, March 11, 8 a.m. to 1 p.m.

The Cove Shopping Center, 1580 SE 3 Court , Deerfield Beach, FL 33441

Meet city officials, police and firefighters, and many of the city’s nonprofit organizations. Casual meet-and-greet amid fresh produce, baked goods and specialty  food items. 954-592-3150. www.DeerfieldBeachGreenMarket.com.

Deerfield Beach Democratic Club meets

Monday, March 12, noon

Century Village, Le Club, 3501 W. Dr., Deerfield Beach, FL 33442

Meetings will be held at LeClub in Century Village at noon from now on. FREE lunch to all who have paid their dues. Appraiser Lori Parrish will speak.

Pompano Beach Garden Club meets

Monday, March 12, 12:30 p.m.

Emma Lou Olson Civic Center, 1801 NE 6 St., Pompano Beach, FL 33060

Commercial grower Bryan Patterson will speak on “Heirloom Vegetables Grown in Hydroponic & Container Systems.” Open to public. Refreshments served. 954-943-2699.

Women’s Club fashion show

Tuesday, March 13, 1 p.m.

910 E. Hillsboro Blvd., Deerfield Beach, FL 33441

FREE fashion show showcasing Bealls’ Fashions, following a short business meeting. Public  welcome. Dessert will be served.

AAUW author presentation & luncheon

Saturday, March 17, 11:30 a.m.

Lighthouse Point Yacht Club, 2701 NE 42 St., Lighthouse Point, FL 33064

Join the American Association of University Women (AAUW) Pompano Beach branch at their annual scholarship fundraiser, featuring book talk by author Joanna Campbell Slan. Silent auction. $38. 954-675-9249.

Wednesday evening, March 7, is the eve of The Festival of Purim. Purim is a very colorful holiday. Children, and adults, are known to dress up in costumes that make the Temple a rainbow of colors.

Colors can be found in the Bible. For instance, I just mentioned the rainbow … G-d’s sign that he would never destroy the earth by flood again … and, need I remind you that the flood showed no preference to one color over another.

Then, there was Joseph and his multi-colored coat and last, but not least, there was the High Priest who wore a breastplate that had stones of 12 different colors on it.

Why a multi-colored coat? Why stones of 12 different colors? According to many historians, a multi-colored coat was a sign of leadership. Who was Joseph supposed to rule over? His brothers … not just one brother, but all of his brothers. And that multi-colored coat should have served as a constant reminder that he needed to keep each and every one of them in mind when he made a decision, as each of his brother’s needs were different.

Why stones of 12 different colors on the breastplate of the High Priest? How many tribes of Israel are there? That’s right, 12, so this was to serve as a constant reminder that he was tending not just to this tribe, but to the entire House of Israel, a house with different wants and needs. But the High Priest was responsible for serving them all.

Have you looked at the American Flag lately? Take a look at it. It is truly a sight to behold. Notice that it has three different colors on it. That’s right, Old Glory isn’t just red. Old Glory isn’t just blue. Old Glory isn’t just white. Old Glory is red, white and blue.

If you look closer, you will see that there is more of one color used in the flag than the others, but that is not to send a message that one group, one color, or one political party should be favored. No, let those colors remind each of us and each of our duly elected officials that America is a Melting Pot of the red, white and blue … and, we need to listen to each other. We need to work together, not just for our own sake, not just for our party’s sake, but for all the inhabitants thereof.

I remember a song lyric that my mother of blessed memory taught me many years ago. It was The Color Song and it asked what G-d’s favorite color was. I have never forgotten it, and I think it is a message that all of us need to remember with all the political campaigning we are being bombarded with because, my dear readers, God’s favorite color, despite what some candidate might tell you, isn’t red or blue. G-d’s favorite color is the color of Love!

Shalom my friends,

Rabbi Craig H. Ezring

Rabbi Ezring is a member of the National Association of Jewish Chaplains and serves in this capacity in a number of Health Care settings in the area including Advocate Home Care Services and L’Chayim Jewish Hospice in Partnership with Catholic Hospice of Broward County.

Bai roll – tuna, avacado & more / Asian pear martini

By Becki Coffy

There is something very special about sharing an evening out alone with one of your grown children. It’s a time to relax, catch up and enjoy each other again. I had the pleasure of dining out with my son, Tim, last week.

Since he is an ardent devotee of sushi and I am a novice eager to learn how to fully appreciate this delicate style of food, he chose the Heart Rock Sushi restaurant in Lighthouse Point to further my education.

Although this eatery has only been open for nine months, the owner, Ann Yamusenor, and her son, Moose, are no strangers to the business. Their Heart Rock Sushi restaurant in Ft. Lauderdale has been open for 20 years.

Moose was responsible for designing the menu style and the interior space of the Lighthouse Point establishment while Ann, head chef for the restaurant, was responsible for creating the extensive menu choices.

The ambience is one of total tranquility. Soft lighting, earth tones in shades of cream leather, brown flat rock and green plants instantly transform you to a relaxed state of being. The beauty of the space only added to the wonderful experience of the evening.

Since the menu is so wide-ranging, we decided to rely on the advice of the Chef, Ann, and allow her to make some selections for us. Our waiter, Faizal, was a wonderful guide for the evening and explained the dishes completely.

We began our journey with an incredible icy cold Asian pear martini made with fresh fruit and lemon peel. The clean subtle flavor of this unusual cocktail was delightful. You really must try this when you visit.

The shrimp dumpling appetizer, filled with a rich center and deep fried to a golden crispness, was an explosion of flavor … crisp, yet light. I found myself going back for more and more, and it will definitely be a staple on my next visit.

Next, Faizal served us the Bai roll that was filled with tuna, kani, roe, avocado and scallions all rolled in a thin slice of crunchy cucumber, topped with sesame seeds and served with a miso sauce, a wonderful start to my newly-found appreciation of sushi.

For our main entrée, we chose the grouper lightly-breaded and finished in rich, velvet smooth lemon butter sauce with the slightest hint of heat. The fish literally melted in your mouth.

We also shared a dish of Pad Thai shrimp served with stir-fry noodles, egg, bean sprouts, scallions and topped with crushed peanuts. The large shrimp were cooked to perfection and the crushed peanuts added the flavor punch that made the dish irresistible.

Finally, Faizal brought us something called the ‘first love lover’ roll. This dish was an enigma. It consisted of hot shrimp tempura, cool eel and cucumber wrapped in white rice, topped with fresh tuna and sprinkled with roe and crunchy tempura flakes. It was served with fresh ginger, wasabi, a spicy mayo and eel sauce. I finally realized what I had been missing all this time.

Just when we thought we couldn’t devour another bite, Chef Ann brought over their fried banana dessert. The creamy banana concoction was deep fried in a delicate spring roll and served warm with green tea and coconut ice cream, whipped cream and drizzled with chocolate sauce. It was a little glimpse of nirvana.

The Heart Rock Sushi Japanese Restaurant is located at 4460 N. Federal Hwy. in Lighthouse Point. Reservations can be made at 954-532-1763.

Not only is the atmosphere delightful and the food delicious, but The Heart Rock Sushi offers a happy hour daily from 3 to 7 p.m. that is not to be missed. Drinks and sushi rolls for $5 and entrees for $7 are all included in the happy hour.

What a great place to unwind and relax after a day at work or to treat friends and family to something really special! Put this one on your bucket list, you will be so glad you did. Until we eat again…

Since our family, the Eller family, has lived in Deerfield Beach since 1923, I’ve often been asked to put in writing some of the history of the area, either experienced personally, or that I heard from my parents or grandparents. For some of you old timers who might be worried about certain old “scandals,” don’t worry. I won’t be writing about those (smile).

– David Eller, Publisher

How we went from two employees to several hundred

-The new beginning-

For five years, from September of 1959 through April of 1964 when I graduated from the University of Florida College of Engineering in Gainesville, I was a full time student. It required 164 credit hours in order to graduate back then, which by taking 16 course hours per semester could be done normally in five years, which I did.

PRIZE PUMP, 1964 — David Eller is awarded first prize in the Engineer’s Fair at the University of Florida, Gainesville, for this irrigation pump, which he built himself. It handles 200 gallons per minute. David, the son of Mr. and Mrs. Marlin Eller and a graduate of Pompano Beach Senior High, where he served as president of the Student Council, has a major in Ag-Engineering at Gainsville and made the dean’s list for the fall term. This is his senior year.

Unlike many of today’s students I graduated with no debt and paid for my college by receiving $40 per week from my parents; and I earned a few dollars a month playing my guitar at fraternity parties and doing machine work in the University Research Departments.

During my five years at college, I had made a lot of good friends from foreign countries like Sweden, Germany and France, who invited me to visit them after graduation. My parents weren’t too enthusiastic about the idea, but my mother had a dear friend from Pennsylvania, Elsie Dimmick, who wintered in our neighborhood in Deerfield every year.

I always enjoyed talking to her because she and her late husband had lived all over the world; he had been an engineer building steel mills. We affectionately called her Aunt Elsie. A few weeks before I graduated from college, she invited me over and gave me a check for $500 as a graduation present, which she suggested I should use to visit those friends I had made in college. I accepted, of course, and used the last few weeks of my college days planning visits to my foreign friends.

Back in the ‘60s, a new book had come out about traveling in Europe on $5 per day by using special train passes and staying in hostels easy to locate at every train station. So I set out to prove the book true.

I departed the day after graduating from the U of F and headed for Sweden, where I spent the next several weeks visiting my college girlfriend and her family and learning a little Swedish. Then, I was on to Germany and France for a few weeks before heading home, just before running out of money.

My parents, especially my dad, were extremely happy to receive me the July 1964 weekend I arrived back home.

On Monday morning, I got up early and dressed myself in dress slacks, a white shirt and tie to look the way I thought graduate engineers are supposed to look. When I walked into our “shop” next door to our house on Dixie Highway a block north of the Hillsboro River bridge that morning, I was surprised that no one was there, only my dad sitting in his office alone up front.

I looked around, then stepped into his office and said “Where’s Joe (our longtime welding foreman)? Where’s Horace (our longtime machine shop foreman)? Dad sitting at his desk reviewing bills looked up (looking sad) and said “I had to lay them off a few weeks ago. We have no jobs. No pump orders. I couldn’t afford to keep them.”

I remember a queasy feeling in my stomach. Then Dad said, “Go get out of those church clothes you’re wearing and get your machine shop clothes on. We’ve got a couple of lathe jobs to do for the Deerfield Rock Company and a drive shaft repair for Vrachota trucking. You change clothes and do those jobs while I go out to the Range Line (State Road 7) and visit some farmers and see if I can sell a pump or something.”

As dad was getting up to leave, I stupidly said, “Dad, how much am I going to get paid?” (Knowing my engineering buddies were getting on average of about $200 per week.) Dad stopped in his tracks and motioned me into his office. He pointed to a stack of bills on his desk that he had been looking over. There was a tape on top that read about $10,000. Dad said, “See that tape?” I said, ‘’Yes.’’ He said, “That’s how much we owe. Now, look in the checkbook.” I did. The balance in our bank read a little over $200. “So Son,” he continued, “we’ll try to pay you the $40 per week I’ve been sending you. And, as you can see, I’m only paying myself $75/week.”

Then he looked at me with a strong stare and said, “I’ve been holding on, waiting for you to get home. Now let’s get to work!” We did, and the rest is history.

David Eller

Deerfield Beach coach Kenny Brown shouts instructions to his team during the regional quarterfinal victory over Miramar. Photo By Gary Curreri

By Gary Curreri

Melvin Randall is hoping to add another milestone to an already successful season following Blanche Ely’s 75-58 victory over host Atlantic in the Class 7A regional final on Saturday.

Reserves Kahlil Thomas and Dallas Cameron filled in for three starters in foul trouble and helped the state’s top-ranked Tigers (28-2) advance to Lakeland for the first time since winning it all with (now Florida guard) Kenny Boynton Jr. in the 2006-07 season.

“Our bench was a big help [Saturday night],” said Randall, who has won three state championships (two with Deerfield Beach and one with Ely) and earlier this season won his 400th career game. “They stepped up to the plate. My starters were in foul trouble. Kahlil made some key steals and dunks and turned the momentum around. After that, we never looked back.”

With Tigers’ 6-6 forward Clide Geffrard and two other starters mired in foul trouble, Thomas provided a spark off the bench with 10 points, eight rebounds and three steals, and Cameron added 10 points and six assists for the Tigers, who are ranked 19th in the country by ESPN FAB 50.

Ely advanced to the Class 7A state semifinals in Lakeland on Friday against St. Petersburg, which upset No. 4 Martin County 77-76.

Anterio Smith led Ely with 18 points. Benji Bell had 12 points and Geffrard finished with seven points and 10 rebounds in limited minutes.

Randall, a 1981 South Plantation High School grad, who went to Mercer University, said he knew his team was going to be a force this season.

“We have a pretty good group of young men,” Randall said. “I have had them for a couple of years. Over the summer, we played the AAU circuit. A lot of the coaches were surprised when I told them this was my high school team and not from different high schools. They were very impressed that we were extremely competitive. We went out to Dallas and finished eighth out of 64 teams in July.”

Randall believes his team has a chance to win state. Losing in the first round of Districts last year has galvanized the team.

“It is going to take some hard work,” Randall said.

“It is not easy when they get between those black lines on the court. I think losing last year helped us. It wasn’t a great feeling. I didn’t like it. I personally didn’t know how to react to it because it had never happened to me, but I know what it did to me — motivate me to work that much harder in preparing them to get a great experience.”

Bucks fall in regional final

Deerfield Beach High School came up short in its bid for a Class 8A state final four berth when it dropped a 67-61 decision to visiting Spanish River on Saturday.

“It was a lack of execution,” said Deerfield Beach coach Kenny Brown. “We just missed a lot of easy shots in the first and second half, but you had two really good teams playing a well-played game. We just came up short.”

By Dave Montalbano

AdventuresOfCinemaDave.com

Thirty two years ago, bad boy Dustin Hoffman accepted his first Oscar for Kramer vs. Kramer on behalf of all actors.

Being a Dillard School of Performing Arts acting student, I thanked Dustin in the journal we were required to write to my teacher, Mary Helen Rassi.

The next day in class, Ms. Rassi acknowledged Dustin’s passionate speech. However, she focused on several Broadway performers who thought they “had it made” when they were featured on A Chorus Line. When their careers did not evolve, some of these performers suffered nervous breakdowns and turned to substance abuse. To quote my mentor from this day, April 15, 1980:

“It is important to be successful, but it is even more important to know your own success.”

Those words have been a comfort to me, given my inability to win an Oscar in the past 32 years.

After reviewing my experiences in the entertainment fields, I’ve realized that much of the glitz and glamour are synthetic by-products.

My joy has been creating the actual product, whether writing, directing, producing, acting or research-and-development. My Dad taught this value to me.

During my “unemployment years,” I was getting frustrated watching some unscrupulous people succeed in the entertainment and educational fields. At my brother’s request, I went to house-sit, which lasted six months with no television. The highlight was working with my dad for several weeks.

We did simple repairs, upping the value of the house by $10,000. He reminded me of the carpenter’s motto, “Measure twice, cut once” and that there are no shortcuts to success.

Since that time, I have been blessed with steady income and many conversations with my parents.

Starting in his 70s, my dad became a master model boat builder, the culmination of his craft, talent and experience over the years, with a mindset rivaling the likes of Michelangelo and Da Vinci.

Coverage of the Oscars seemed to focus more on the red carpet and less on the artistic success of The Artist and Hugo, which reminded me of Mrs. Rassi’s words from 32 years ago.

On the other hand, my dad has been happily married for 65 years, raised three kids with master’s degrees, mentors his five grandchildren and quietly turned 90 this week.

My Dad has lived by example and I love him for that.

By Emily Rosen

ERosen424@aol.com

www.emilyrosen424.com

When did it happen, this new awareness of fragility, vulnerability, mortality? When did I start being conscious of every step I take, begin refusing to take physical risks? When did I first step into the shower holding onto the rails, and exiting with “Be careful, step slowly, you don’t want to slip and fall,” echoing in my ears.

When did I give up the idea of someday (in some cases, again) bungee jumping, hang gliding, zip lining, jumping out of an airplane, serious skiing, white water rafting, hot air ballooning, mountain climbing?

When did I first mount my bike with the conscious thought of not falling? And when did I decide not to ride without a helmet? When did I become obsessed with daily exercises? And when I did begin to look forward to a just-staying-home day?

When did I first ban bread and cake from my refrigerator? When did I begin to check labels for high fructose corn syrup and sodium?

When did I begin to accept sickness and death without a feeling of devastating sadness and injustice?

When did I first stop caring about who won the Oscars, the World Series, The Super Bowl, the NBA title? When did I first recognize that I could live without a lot of the goodies I was living with, but that I couldn’t live without reading? When did I first acknowledge my addiction to my computer?

When did I first admit to myself that I have outgrown certain people and that there are some relationships that need not be continued? When did I stop caring what other people think? When did I learn how to balance the needs of loved ones with my own? When did I learn that compromise is not a dirty word and that there is no living without it? When did I learn that aging has nothing to do with numbers?

When did I learn to love a good debate with rational people whose political views are different ? When did I accept that my own views can be altered?

When did I first learn to accept that marriage has highs and lows? When did I learn that adult children are responsible for themselves and that letting go of 18 years of nurturing and hovering is not easy, but is – eventually – freeing?

And when did I accept that I may be a good writer – but that I am not great, nor is my writing destined for immortality?

When did I first know – REALLY know – that learning to have realistic expectations is a life-saver and that hanging on to merely reasonable ones end in disappointment, hurt, anger, rage and often irrational behaviors … and that learning to recognize the difference is better than all the PhDs in the world?

And when did I become so smart?