I will never forget how she described the fall of 1992, when Hurricane Iniki bore down on her hometown with 150-mile-an-hour winds, causing the fifty thousand residents to be without food, shelter, or running water for weeks. To say nothing of the years it took to repair, rebuild, and begin life anew.
She often talked about what it felt like to be clocked by a wind gust that could pick you up and throw you against an immovable object, and something called the aloha spirit, which brought people together in times of need to help you rebound.
I thought of Christine a lot in the months that followed my personal hurricane. The powerful storm that blew in from out of nowhere literally lifted me out of my existence and dumped me into an unsettling place that caused me great fear, pain, and consternation.
I remembered her saying that it took her parents a lifetime to create a comfortable home, and less than a minute to have it be destroyed. But that you were only given two choices when the storm passed. Either rebuild or die.
I knew, of course, that I had weathered my storm, and prayed that it was my last direct hit. Not that I expected to go through life unscathed. I just hoped that, having survived the maelstrom, I would never be knocked off my feet like that again.
But in the event I ever was, I would handle it, because I had learned much about fortitude. Just as my friend Christine had, watching the roof of her house pull away, and her neighbors’ possessions fly through the night sky. For life isn’t about what picks you up and throws you around. It’s about what you do after you land.
And it’s not about who made you, but who shaped you. Not about who brought you into this world, but who took you by the hand and showed you the right path. Not about where you came from, but where you chose to go from there.
Those were not just my lessons, but my grandfather Abe’s as well. A man who survived far more horrible atrocities than I, yet somehow managed to carry on without benefit of family, education, or money. Who looked right into the eye of the storm and created a life full of hope and meaning.
I don’t know if he was familiar with the aloha spirit, the coming together of a community to help others survive tragedy. But God bless his beautiful soul. It was inherent in him to have the wisdom to prevail, the desire to live, and the ability to do good deeds, so that when his time came to pass, he would leave the world a far better place.
I never got to speak to my grandfather, and for that I am eternally sorry. But I could not be more proud of his legacy and of carrying on his name and his dreams. For that is the true meaning of life. To do for your children, and your children’s children, so that one day they will do for you.
Acknowledgments
I SALUTE THE INTERNET, MY TRUSTY PERSONAL ASSISTANT. FAST, smart, no attitude, works late, and never calls in sick. But when questions arise, there is nothing like talking to an expert. Thank you Dr. Jeff Zola, Dr. Brian Kaufman, Dr. Heidi Rosenberg, south Florida real estate maven Randy Levine, actress Jody Raymond, certified financial planner Lee Rosenberg, medium and clairvoyant Lori Belché, and the late Nancy Toomer, who taught me so much about the spirit world. May she rest in peace.
I love the WWF. No, not those guys. My Women Writer Friends. Especially the wit and wisdom of my mentor, Dr. Mickey Pearlman. Christine O’Hagan is a delight: Erma Bombeck funny, and a heart of gold. And to all my Power Punch gals, I am honored to be in your midst and your club.
The journey wouldn’t be nearly as fun or rewarding without my dearest friends (in order of appearance): Judi Ratner, Deb Tomsky, Fern Drasin, Gloria Raskin, Patricia Hanley, Lenore French, Risa Sidrane, Ellen Gordon, Ellen Wolfson, Bonnie Hoffman, Sue Zola, Denise Morris, and Susan Kaufman. Thank you for the walking, talking, uplifting e-mails, and offers to buy chocolate.
I used to call my sister, Mira Temkin, the “forcer” because, as the older one, she thought rank had its privileges. But when she said I HAD to be a writer, I listened. She thinks even my grocery lists are funny (she hasn’t seen my notes to school). Thanks for the endless love, honesty, and encouragement.
My parents, Harold and Doris Hymen, and my mother-in-law, Rita Rosenberg, say and do all the right things. Not too much, not too little. They love, they support, they brag. What more could a girl want?
With my wonderful, talented editor, Lyssa Keusch, I am never at a loss for words. She is part teacher, part friend, part boss, part cheerleader. I love her sharp instincts, and her great poise under pressure. I am privileged to be in her coveted stable of Avon authors…. Would still be VP, Carpools, without Deborah Schneider, my devoted agent and friend. She knows her business, she always takes my calls, and I’ve changed her middle name to Faith. Thank you God, and some nice folks from Highland Park, Illinois, for sending her my way…. Steve Fisher, at the Agency for the Performing Arts, is my valiant warrior in the quest to get Hollywood’s attention. Couldn’t ask for a smarter, more indomitable leader of the brigade. Go Steve!
My pride and joy, Zack, Alexandra, and Taryn, keep me young, alive, and humble. Very humble. After eating my cooking, they’re just glad the doorbell works. With them I laugh, love, and endlessly enjoy. I am so blessed.
My husband, Lee, is a very accomplished businessman, but so supportive of my work, he’d do anything to help. Even the laundry (“Wait. Which one is the dryer?”). He’s the best partner. Thoughtful, generous, dedicated, and he still makes me laugh. After twenty-seven years, that’s saying a lot!
Finally, to all the wonderful readers who discovered A Little Help from Above, and loved it, you made my day by letting me know. Please continue to be my book angels, and spread the word that you found a new author you enjoy. And by all means, keep in touch via my website: www.saraleerosenberg.com.
Saralee Rosenberg
October 2004
P.S. Thank you, Jason Kaufman at Ta Da Designs ( Jason @ta-da.com), for creating my fabulous site. You are so gifted. Just glad I didn’t have to pay you by the compliment.
About the Author
Saralee Rosenberg is the author of the much-beloved novel A Little Help from Above. She lives on Long Island (where else?) with her husband and three children. Please visit her website at www.saraleerosenberg.com.
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By Saralee Rosenberg
CLAIRE VOYANT
A LITTLE HELP FROM ABOVE
Copyright
CLAIRE VOYANT. Copyright © 2004 by Saralee Rosenberg. All rights reserved under International and Pan-American Copyright Conventions. By payment of the required fees, you have been granted the non-exclusive, non-transferable right to access and read the text of this e-book on-screen. No part of this text may be reproduced, transmitted, down-loaded, decompiled, reverse engineered, or stored in or introduced into any information storage and retrieval system, in any form or by any means, whether electronic or mechanical, now known or hereinafter invented, without the express written permission of HarperCollins e-books.
EPub Edition © MARCH 2007 ISBN: 9780061870385
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Table of Contents
Cover
Title Page
Dedication
Contents
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Chapter 10
Chapter 11
Chapter 12
Chapter 13
Chapter 14
Chapter 15
Chapter 16
Chapter 17
Chapter 18
Chapter 19
Chapter 20
Chapter 21
Chapter 22
Chapter 23
Chapter 24
Chapter 25
Chapter 26
Chapter 27
Chapter 28
Chapter 29
Chapter 30
Chapter 31
Chapter 32
Chapter 33
Acknowledgments
About the Author
Other Books by Saralee Rosenberg
Copyright
About the Publisher
Claire Voyant Page 37