Carol had to work today, so she left Josie in my care. Terror, screaming, and tears followed as the door closed behind Carol. She was inconsolable. But remember...I am a psychiatrist, so, using the "mote," I turned on the TIVO to watch "Street" (Sesame Street). Instantly, the drama queen was snorting and cavorting with Ernie and Bert.

..

Rita came in at 9 AM, and was greated with great joy by us both. I used the day to visit Joel Hirschtritt, who is recovering at home from neck surgery. I stopped on the way uptown at the Second Avenue Deli for a brisket sandwich, with a side of chopped liver, some pickles, a Dr. Brown's Diet Cel-Ray and Black Cherry,  and a few rugelach. As Martha Stewart says, "It makes a lovely get well gift." He looked remarkably well for a man who was suffering more than any human being ever has on the face of the Earth (or so he told me), and Marissa was waiting on him hand and foot like a grateful lap dog. Thanks God, his appetite is unharmed.

After lunch, I walked over to meet Carol at the Jewish Museum, where the new exhibit, "Entertaining America" had just opened. This was a sensational exhibit on the main floor, brilliantly designed, about the role of Jews in the entertainment industry in the Twentieth Century. Highlights included a short film on the Marx Brothers, entited "Marxism 101." Scenes from their classic slapstick comedies are interspersed with quotes from literati who proclaim the Marx brothers to be the inheritors of Talmudic scholarship in our day. That the Marx Brothers, who took nothing seriously, should be taken so seriously by intellectuals is quite remarkable. Another corner of the room has a film about "The Cantor's Son," with clips cut and strung together from various versions over the decades, from the original "Jazz Singer," with Al Jolson, to a Polish-Yiddish version starring Moyshe Oysher, to Danny Thomas, to Neil Diamond and Sir Lawrence Olivier (making atonement for his appearance in "Marathon Man," to Jerry Lewis, and Second City TV. It was absolutely brilliant.

Of course there was Woody Allen, Mel Brooks, the various studio moguls, the Blacklist in the 50's, the writers from "The Show of Shows," and all the shows they created thereafter, and a remarkable living room, furnished with period furniture from Ethan Allan, from The Goldbergs show, complete with rhomboid television screens.

Best of all, we got in free, thanks to comps from Andy, who had a very active hand in presenting the exhibit.

We returned to the apartment, where Josie and Rita were waiting. When Rita left, there was again a scene of heartwrenching agony, cries of "Reeeeta! Reeeeeeta!," arching of back, throwing self on floor. And that was just on my part. Josie was even worse. But as soon as she was gone, and all hope was lost, Josie reverted to her playful, sunny self. What an actress!

We sent out for pizza from Two Boots and we almost slept through the night.