Home for the Holidays
We Were the Lucky Ones, China Café, Herman's Hermits, Jalen Duren, Ho Ho Hoses
Welcome to my 169th weekly newsletter. This issue includes five moments with our four grandchildren over the holidays, a remarkable work of historical fiction, a local high-end Chinese bistro, a popular British Invasion band, the Pistons’ center who is an emerging star, and winter watering. I hope you like the picks and pics.
We were blessed to have our entire family with us at Christmas this year. Normally we are in California at this time, but Tracy wanted her kids to see the home she grew up in and to experience winter for the first time. Most of the ten inches of snow that fell in December had melted by the time they arrived, but there was still enough left for Julian and Noah to throw a few snowballs.
My brother David performed in Bialystok Poland on December 15 as part of a symposium on the great contributions from people from that part of the world. He was joined by Randy Brecker on trumpet and flugelhorn. Poland also figures prominently in this week’s Book Best Bet (see below).
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Fave Five 169: Home for the Holidays
Persevering Poles (We Were the Lucky Ones), Chang’s Chinese (China Café), Manchester Musicians (Herman’s Hermits), Rim Runner (Jalen Duren), and Ho Ho Hoses.
Fave Five List: Five Grandkid Moments
The four cousins had fun playing together, and we loved having all of them at home for the holidays with us.
Noah and Julian enjoyed hot cocoa with marshmallows.
Kieran and Sommer put out milk and cookies for Santa and carrots for his reindeer on Christmas Eve.
I read a bedtime story to Noah and Julian in their new Christmas pajamas. Sommer had other things to do.
All four gathered around our kitchen table with Kathy, Tracy, me, and Barb.
Kieran, Sommer, Noah, and Julian continued our family tradition by watching Meet Me in St. Louis.
Book Best Bet
We Were the Lucky Ones by Georgia Hunter
I bought this book based on reading a recommendation, and it was an enlightening read. If it weren’t based on actual history, the good fortune of the Kurc family of Poland would be impossible to believe. The book is both depressing (due to the atrocities of the Germans and Soviets) and rewarding (due to the incredible efforts made by the family members to survive and reunite). My paternal grandparents fled the pogroms in Poland, so the book had a strong personal impact on me.
There is also a Hulu TV series based on the book.
From Amazon: Inspired by the incredible true story of one Jewish family separated at the start of World War II, determined to survive—and to reunite—We Were the Lucky Ones is a tribute to the triumph of hope and love against all odds.
It is the spring of 1939 and three generations of the Kurc family are doing their best to live normal lives, even as the shadow of war grows closer. The talk around the family Seder table is of new babies and budding romance, not of the increasing hardships threatening Jews in their hometown of Radom, Poland. But soon the horrors overtaking Europe will become inescapable and the Kurcs will be flung to the far corners of the world, each desperately trying to navigate his or her own path to safety.
As one sibling is forced into exile, another attempts to flee the continent, while others struggle to escape certain death, either by working grueling hours on empty stomachs in the factories of the ghetto or by hiding as gentiles in plain sight. Driven by an unwavering will to survive and by the fear that they may never see one another again, the Kurcs must rely on hope, ingenuity, and inner strength to persevere.
An extraordinary, propulsive novel, We Were the Lucky Ones demonstrates how in the face of the twentieth century’s darkest moment, the human spirit can endure and even thrive.
At 15 years old, Georgia Hunter discovered that she came from a family of Holocaust survivors. Years later, she embarked on a journey of intensive research, on a mission to unearth and record her family’s remarkable histories. Her New York Times bestselling novel, We Were the Lucky Ones, is based on the incredible true story of her family’s determination to survive, and, ultimately, reunite, against all odds. Told from alternating perspectives, the book follows three generations of the Kurc family as they scatter across continents, trying to navigate their way to safety, and to find each other again.
Restaurant Recommendation
China Café Asian Bistro 24299 Novi Road, Novi, MI 48375
Tracy requested that we dine here the day after Christmas. She recalled family dinners here when she was young. We all liked our meal, although Julian and Noah were disappointed that no fortune cookies were provided. China Café has a smaller menu and is pricier than most Chinese restaurants, but the food, service, and ambience were excellent.
Mama Chang’s Dumplings: Traditional Northern Chinese dumplings, pork, scallops, shrimp, spicy soy vinaigrette
Shrimp Pad Thai: Shrimp, scallions, cilantro, bean sprouts, crushed peanuts, tamarind fish soy sauce
Old School Fried Rice; Vegetable medley, bean sprouts, green onions, eggs, chicken
Hawaiian Sweet and Sour Chicken: Lightly breaded chicken, mixed tropical fruits, spicy Polynesian sweet and sour sauce
Fire Cracker Shrimp: Lightly breaded shrimp, mixed vegetables, sweet Thai chili sauce
From the restaurant: Growing up in South Korea, owner Kelly Chang has always shared a passion for Asian cuisine. In 1996 Kelly and his wife Susana brought their dream of opening a restaurant to life, with a commitment to fresh and innovative food, served with friendly, genuine hospitality. Kelly updates and refines his menu on an ongoing basis to provide guests with a one-of-a-kind dining experience—novel food without boundaries. With exceptional service in a welcoming and comfortable environment, we hope your China Café visit will be as memorable for you as you will be to us.
Marvelous Musicians
I previously featured the band in my list of favorite British Invasion bands. I liked "Mrs. Brown You've Got a Lovely Daughter" and "I'm Henry the Eighth, I Am" in 1965. When I started listening to Top 40 radio in 1967, I loved "No Milk Today" and "There's a Kind of Hush."
From Wikipedia: Herman’s Hermits are an English pop rock group formed in 1963 in Manchester and formerly fronted by singer Peter Noone. Known for their jaunty beat sound and Noone’s often tongue-in-cheek vocal style, the Hermits charted with numerous transatlantic hits in the UK and in America, where they ranked as one of the most successful acts in the Beatles-led British Invasion. Between March and August 1965 in the United States, the group logged twenty-four consecutive weeks in the Top Ten of Billboard’s Hot 100 with five singles, including the two number ones “Mrs. Brown, You’ve Got a Lovely Daughter” and “I’m Henry VIII, I Am”.
Their other international hits in the 1960s include “I’m into Something Good” (their sole UK number one), “Can’t You Hear My Heartbeat”, the two covers “Silhouettes” and “Wonderful World”, “A Must to Avoid”, “Listen People”, “No Milk Today”, “There’s a Kind of Hush”, “I Can Take or Leave Your Loving”, “Something’s Happening” and “My Sentimental Friend”, all of which were produced by Mickie Most. Herman’s Hermits also appeared in four films, two of which were vehicles for the band.
The band’s name came from a resemblance, noted by a publican in Manchester, England, between Noone and Sherman from the Rocky and Bullwinkle cartoons. Sherman was shortened to Herman and then became Herman and His Hermits, which was soon shortened to Herman’s Hermits.
In 1966 the group was nominated for three Grammy Awards including Best New Artist of 1965—they lost to singer Tom Jones—and two for their chart-topper “Mrs. Brown You’ve Got a Lovely Daughter”: Best Performance by a Vocal Group and Best Contemporary (R&R) Performance – Group (Vocal or Instrumental). According to Noone and Hopwood, “Mrs. Brown” was recorded as an afterthought in two takes—using two microphones, with Hopwood on guitar, Green on bass guitar and Whitwam on drums. Noone and the band deliberately emphasized their English accents on the record, never intended to be a single. Hopwood recalls playing a Gretsch Country Gentleman guitar in the studio, with its strings muted to create the distinctive sound. When playing the song live, Hopwood often used a Rickenbacker guitar with a rag tied around the bridge to duplicate the sound, which can be seen clearly in old performance clips.
I’m Into Something Good
Mrs. Brown (You’ve Got A Lovely Daughter)
No Milk Today
There’s A Kind of Hush
My Playlist
Sports Star
Jalen turned 22 on November 18. He has emerged as the number 2 scorer and the top rebounder on the Detroit Pistons this season. He is a constant lob threat and rim runner. His future is bright, and has a great chance to be an All-Star this season.
Pistons Star Emerging as Candidate for Massive Raise in 2026 Free Agency
Detroit center Jalen Duren, the No. 13 pick in the 2022 NBA Draft, has become a major two-way force in the Motor City. The 7-footer out of Memphis has been averaging a career-best 18.3 points on 63.4 percent shooting from the field and 72.6 percent free throw shooting, 10.8 rebounds, 1.8 assists, 1.0 blocks and 0.8 steals a night.
Duren has been so good, in fact, that the Pistons might be on the hook for some massive money when the fourth-year big hits restricted free agency next summer.
From Wikipedia: Jalen Montez Duren (born November 18, 2003 in Sharon Hill, Pennsylvania) is an American professional basketball player for the Detroit Pistons of the National Basketball Association (NBA). He played college basketball for the Memphis Tigers. A center, he stands 6 feet 10 inches and weighs 250 pounds. He was a consensus five-star recruit and one of the top players in the 2021 class. Duren was ranked as the top player in the 2022 class before reclassifying.
On November 1, 2025, Duren recorded a double-double with a career-high 33 points on 13-of-16 shooting from the field in a 122–110 win over the Dallas Mavericks.
Jalen Duren’s Career-High 33 Points
Picture Pun
After Christmas, no more “HO, HO, HOs.”
