Conversations with My Dad - Work Hard – Tell the Truth – and Love Your Wife

0:00Shelley:So, okay, so then you're in Korea. Yeah. What did you learn there, by the way? To keep my head down. Right.

0:13Welcome to Lunch with Shelley, the podcast featuring conversations with colleagues, friends, family, business leaders.

0:22Shelley:At lunch, here's Shelley. Welcome to the latest episode of Lunch with Shelley. after a brief hiatus, featuring my very, very special guest, my dear old dad, Marvin Slomowitz. My father is my hero, my mentor, one of my favorite people on the planet Earth, and the greatest dad and poppy in the world. He is also a decorated vet, an accomplished and successful businessman and entrepreneur, a philanthropist, a father of three, a grandfather of five, and beloved by many, many more. He made his debut on the podcast two years ago when he turned a sprightly 94 and then came on again when he turned 95. And he was such a big hit both times that now, as he has just celebrated his 96th turn around the sun, He has agreed to be on yet again to dispense with some words of wisdom, humor, and inspiration.

1:30Shelley:We are enjoying a rather civilized late lunch at our kitchen table, which is our preferred time to dine. We have an array of fresh berries and cheeses and fresh food. So without further ado, welcome to the Lunch with Shelley podcast daddy for the third time in a row. and let's have lunch. Okay. How are you doing? Okay. So is this podcast thing becoming old hat? You're used to having a microphone in front of you. I'm used to it. Do you like it? It feels like a radio show, doesn't it? What? It feels like a radio show, doesn't it? Yep. So what did you always want to be? A businessman. How come? Why not?

2:21Shelley:Well, Daddy, you keep saying that, but like, think about it. Why did you want to be a businessman? Because I wanted to make money. Well, you were good at that. Yeah. But did you care that it was real estate or did you just want to be in any kind of business? Just in business. Well, I mean, your first job was really when you were three years old. Yeah. What were you doing at three? Delivering bread next door. Just next door, or did they send you down the block? Just down next door. And then what did you do after that? I got a cookie. And what did you do after you were a delivery boy? I worked in the store.

3:09Shelley:Your father's store. And who is your father? What was your father's name? Sam. Sam Slomowitz. Right. And who else is named Sam Slomowitz? What? Who else is named Sam Slomowitz? His grandson. That's right. And he had a store that sold candy, cigars, and what else? All kinds of food. Oh, yeah. And did you like that store? I had no choice. Where was it located? In Wooksbury. Like, do you remember what street? Barney Street. Oh, yeah? I guess the street is still there, right? Yep. Are there businesses on Barney Street? There were. For, like, since, like, maybe even 10 years ago? Yeah, I think so. Oh, that's nice.

4:03Shelley:It was in the Heights, right? Yep. I've rarely been in the Heights. So, and also, Sam Slomowitz owned Sandy Beach. Yep. At Harvey's Lake. Right. And what were your jobs there? Everything. Well, I know you sold tickets to the movies. Yep. And what else? I collected quarters in the daytime for parking. Oh, that's boring. Did you like it or not really? I had no choice. Did you ever get to put on a bathing suit and be a lifeguard or anything? No. Did you want to be a lifeguard? No. Why? You're a good swimmer. I'm a good swimmer. I just never wanted to be a lifeguard. Oh, it's a great job. I saw on the news, this is going to blow your mind, that there are lifeguards in Los Angeles that make$400 ,000 a year.

5:03Shelley:Wow. I know, right? That's insane. How? Because they're just a lifeguard on very fancy beaches, I guess. Wow. I know, right? That's unbelievable. I know. And with us at the table is my beautiful mother, who my father is very in love with, who everybody has recently heard from on Mother's Day. And our very dear friend, who is an amazing and incredibly brave firefighter, EMT, registered nurse, car fanatic, tech extraordinaire, and our family's very, very dear friend, Sean Moss. Sean, do you have a question for my father? marvin if there's anywhere in the world that you wish you had traveled to where would you have gone if you could go someplace right now egypt very cool anyway daddy back to you so um you work at sandy beach yeah and then you go to college.

6:15Yeah.

6:16Shelley:Where'd you go to school? Penn State. And what do you think about Penn State these days? I still love it. You do? But you were mad at them for a while. What? You were mad at them for a while. They fired Joe Paterno. I know. And that was awful. Yeah. And they took down his statue. Yeah. So what do you think actually happened in that whole Paterno scandal? It wasn't him. It was the guy that worked for him. I know, but you believe that he really had no idea. Right. You really believe that. Yep. Because you think he just would have been appalled. Yeah. Well, I feel badly for him, too. So you were mad at them for a really long time.

6:59Shelley:Yeah. Are you going to, but you started watching them again, right? The football team. How do you think they're going to do this year? Pretty well. Why do you say that? Because they always do. Who are you going to root for in the NFL? The Eagles. Are you just saying that because I'm sitting here? Are you really going to root for them? I thought you were going back to the Patriots. Probably. What? Really? Why? I just rooted for them all the time. I know, but then you switched. You were a Buccaneers person and then an Eagles person. And that's when Brady left. Right. But my God, Daddy, the Eagles won the Super Bowl last year.

7:41Shelley:I mean, you like to bet on, I know you like underdogs, but you also like to win. Yep. So you're not going to do the Eagles again? Yep. You are or you're not? I am. The Eagles? Yep. It'll make my life a lot easier because we'll root for this. They probably won't win again, but I'm still going to root for them. Well, Daddy, don't say that. They're the team to beat. But they never really win twice in a row. No, they have not. But don't curse them. They're already cursed. I think they might. I don't know if they're going to win again, but I think they're going to be a great team. Oh, yeah. I think they're going to be a playoff team.

8:21Shelley:Yep. Yeah. Anyhoo, Daddy. So tell us about being 96. It's much better than being 95. How come? You're older. Right. And older is better? Yep. In what way? You've lived longer. Right, so you know more? Yep. Well, actually, I was going through the trajectory of your life, so you go to Penn State, and then you don't get recruited, you volunteer for the Army. Yep. And you wished it was the Navy because it was cleaner, but unfortunately they wouldn't take you. Right. So you had to go in the Navy. Right. I mean, the Army. The Navy wouldn't take Jewish boys. I know. I find that really incredible. Yeah.

9:10Shelley:So, okay, so then you're in Korea. Yeah. What did you learn there, by the way? To keep my head down. Right. You're listening to Lunch with Shelly. When you came home from the Army, I guess you got into residential real estate. Right. Did you have to get your license? Yep. I guess. And you had to study for it? Yep. Did you have that plan when you were in the Army, or you just came home and thought, oh, I'm going to be in real estate? That's about right. Really? You just plucked it out of the air? Yeah. I think it's because you saw a guy with a big car who was collecting rent, and you thought, I'd like to do that.

9:55Shelley:Yeah. Do you like collecting rent? My father bought a house, a six-family house, and he made$3 ,000. Your father did? Yeah, for just one little deal. I figured that's the thing for me. Well, when we were talking two weeks ago and I was asking you about advice, somebody asked you how important it was to follow your passion. Yeah. Do you remember what you said? No. You said it's not that important. You've got to get stuff done, and then you can follow your passion. Right. Is that what you think? Yep. Following your passion is a very vogue thing to talk about these days. Yeah. But you think it's baloney?

10:41Yeah.

10:42Shelley:Tell me why. Well, you'll never get any place. Why? If you follow your passion, then you're never going to work a day in your life, they say. So why will you never get any place? Well, if you follow your passion, you won't be working. And if you're not working, you're not going to get ahead. So if you had followed your passion, would it have been a flower shop? Yep. I mean, but some people get lucky and they follow their passion and that's why they're so successful. Right. So why couldn't that be you? The chances are pretty rare. I suppose. Yeah. I hope that's not the case, but you're probably right, Daddy.

11:30So anyway, you're a real estate Nick, as opposed to Mommy's brother, who's a doctor.

11:38Shelley:Yeah. Did you ever think of being a doctor? Never. Did you ever think of being a lawyer? No. Why? I don't like lawyers. I know. Do you know any good lawyers jokes? No. You used to. Yep. As in, what do you call a thousand lawyers at the bottom of the ocean? Well done. A good start.

12:11Shelley:And why, by the way, do you not like lawyers? I just, they're too picky-yoon. That's a good word. Yeah. Well, they're paid to be picky-yoon. Yeah. So when you were selling houses, your goals were always more, more, more, right? So what's your goal for this year, your 96th year? Do you have any goals? No. Yes, you do. I can tell you one goal. Oh, yeah. I want to be 97. Oh, I know that. But also you want to start walking with a cane. Yep. How close are you to doing that? Pretty close. I agree. How many months do you think? No, a couple of weeks. Really? Yep. All right. You heard it here. Daddy, shall we talk about the news?

13:01What?

13:02Shelley:You want to talk about the news? Okay. It just popped into my head. You know, last year when I interviewed you, we were talking about the rampant anti-Semitism on college campuses. Yeah. Which still exists. Yep. And I think Donald Trump and the Republican Party, I think that they have done and some terrific Democrats have done a good job fighting back the anti-Semitism, but they haven't done enough. Right. What are your thoughts on that? They're doing better than before, but they could still do more. I agree. But now we're faced with this crazy situation where there might be a rather anti-Semitic mayor of New York City.

13:47What?

13:48Shelley:The mayor of New York City. This guy might be voted mayor, Mom Donnie, who is pretty overtly anti-Semitic, even though he says he's not. What do you think the chances are of an anti-Semitic mayor winning, or an anti-Semitic candidate winning in New York City? Pretty good. Did you ever think you were going to live to see the day? No. Well, what do you think people in New York are thinking? They're stupid. What do you think about government-run grocery stores? Government run what? Grocery stores. I'm against it. Do you think that they'll have any food in there? No. Any fresh vegetables? No. They would be awful.

14:44Shelley:I know. So what do you think? I mean, are you shocked or nothing just gets your ire up? Nothing. What does get your blood pumping? That's because I'm so old. I know, Dad. But being so old, does it make you feel like you don't care? Right. But you do care. Yep. Well, you care, but it just doesn't aggravate you as much? Right. I feel as I'm getting older that I care, but it doesn't aggravate me as much. But I'm still pretty aggravated. Right. Okay. How do you think that President Trump is doing? Pretty good. What would you give him at a scale of 1 to 10? An 8. I think that's very good. Yeah. What could he do better?

15:36He's getting some of these things done that he said he would.

15:41Shelley:Right. But why is it an 8 and not a 9?

15:49Because everybody could be better.

15:51Shelley:Yeah, including us, yeah? Yep. Dad, do you prefer to ride in a car or a horse and buggy? A car. I'm just kidding. Picture yourself as a 40-year-old businessman. Yeah. And actually, you had three girls at that time because you had me when you were 39. Yep. So, what advice would you give to that 40-year-old guy with three young children? What about it? What advice would you give him if you could go back and say, Marvin, I'm 96. Say it again? Worked like hell. Really? Towards what end? Providing for them. And how do you think you've done? Pretty good. I agree. You're listening to Lunch with Shelly.

16:43Shelley:So what would you tell your grandchildren if they were sitting here right now? As far as advice, Daddy. Work hard. Well, last week when the recording didn't happen, last year, two years ago, you said work hard and smile. Smile. Yeah. And then this year when it didn't record, you said work hard and tell the truth. Right. What's so important about telling the truth? It's always important to tell the truth. I know, but why? Because then you're not a liar. I know, but is it because you're afraid of getting caught or you just have integrity? You just want to be right. What characteristics do you think are your best characteristics?

17:31My best characteristics is that I worked hard.

17:36Shelley:What else? You have two more. I tell the truth. That's two. and i love my wife i knew it perfect well daddy i love having lunch with you so much you know i've loved having lunch with you my whole life yeah you and cheryl webber are a big part of my love of lunch right do you remember us going to get buffalo burgers in 40 fort yeah do you remember us having lunch at Fred's in Manhattan? Yeah. Do you remember us having lunch at Cafe Baloo in Palm Beach? Yeah. We need to do that more. That is an attainable goal. Yeah. The problem is, well, you don't even have to wake up for it because you and I like a late lunch.

18:23Shelley:Okay. And Cafe Baloo serves a late lunch. Okay. So, Daddy, let's have lunch together the next time I'm in town. Okay. That'll be fun. Okay. I'll drink champagne and you can have iced tea. Okay. So, Dad, if you were going to have lunch anywhere in the world, where would it be and what would you be eating? The Hassler. In the garden? In the terrace room? No, in the garden. Yeah. And where is the Hotel Hassler, honey? In Rome. And what would you be eating? Pizza. Pizza. That sounds like a fabulous lunch. Pizza in the Garden Terrace at the Hotel Hassler sounds unbelievable. Yep. Well, Daddy, I love you so much.

19:18Shelley:I love you more. I'm so proud of you. I'm so proud of you. Thank you for being on the podcast. You know, you're the first person that's been on three times. Okay. But then you're going to be, you're really, you're going to be on for, oh my goodness, Daddy. You're going to be on as long as you're alive, which God willing is another 20 years. God willing. I agree. Well, I could keep talking to my father and I might or we might break out in song like we did last time. But in case this is the end of the podcast. Thank you for listening. Welcome back, everybody. and I hope you join me in wishing my father a very healthy, happy, and prosperous 96th year.

20:07Shelley:The podcast is back, so keep checking us out at www.lunchwithshelly.com or wherever you get your favorite podcasts. And in the meantime, and as always, peace, love, and lunch.