THE EDITOR Letter from By Debby Zelman Rapoport Things aren’t always as they seem My message? If something you see or hear looks or sounds suspicious, question it, communicate, get clarity, and don’t take it at face value. Again, things aren’t always as they seem. Have you ever had an experience that turned out differently than you thought it would? Have you ever judged someone by a first impression and later realized he/she was quite different from your original reaction? How often have you taken something at face value only to learn that the truth was hidden by smoke and mirrors? Just because we feel certain, things aren’t always as they seem. We often go through life thinking we understand our surroundings. Perhaps we are bound by preconceived notions about a person or situation and don’t keep an open mind to the present and the possibility of another reality. Perhaps it is to stay in our comfort zones because we fear the truth and would rather not consider other possibilities. If we continue to believe what we want to believe, we protect ourselves from a reality with which we may not be comfortable. I’m touching on this subject to share a personal message. Last month while at the Cain Park Arts Festival, I began a conversation with a friend I know on both personal and business levels. During our brief conversation, he looked quizzical, and said he’d just read my email. Nonplussed, I asked, “What email?” He looked more confused and I asked if I could see it. To my dismay, an email had been circulated under the name “Beachwood Buzz” with an opinionated message that I did not originate, did not approve, and wouldn’t have sent in a million years. Thinking my email account was hacked, I clicked on the Beachwood Buzz name and learned that the message came from beachwoodbuzzer@gmail.com. The person who created this email address and sent the messages (two to my knowledge at the time this issue went to press) wanted recipients to see things at face value and believe they came from Beachwood Buzz. As a trusting (and somewhat naïve) person who has built a solid foundation with the Beachwood Buzz name since 1996, I was perplexed as to why someone would want to share a message, yet be too much of a coward to sign his or her name. For those of you who would like to reach me, my real email address is beachwoodbuzz@gmail.com. My message? If something you see or hear looks or sounds suspicious, question it, communicate, get clarity, and don’t take it at face value. Again, things aren’t always as they seem. Please note: The email address beachwoodbuzzer@gmail.com IS NOT affiliated with this magazine. August 2015 n Beachwood Buzz 3