Los Angeles Jewish Home

Abe Daniels moved recently into apartment 445 at the Jewish Home for the Aging in Reseda, right next door to Joe Weinbaum in No. 447.

"I was a ship's cook second class in the service, as low as you get, and here comes this hero moving in next door," Joe says, introducing me to Abe.

"I've been helping him out. The guy learned to fly a dive bomber, but he can't figure out a walker."

Abe laughs. Funny guy, this new next-door neighbor.

Joe had invited me to stop by and meet Abe on Monday. The meeting almost didn't happen, though, because Abe hasn't done anything on Feb. 7 for as long as he can remember.

"I don't even eat on Feb. 7," Abe says.

But he made an exception for his new friend because he likes the guy, and well, because maybe - at 94 - it's time to bury some ghosts.