Be well, Howie!

This is the way I remember Howie Mandel when I came upon him in the Thornhill Farmers Market, just north of the GTA (Greater Toronto Area) limits. Handsome! Smiling! He was casually checking out the fruits, veggies and general merchandise early on a Friday evening. Howie's mother lived a few blocks away and he often visited Toronto.

There are so many entertainers who came from Canada to United States, but Howie is really one of my favorites! He is a genuinely creative person whose accomplishments include the children's cartooon Bobbie's World, the character Fiscus on St.Elsewhere, nightclub and theater stints and more latterly, Deal or No Deal.

Howie, now 53, was working in Toronto for some segments of his new program, "Howie Do It", when he was taken to hospital after experiencing an irregular heartbeat. Fortunately, he did not have a heart attack. He should be released today.

Years ago, Howie had to have medical assistance to remove a rubber glove from his head. This was a prop he used to use. Whatever it took to get a laugh!

Most older native Torontonians know that Howie was expelled from a North York high school for a prank that was beyond what most students would think up. He called a company and made an appointment for them to come out for talks about a library to the constructed in the school. Doesn't that actually seem mild by today's standards?

On stage, Howie did a rather off-color show. I did not realize this and bought two tickets and took an older lady friend to the O'Keefe Center (two names ago). It was one of my more embarrassing moments. (I have heard Howie tell audiences of his current Deal or No Deal that his nightclub shows are not for children.)

Howie has done well over the years, appearing on all the talk shows and always enjoying people. We say a prayer for him today that this will just be a warning for him that he is no longer that kid back at Graydon Hall H.S. We'd hate to see Howie grow up totally - we want him to still be funny - but we also want him to be healthy!