So as 2013 comes to a close, I’ve been receiving answers to some of my questions. The answers have come in the form of riddles sometimes, and my peace entering 2014 is to dwell in this uncertainty. I offer up the first question – what is love? “… sex is the consolation you have when you can’t have love” ~ Gabriel García Márquez Matters of love have stood on their head for me this year…
In the midst of my last existential crisis, my life coach asked what it was I truly wanted in life and I responded: to be self-actualized – and she then asked what would you like your work to be and I responded: to help others become self-actualized. Yesterday morning, December 25th, Christmas 2013, on a splendidly crisp winter’s day, I walked from the Spirit House to City Park listening on my iPod to Meryl Streep…
You know how it is when your head is hung low and you have that why me Lord thing going on about everything and then suddenly it gets all shaken up and next thing you know you’re walking down the street just laughing all the time and laughing at yourself and your crazy mixed up life. My friend told me on Monday – she said doesn’t it seem like when everything just gets so tangled…
A thousand years ago the Roosevelt was the only hotel that offered kosher catering and I wanted to get married to my first husband there but the cost was outrageous – back then. SO I got married in my brother’s backyard by his pool with my parents and aunt and uncle holding my dad’s tallit over our heads. Not too long later my brother got married in the Blue Room of the Roosevelt and had…
Last night, a friend and her daughter stopped in to bring their holiday baked goods as they have done every year for the last eight. It’s their family tradition – she bakes goodies from her great grandmother’s recipes. Delicious treats such as rosemary shortbread, cocoons, oatmeal cherry chocolate chip cookies and a jar of dukkah spice and all wrapped up in a beautiful bow. Ahhhhh, the holidays and my merry friends who come a calling.…
So I’ve been speaking to people about dogs – here a dog there a dog, hell Tin and I even looked at cats at the shelter despite the fact that a litter was born under my neighbor’s house sometime a few months ago. One woman said to me, “I just want to make sure you will keep the dog because this time of year, people long for a dog because of the holidays.” Well mam,…
A friend invited me to dinner this week and we went with another couple. The couple have just met – each about a year after a divorce with grown children (read: in their 20s). My friend and I marveled at their joy on finding each other at this time. A friend of mine’s daughter who is 14 went to a dance last night for the first time and was nervous and giddy on departing and…
I went to see Philomena yesterday and I’m still haunted by Judi Dench’s performance. Or should I say Stephen Frears’ directorship. If you’ve never seen Frears’ The Queen, I suggest you rent it now because it was a movie that was so very English in its subtlety and so spot on powerful in its performance. The same with Philomena. Recently, people have been posting quotes by Nelson Mandela and how he forgave his captors and…
The woman asked me what trait I am looking for in a dog and I said, “Kindness. The same thing I look for in a human.” How does a dog show kindness? I believe it is obvious. I have known sweet dogs that make me kinder and I’ve known aggressive dogs that make me irritated and aggressive myself. I’m looking for a dog or let’s just put it in the parlance of the day, I’ve…