On a frigid Tuesday morning in January 2009, I nestled myself into a mauve, medical-grade PVC recliner on the eight floor of a New York City medical building. I was told I’d be there for several hours so I’d brought a book, some snacks and my spiral-bound address book which was a mess and in … Continue reading The Best Way to Deal With the Present? Make Plans For the Future
Having Knee Surgery Didn’t Scare Me; Here’s Why
Yesterday I had surgery to repair a torn meniscus, which is a cartilage in the back of the knee. The photo above is me back in my hospital room after the successful procedure, doped up on enough morphine to kill a small horse. I have a very high pain threshold which is both a blessing … Continue reading Having Knee Surgery Didn’t Scare Me; Here’s Why
The Worst Thanksgiving Ever
As a Jewish kid growing up in Staten Island, my favorite thing about Thanksgiving was the no-strings-attached days off from school. Most of our "no school" days were in observance of Jewish festivals such as Rosh Hashana or Pesach, but those days were holy and, as on Shabbat, we didn't drive, use electricity or talk … Continue reading The Worst Thanksgiving Ever
Hitting the Pause Button
I can’t believe it’s August. Frankly, I can’t believe that I can’t believe it's August given that I only recently got over the fact that it was July. And June before that. I’m never NOT surprised by what month it is. Or what day, or time. “How is it Thursday already?” “It’s 4 PM??” At … Continue reading Hitting the Pause Button
How I got Most of My Kids to Turn Off the Lights
One of my strongest memories as a teenager is that of my father obsessing over the electricity bill. He would come home from work and do a thorough sweep of our house, room by room, to see if there were any lights left unnecessarily on. Upon entering a brightly lit but otherwise empty room (usually … Continue reading How I got Most of My Kids to Turn Off the Lights
The Mom Who Knew Too Much 