All of The View From Here:
Saving Grace.
In 1978, cool girls smoked Parliaments. We were experts at hiding our deeds from the "matrons" who policed the expansive junior high blacktop. We embraced them with smiles and entranced them with cheerful banter when they looked and sniffed and appropriately asked what we girls were up to.... read more A Pre-Teen Halloween Is Scary Stuff
About a week ago my daughter put her head on my shoulder, and said, “I’m sad.”
Now this could always go either way. It could be a serious plea that needs tending to or it could be her rip-roaring sense of humor that’s trying to get ice-cream -- in bed. I always... read more Always Take Your Game Boy to Belize
We dropped anchor six miles off the coast of Belize without land in sight and I thought, "What the hell am I doing?"
It wasn't my first cruise, or the kids' either, but it was our first cruise after the divorce as a family of three, not four, which left me sole purveyor of fun... read more The True Cost of Education
Summer ends this week, when both my kids pack their backpacks and I pack their lunches and they climb into the car for the mile drive first to the high school, then around the corner to the junior high.
It’s the time of year they dread yet prepare for with new clothes and supplies.... read more Shelf life.
One hour and four garbage bags later, the fridge and kitchen cabinets have been dusted, scrubbed, dumped and organized.
My kids are right.
There's nothing to eat.
I'm wondering what possessed me to stock up on Triskets like they could save the... read more A very fine whine.
My daughter entered the world according to schedule, almost twelve years ago. I spent the better part of July, and August until the ninth, in a cotton nightgown, loose and flowing over our bodies, both hers and mine. I had a scheduled Cesarean for personal and medical reasons, so she arrived in convenience... read more On making-up.
The best advice I ever got was from my aunt. "Never leave the house without lipstick," she said. I took it to heart. I rarely do go out without lipstick – and make-up of some sort – and if I do, I always wish I hadn't. I never gave it a second thought, until recently a friend of... read more Staying on track.
Yesterday my eleven year old went to a friend's house after school. I spoke to the mother on the phone, and gave my permission for her to pick up my daughter along with her own. And I looked up their address online and through the magic of the Internet, I figured out exactly where they lived in our town.... read more Praise Moses and Pass the Matzah: A Passover Primer
The Easter Bunny and his entourage are back at the mall, and that means one thing to me.
Passover is coming.
Passover, the eight day celebration of the Israelites' exodus from slavery in ancient Egypt, is my favorite Jewish holiday, although I'm not sure why.... read more Brushes with greatness.
There have been only two times in my son's life as a student that he has expressed even a modicum of enthusiasm in his studies.
Once, he was in sixth grade. His Social Studies class was learning about ancient Egypt. "Learning about ancient Egypt is cool," he said one evening.... read more Bah, love bug.
This time of year it seems like Cupid has his arrow pointed at my back instead of at my heart.
Although I tried to evade the ambush, I've gotten caught in the pink and red fluffy, furry, lacey, glittery, chocolaty store aisle and window display explosion that happened as soon as the ball... read more Waving Santa on.
Living outside of Cleveland for a year when my kids were little was no treat. It snowed on November 1st and the sun went on sabbatical. The city's bereft charm was overwhelming to me after living in Chicago and Philadelphia. But the holiday season coupled with the wonder of childhood has a way of brightening... read more It takes a village. Or didn't you get the memo?
I didn't read Hillary's book. I didn't have to. I could've written it except for the notoriety, experts employed, and publicity and popularity that ensued. I said I could have written it, not that it would have been a bestseller if I had.
I jumped on the village bandwagon mere nanoseconds... read more | 
