This is mostly true. Some exaggeration. Mostly true, though. I am not one of those white-knuckled passengers sitting next to you on the airplane. As long as I am wearing earrings with stars, I am fine. If I am wearing earrings with stars, and can find an aisle seat in row 14, or row 5,… Continue Reading
Good Morning Little School Girl
In honor of the first week of school, three little school girls and a kosher version of the song by Smokey Hogg. My class picture from kindergarten Caitlin’s first day of school Madeleine in pigtails, like her grandma used to wear, on her first day of kindergarten
Listen to me: Three that made it
Over the last several years I’ve submitted short pieces to KQED radio, the local PBS station, for a segment called “Perspectives.” I’ve swung and missed a number of times, but I did make it onto the show with these three. Instead of digging into the Rejection Collection today, I thought I’d start off this week… Continue Reading
Showing how it’s done: Two inspiring writers
A while ago, I was asked to write something about writers who inspired me, or something like that. Mentors, maybe? And these two are, even though I’ve never met them. The cover of Lee’s book is regrettable, but what can you do? Many years ago, my father loaned me his copy of Cider with Rosie,… Continue Reading
Remembrance of Drinks Past
Even though I haven’t been doing my happy hour gig for very long, I have accumulated some luscious photos of my “research materials.” So, to kick off the weekend, here is a short retrospective of drinks past: My favorite name for a drink: Smarty Jones at Adesso At Bocanova: Soiree on the left, Caipirinha on… Continue Reading
The Rejection Collection, Chapter 2: The Secret Ingredient
This one did not get selected for an anthology about food and love. Again, I say “feh”: No matter what my father cooked, it always had a secret ingredient. “Guess the secret ingredient,” he would say, hands on hips with a cocky look on his face. “C’mon. guess. What’s in the eggs?” “Uh. . .cheese?”… Continue Reading
The Rejection Collection, Chapter 1: The Not-So-Great Outdoors
This essay was not one of the ones chosen to be read aloud at a recent literary event. The theme was “The Great Outdoors.” Feh! This is what I learned growing up in a Jewish family: Santa Claus will not visit; there will be no eggs hidden anywhere on Easter; and people sleep indoors in… Continue Reading
Painted Ladies
No, not that famous row of houses in San Francisco. Just a silly, almost-summer look at three generations of face paint. Me, 1967 Caitlin, circa 1982 Madeleine, 2011
Ringing in My Ears
I have a ringing in my ears. It’s the sound I hear when there is no sound. I only hear it when I listen, and I know that sounds like “I only see it when I look,” but it’s different. The sound I hear is sometimes like microphone feedback, sometimes like the sound of the… Continue Reading
The Name Game
My name is Risa. That’s R-I-S-A. When I was growing up, I was the only Risa I had ever heard of. Surrounded by a gaggle of girls named Karen, Kathy, Linda, Carol, Nancy, and Diane, I was one of a kind. I got used to fielding the comments and questions: No, it’s not short for… Continue Reading