When I was in elementary school in 1970’s Brooklyn, NY (maybe third grade?) a kid (who was white) told me I had “n*gger lips.” It felt weird, because I wasn’t sure if it was a compliment or not, but I kind of knew something wasn’t right about it. Honestly, I don’t remember how I responded. Maybe […]
A Jewish Kid in Catholic School? Nothing But Nachas.*
My son Nicky loves baseball. He’s really, really good at it. Despite the looooong list of Jews who made it big in baseball, we were shocked to learn our town was not overflowing with Jewish schools that have viable baseball programs. My husband’s old Catholic school, however, (“The Hall”) has a very well-respected baseball program. So does […]
Ballerinas on the Moon
In honor of Thank A Teacher Day: the following is a slightly edited version of a post I wrote for Catonsville Patch over a year ago. You can read the original version here. The lilting, closing notes to Brahms’ Waltz in A Flat Major still rang in the air. (We had an actual pianist playing an […]