In Plain Engel-ish

There’s so much I like about email: first is the fact that its name derives from both my first and last initials. I’ve been sending E.E. mails since I licked my first stamp and envelope on a note that I arduously composed as a kid to my grandma and grandpa to thank them for my birthday gifts. And I can see that younger self right now using my tongue as much in the labored writing of the thank-you note as in the gluey fun of licking the stamp. Email is also, of course, the wondrous vehicle for Darian to deliver...

I was starting this essay by writing about how much I have enjoyed sharing myself with you biweekly, and I suddenly realized that I wasn’t sure if “biweekly” meant twice a week or once every other week. I googled. Well, I’ll be darned — it actually means BOTH! Isn’t our mother tongue just incredible in her inconsistencies? And what I need to share of myself in this particular essay is my new role of Caregiver. As I typed “Caregiver,” I couldn’t help thinking that we are care-givers to people, but we are care-takers for animals and even for cottages. Isn’t our...

Spoiler Alert: this is another essay inspired by a childhood memory! I admit that I used that rare exclamation mark to whip up excitement, just in case you’re a reluctant memory-lane stroller. I have a friend who commented that, based on my writings, I must remember 100% of what happened to me during my early childhood. I didn’t have the heart to tell her: “That isn’t even the half of it, dear. I also vividly recall at least 50% of what never happened.” My current fond memory is one that most of you probably share: riding solo on a carousel....

Birthdays are on my mind since April is my birth month: April 8,1948, to be exact. When asked my birthdate now for ID purposes, I have always enjoyed responding with the jauntily repetitive “4-8-48.” I do admit, however, now that I’m 74, however, I probably wish I could honestly respond with the less memorable “4-8-88.” Ah, to be 34 again.  I don’t know if you’re still subscribing to your local morning newspaper, but ours here in Raleigh, North Carolina, has a daily feature that lists, in addition to the important historical events which occurred on today’s date, a list of...

Many of us are lucky enough to have felt fully loved by our parents. But, let’s face it, when it comes to being absolutely, unconditionally ADORED, please step aside, Mom and Dad, and do come right in, Grandma and Grandpa — wait, is that super toy you’re carrying for ME?? And of my four grandparents, all of whom I was lucky enough to know at least as a young child, it was my Grandma Zivien (ZIVV-vee-yen) who held the title of World’s Greatest Kveller. Now “kvell” is a Yiddish verb meaning “to brag”— but not just any kind of brag. It’s the kind...