Memories – Reflections on Aging

Rediscovering my Yiddish

Yiddish was my first language. My Bubba, Devorah, was born in Poland, and lived with my family in Brooklyn since before I was born. She was almost 50 years old when she left Poland in 1933. She never learned English, so Yiddish was the language spoken at home. Bubba was a loving, caring presence, andContinue reading “Rediscovering my Yiddish”

Keeping Things of No Use

Why do I keep things that have no use? Sometimes I look around my apartment and think I need to clear out some stuff I never use, but it’s not easy. In the kitchen, I now only do minimal cooking. I often buy prepared foods and use the microwave more than the stovetop or oven.Continue reading “Keeping Things of No Use”

Steppin’ Out

When I was in college, I learned that taking on another identity, even briefly, gave me pleasure. I remember going to Forida during a college school break with a friend and when we went out one night I suggested that we take on other identities, and use foreign accents. Let’s say we are Russian-born, andContinue reading “Steppin’ Out”

Fragments of the Past

For my last birthday party, my daughter framed some old photos of me and placed them on tables around the party room. There was one that captivated me immediately, it was of me and a girlfriend, standing on a beach in our two-piece bikini bathing suits. Mine was a yellow polka-dot bikini, a popular styleContinue reading “Fragments of the Past”

Pages In-Between

A few days ago, as I opened my journal to continue my daily entries, I realized that several weeks ago I had skipped two pages. I think these pages must have somehow stuck together. There they were- blank pages, sitting in-between pages I had written on, about days that were already in the past. IContinue reading “Pages In-Between”

ID Cards

My passport and driver’s license are my most frequently used documents to prove my identity – generally used for things like checking in at the airport or cashing a check. And they have other uses. I went to a baseball game recently (the Mets, my favorite team, at Citifield) and when I bought a beerContinue reading “ID Cards”

Boxed In

My move from a suburban house back into a city apartment meant that I lost living space and many closets. It was also the end of an era, as my two children were grown and living in their own homes, and I was eager to get back to Manhattan. Not only would this eliminate myContinue reading “Boxed In”