WriteRunRead Blog

If you've been reading my blogs over the past several years, you may remember a posting or two (or three!) about personalized license plates.  It's an admitted obsession of mine, ever since I had my very first car and personalized plate in 1984: JEWEL-2 . So anytime I see one on the road that is particularly clever or confusing, I jot it down in a small notebook I carry around for just those occasions.  Well, this past week I saw some really good ones.  Sometimes the setting within which the car is located adds to the plate's allure.  Just last weekend, at the Tanger Outlet in Riverhead, there was a Toyota with the plate: SHOPNROL. Farther down the island in Montauk, was a tag identifying the town with some local flavor: MONTALK. I was afraid to meet the woman behind the wheel of the SUV with the mean plate: EVLWOMAN.  Her car was adorned with all sorts of skulls in various shapes and sizes. A strange one that I didn't understand read: THE SOFA.  Wh...

My mother-in-law and I were in one of those Town Cars, being driven into the city for my husband's birthday dinner.  As the driver was veering onto an exit for the Grand Central Parkway, the traffic slowed a great deal, perhaps unexpectedly.  Within moments, a car slammed into the back of our Town Car.  That driver must have been moving pretty fast, because the impact was harsh, startling and caused a great deal of damage to both automobiles. It was frightening, but we were both okay.  So were the drivers of both cars.  That was a relief.  Next came the exchanging of information on the shoulder of the Grand Central, with dense traffic all around.  The men decided they were going to call the police.  As we sat there making sure we were both alright, considering our necks and any aches we may have developed, we were also wondering how long we might be waiting for the two drivers to work it all out. At that moment, a NYC taxicab alighted on the s...

My last blog about time is the perfect precursor to a blog about my recent high school reunion. Time.  It's difficult to measure (even though we have clocks, that's not what I am getting at), it's impossible to grasp.  It is sort of like the wind: you feel it, know it's there but can't hold on to it.  Time keeps us company and yet leaves us no matter what we are doing. A strange and surreal way to measure time is to attend your high school reunion.  It's been 25 years -- 25 summers, New Year's Eves, Christmases...  By virtue of seeing old friends (some very special), some just acquaintances (but still a trip to see!), looking into their "maturer" faces -- proves that time has been passing. It was a fun night, filled with reminiscing and laughter.  What's that saying, "there's nothing like old friends?" We're all 25 years older.  But isn't everyone the same?

After being introduced to a woman who was getting ready to conduct an informational program at the Bryant Library, we got to talking.  The person who introduced us, explained that I was a Trustee on the Board at the Library and proceeded to tell her that I was in a Master's Program for Library and Information Science. She asked how long it would take for me to complete the program and earn the degree.  I said I wasn't sure, that it's 36 credits and who knows how many classes I'll take each semester.  Maybe she read the dismay on my face, as I was automatically considering that nagging question: wow, how long is it going to take me ? Because the next thing she said went something like this, "Well, time is going to pass by no matter what you're doing, so -- that's great." I can't get that statement out of my head.  Time is going to pass by anyway.  It is. That's one certainty.  So why not fill it with things that enrich and enlighten us? So...

For almost three years, I've been conducting an ONLINE book discussion for the organization, Gotham City Networking, Inc.  (www.gothamnetworking.com).  It all started with the book "Water For Elephants" and author Sara Gruen.  We didn't start out thinking that the author would be involved.  It was your basic book club meeting with a twist: our group would read the book and meet online to discuss the novel virtually .  It was all set. I decided to try to contact Sara Gruen's publicist or agent (by email), to see if Ms. Gruen would care to provide a comment or quote for my summary of the book, the few paragraphs I had planned to use to kick off the discussion.  Within 30 minutes, Sara Gruen herself emailed me back indicating that instead of providing merely a quote, she would happily participate in our online book discussion.  Wow!  Really?!  And she did. I was pleasantly surprised.  More than that, I was in awe.  Having Sara G...

This morning we brought our puppy Lucy in to the veterinarian's office to get spayed.  I know it's routine and good for her and all that, but it's still a surgical procedure, and she's still being left at a place where she doesn't know anyone and will hear a bunch of dogs barking all day.   A few days ago, I started to feel anxious about the procedure.  I felt protective of Lucy for the first time.  I was instantly reminded of the way I felt when my son was born and not 24 hours later, my obstetrician told me they were going to perform his circumcision.  I was tired and still delirious from the lengthy and painful labor.  But I felt intensely protective and possessive.  Seeing the fear in my expression, the doctor reassured me that it was routine and he'd be okay.  That was the first time I felt like a mother. As for Lucy, my 10 year-old daughter insisted that she come with me to bring her in for the appointment.  I said okay, but I was sec...

When I was a kid, then a "tween" (how aggravating is that term?), and then a full-fledged teenager, girls talked more than boys.  I'm not stereotyping here, that was my clear cut experience, hands down.  We were on the phone more, gossiped more, passed more notes (that's communicating!). I'm sure there are evolutionary reasons for this and I'm also aware that every rule has it's exception or two, so while not every single female talks more than every male, there is an element of reality here. Well, it's my theory that things are changing.  And it's Apple's doing.  The iChat has revolutionized communication in more ways than one.  I know not every kid has a Mac (or even any type of computer), but I'd bet that those who do, chat and communicate in unprecedented numbers. My son (a boy) was doing homework with his laptop on (and apparently the iChat program open) so that all of his "contacts" would know that he was "availab...

My son's inspiring coaches inspired me to write this blog entry.  These entries usually stem from something that stands out in my mind as extraordinary or enlightening.  This one is no different. My son moved from playing Tier 2 travel ice hockey for three years to playing Tier 1 for the first time.  He (and we) were not sure what to expect.  We heard about the commitment, the time and energy we would need to expend, as well as the demands on our son, the player, to work hard and improve his game, his skills, his speed. As he moves through these changes, learning and growing at every turn, I am sure we made the right choice for him.  The intensity of the game, the practices and the coaches, are worth every ounce of effort. His coaches demand and expect his respect, a solid work ethic and an appreciation for the rules. While at a tournament this past weekend, the boys had a 6:30 a.m. game scheduled for Sunday morning.  The quarterfinals.  The coac...