I first heard of Josephine Baker in the 1980s, when my sister wrote a story about her in the New Haven Courier Register. Debby was a feature writer there, and her story mostly focused on the 12 children Baker had adopted from countries around the world. Josephine Baker and 10 of her 12 children on … Continue reading ‘Josephine Baker’s Last Dance’ tells an important story at the right moment
Category: Uncategorized
I used to do way more book reviewing than I do these days. I also did a lot more feature writing. But that’s hardly a surprise when your job title is reporter. I still write the occasional book review at work – in fact, I have 10 to write in the next couple of weeks … Continue reading Hat tricks & ‘Palestinian Neighbors:’ a crash course in book review protocol
It was eight years ago on January 9 that Mom called from California to tell me our cousin Debbie had died. She was with Aunt Freda, her older sister and Debbie's mother. This year is the first they’re all gone. Mom, Debbie & Aunt Freda, all z"l now. This was probably taken in the '80s. … Continue reading Loosening family knots: a look back at big losses, big gain and sister stuff
#RacistinRecovery 2018 is almost in the rear-view mirror. On that front, at least, I think I made some progress. Professionally, I attended a pre-conference workshop on dismantling institutional racism in libraries, and was able to do that beautiful fusion of personal and professional when I took a six-week class called “Unlearning Racism” at our local … Continue reading #RIR2018 exits stage left, chocolate cupcake flowers wave in the wind as #WJDisaggregation2019 makes its entrance
Life has never been better. Or more frustrating. Every morning, I wake up with a list of things to do and hardly any of them get done. Some of that is laziness. Some is fear, some is inertia. This house is in the neighborhood, but it carols at us, not the other way around. Also, … Continue reading Speak the truth & sing the songs: ups and downs of everyday life, Government shutdowns & Christmas carols
Remember when you were a little kid and your parents told you not to be a sore loser? What? Your parents never told you that? Or they did, and you blew them off? Well, hello there, Robin Vos, Joel Kleefisch, Alberta Darling, Scott Fitzgerald and all but three of your Republican colleagues in the Wisconsin legislature. … Continue reading Sore losers in need of history lesson: an open letter to the Wisconsin legislature
Back in October, I got to represent the library system I work for as a panelist for a League of Women Voters event. It was called "Truth, Trust & Democracy."I got the gig because a manager at one of our branches knew I'd been a reporter Back in the Day, still commit occasional Acts of … Continue reading Truth, Trust & Democracy or ‘Me, on a panel with four amazing women’
