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
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#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’
In the first part of this post, Debby went to Italy in 2012 and bought a pair of shoes she'd been coveting forever. They turned out to be slightly too small and, because she'd worn them outside, not returnable. She posted a small rant, accompanied by a photo from her hotel room in Rome. "Slightly … Continue reading A Cinderella story starring my sister, the Fairy Godmother of Shoes – Part Two
There is no such thing as cheap shoes in my universe. Which is what happens when a man with 9C feet makes babies with a woman who wears a7½ AAAA shoe. My sister somehow managed to dodge the narrow-footed bullet. She wears a nice, common size in a nice, common width. She also has amazing taste … Continue reading A two-part Cinderella story starring my sister, the Fairy Godmother of Shoes
Dear Trevor Noah: I hope you are taking good care of yourself and feeling better. But I feel moved to inform you that rescheduling your November 9th Milwaukee show threw me into full-on “First-World White Lady Existential Crisis” mode Bruised vocal cords are no joke. So I’m glad you stayed home and took care of yourself. … Continue reading First World White Lady Problems: An Open Letter to Trevor Noah (with photos)
I was in the middle of an anxiety dream involving my mother, peanut sauce and Wales when the sound of a door opening jarred me awake. It was Sweetheart, with our morning coffees. After I attempted to describe the dream (Sweetheart: "Peanut stew? That sounds terrible!"), I said, "It's Election Day!" Then, I started … Continue reading Retain your complaining rights! A “nag you to vote” post featuring Alice Cooper, Mom’s 3¢ postage stamp, Tuki & Ward 201
Five years ago, my pal Molly and her husband Richard flew in from New York to visit her parents, "Mel" (z"l) and "Sally." It was their first visit after M&S moved into "Old People Harvard," the independent and assisted-living community where Mom had been living for two years. It was a great gift to Mom … Continue reading Accidental landlording & purposeful librarianship: a dispatch from the busy zone with a reminder to VOTE TUESDAY!
the sentence factory 