My favorite place in Jerusalem was the Western Wall, sometimes incorrectly called the “Wailing Wall.” In Hebrew, it’s Kotel — it rhymes with motel. I used to go to the Kotel to pray and leave messages for God. I loved the… Read More ›
Personal
WHITE SUPREMACISTS ARE NOT THE ONLY RACISTS
I had a major battle on Amazon about a book I said was racist. A lot of people said “No, it isn’t. The author is an avowed Boston liberal.” I’m sure he said he was and he probably believes it’s… Read More ›
NO SAFE PLACE?
It was an ordinary day in the suburb of Jerusalem where I managed a weekly English-language newspaper. I had fallen into the job when the previous editor quit — after his paycheck bounced. Twice. Me too, but I wanted the paper to succeed, and… Read More ›
MY BEST-EVER JOB
Fandango’s Dog Days of August #30: MY BEST JOB EVER I had been looking for a job that would let me flex my hours so Garry and I could spend time together. It was difficult. He worked terribly long hours, gone… Read More ›
BITTER ROOTS
I am named after an aunt I never met. In my version of Jewish family, you don’t name babies after living people. Only after those who have passed. This is not true in all Jewish families. It depends on where… Read More ›
UNEQUAL TERMS – Marilyn Armstrong
While I was growing up, mostly in the late 1950s and early 1960s, I knew there was plenty of inequality to go around. Whether you were non-white or non-Christian, or a woman, there was plenty of prejudice and bigotry to… Read More ›
NOT GETTING A NOSE JOB – Marilyn Armstrong
I don’t remember how many times my mother told me this story, or how many times I have told it to you. It bears retelling especially since racism and bigotry are the words of the month and maybe, the year…. Read More ›
‘CAUSE EVERYTHING’S FINE RIGHT NOW – Marilyn Armstrong
We all know that everything isn’t fine right now but this song reminds me of times when everything was fine. I hope I’m still around when they are fine again. Music triggers memory for me as nothing else can, transporting… Read More ›
GIVING UP, NOT IN – Marilyn Armstrong
I almost quit any number of times. I didn’t smoke a lot. Less than a pack a day and eventually I got it down to five or six a day and sometimes less. The problem with cigarettes is that one… Read More ›
SUMMER FRIENDS – BY ELLIN CURLEY
I recently wrote a blog about old friends; people who knew you when you were a lot younger and who shared a part of your life that doesn’t exist anymore. That got me thinking. Why do some people become ‘old… Read More ›
THE BIGGEST GLITCH – Marilyn Armstrong
Little things defeat me. An electrical blip — so brief as to go otherwise unnoticed — knocked out the time and date on the clocks and telephones in my house. It was so brief I didn’t realize it had happened until… Read More ›
EXTRACTION FROM THE MIRE OF THE PAST – Marilyn Armstrong
The endless recitation of woes on blogs I used to enjoy is giving me a headache. It’s not a lack of personal sympathy. It’s more like emotional exhaustion. So many people seem to be stuck in the mire of misery… Read More ›
