On February 11, 1972, my 88-year-old grandfather was hit by a truck crossing a street in New York City. His left side was smashed and a broken rib punctured his lung. Within 24 hours he was in a coma. My… Read More ›
story
THE BIRTHDAY GIRL – GARRY ARMSTRONG
I write a lot of pieces about celebrities I’ve met in my professional life. They are fun to remember and share. Sometimes it feels like name dropping or playing a broken record if the story is written too frequently. Friends… Read More ›
SLAUGHTER AT FURRY TOY PASS – MARILYN & GARRY ARMSTRONG
A cautionary tale for lovers of stuffed, furry toys – and dawgz! Story by Garry Armstrong Photography by Marilyn Armstrong No one wants to talk about that dreadful, dark day in history. It was a day of senseless violence —… Read More ›
YIDDISH: THE LANGUAGE I WISH I’D LEARNED – BY ELLIN CURLEY
I grew up in a bilingual household. Everyone spoke both English and Yiddish. Both my parents and both my grandparents. It was spoken all the time in my home. My grandfather actually spoke and read four languages, Russian, Yiddish, Hebrew… Read More ›
MY MOTHER, THE PARTY PLANNER – BY ELLIN CURLEY
In the 1950’s, 60’s and 70’s in New York City, social life revolved around the dinner party. Anywhere from six to twelve people would gather at someone’s home for drinks, appetizers and a sit down dinner. This was in addition… Read More ›
FIGHTING FOR YOUR FAMILY – BY ELLIN CURLEY
There was a first grade teacher at my elementary school, Mrs. Houk, who was widely feared and hated by both students and parents. She yelled and bullied and called kids stupid. But she had tenure so the school couldn’t fire… Read More ›
BUT IT ALL WORKED OUT IN THE END – BY ELLIN CURLEY
My first pregnancy went smoothly. No morning sickness, no back problems except for some sciatica, and low weight gain. And then I gave birth too soon. Way too soon. Eight and a half weeks too soon. My water broke at… Read More ›
FAMILY ‘SUMMER CAMP’ – BY ELLIN CURLEY
I did a fun thing with my kids in 1993, when they were eight and thirteen. My ex, Larry, and I took them to a three-day Family Summer Camp on Lake George in New York State. It was just like… Read More ›
WORLD SHARING MID SEPTEMBER
Share Your World – September 11, 2017 I don’t know how come it’s almost the middle of September. This month started the day before yesterday. Summer went fast, but this is ridiculous. I am not ready for time to swing by… Read More ›
MY GRANDFATHER – THE EARLY YEARS – BY ELLIN CURLEY
I don’t know too much about my grandfather’s early life. But what I do know is very interesting. My grandfather, Abe, was born in a part of Eastern Europe that was Russia one day and Poland the next. When an… Read More ›
CRESCENDO! PIANISSIMO! STACCATO!
CRESCENDO! Well do I remember my days and years of piano lessons. Of arching fingers and the rising crescendo of sound in my baby grand, from the softest touch to the heartiest strike on the keys. I still have some… Read More ›
MY GRANDMOTHER – THE EARLY YEARS – BY ELLIN CURLEY
My Grandmother, Sarah, grew up in Minsk, Russia. Her father was one of the very few Jews there who were allowed to do business with the Russian Gentiles. Therefore he was relatively well off. Grandma remembers her mother taking baths… Read More ›
