I’m in love with buildings — that is to say, beautiful buildings. Buildings that sing or shout to the sky or make me smile or sigh, or fill me with awe. I was in Los Angeles a few weeks ago, and was driven around the city by a friend who pointed out the old and the new.…

This poem landed on my ears today, a welcome gift.  In advance of turning 60, which is, it turns out my friends, is a big deal after all. Love After Love by Derek Wolcott The time will come when, with elation you will greet yourself arriving at your own door, in your own mirror and each will smile at…

This spring, I had the honor of judging the finalists in an international short-story contest run by  Teen Voices, an organization with the mission of “changing the world for girls through media.” Teen Voices magazine — a glossy print magazine written entirely by girls for girls — has been around for 20 years, so the…

I still get emails, and even the occasional letter, about The Red Tent. Nearly all of the communication comes from women, and lately from high school students — some of whom were assigned the book, others who found it on their own. Since there is a lot of birthing in The Red Tent, as well…

Even before I closed the door, I knew that “Brazen”* was a mistake. The teenager girls behind the counter, who were flirting with some boys about to leave, didn’t bother saying hello, which was fine with me. Having entered, I felt committed to the game but made quick work of it; circling the perimeter and stopping briefly only at…

       I once heard someone object to the term as an insult, snails being associated with slime as well as slowness. But there had to be some way to differentiate between electronic missives and those send by pony express, er, post office.         I am becoming increasingly impatient with email. Of course, the novelty is…

About six years ago, I was invited to speak at a gathering of women, convened by Eve Ensler (Vagina Monologues) at the Omega Institute in upstate New York. It was a very cool weekend, with women of all backgrounds, from many continents and even political persuasions in attendance. I was honored to be on the podium.  That was…

     You know that scroll that Jews read every year at Purim? Well, in Chapter 9, verse 29, it is written: Queen Esther, daughter of Avichayil and Mordechai the Jew, wrote about the enormity of all the miracles that established the holiday.       The one that got codified was written by Mordechai. But there…

     A few months ago, the editors at Real Simple magazine invited me to write a short essay about a year I remember with special fondness. The result appears in the current issue, along with wonderful pieces by five other writers.     Roger Rosenblatt wrote about Age 4. Francine Prose wrote about Age 64. The first number that popped into…

I was completely sick of my winter sweaters. Familiarity=contempt. I put that sentiment up on my Facebook Page and there were suggestions I take up knitting! Ha-ha. That would take too much time away from FB, not to mention work. So instead, I hit my two favorite consignment stores and got three new (for me) ones. Only…