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…

Every morning I walk the dog. Regardless of the cold, snow, sleet, ice – and it’s been all that this winter. Indeed, I am more faithful than the letter carriers around here. Buddy’s gotta go so I gotta go. After living in this climate — with a dog — for over 30 years, I have…

Like everyone else on the planet, I use snail mail less and less. Email, like online banking and shopping, take care of most of what I once sent through the United States Postal Service. Even so, there are a few vestigial matters that either require a hard copy or that I just prefer to handle old-school. These include: •…

This is my lyric to a melody composed by Bert Seager. We think of it as an alternative to Auld Lang Syne. Wishing you health, happiness and peace in the coming year New Acquaintance Let us raise up a glass, the cup of kindness, Now, as the time draws near We are gathered in hope, we…

December 25, the newspaper delivery is late. I don’t begrudge the delivery man a later morning,and in fact today I should thank him for it. I was between books and knocking around the house looking for something to read with my coffee and picked up Finishing the Hat: Collected Lyrics (1954-1981) the new book by Stephen Sondheim that I gave…

Join me on Thursday, December 16 at Club Café, 209 Columbus Ave in Boston, for performances of tunes by Bert Seager with  lyrics by me. Thanks to cabaret master, Dane Vannater, six of our songs will be performed, including a world premiere of “New Acquaintance,” a song for the New Year.  The music begins at 8 pm…