I wrote this story several years ago, when my family chased after an elusive harvest moon.   We found it — way up high in the sky.  So watch out — here it comes again.  2013-style. Looking Up All the way back from the gym, our necks stretched out of the windows to preview the guest of the night.  But no — rooftops, electrical lines, clouds, nothing more.  Had its appearance been canceled? It’s a bit early, the sky is too light, some celestial tie-ups, my husband explains.  His own impatience surfaces as he looks up and squints. And just when we planned it all so carefully this...

With all due respect to the state of Oregon — most particularly to its Symphony, its homey groceries, and my wonderful friends who I met calling/canvassing/laughing on so many great campaigns and in “classrooms” —  all of that Everything that happened when I first parachuted in as a 31 year old Manhattanite …  until I finally made it here to this precious Pacific island, three decades later —  With all due respect! I lived in a beautiful house we built in Washington County, Oregon (97007) almost as many years as I did on the East Coast. I changed diapers there, my...

I’m an early bird, you know. And I’m getting very excited about the new year, already. This one will be very special — cause it won’t be too long before I’m headed out of state.  A new year in a new place. I wish all the very best of everything  to everyone — even if you weren’t born Jewish. Just about everyone, I suspect, if you look closely enough, can track down a Jewish relative.  I feel so proud being part of the tribe and when I get called a Jewish mother — I smile! Can’t always tell by the name, you know. Marvin Hamlisch and I got along...

Sometimes, when I know I should be taking a walk, drinking more water, doing all the things a girl’s gotta do — I give myself a very quick  three minute break. If I need something funny, I turn to a genius like Woody Allen for help.  I still can’t decide who’s funnier — Woody Allen or Larry David?   www.youtube.com/watch?v=EN2m5x4djaE After Jimmy and I finished reading “Bonfire of the Vanities” — see my blog tribute to Maestro James DePreist — I heard they were making it into a movie and that Mick Jagger wanted to play the reporter.  He...

Could there have been a better year than 2008 for a kid smitten by politics to start college?  Forget Hurricane Ike and what it did to Houston!  Thank goodness, Rice University took care of its talented student body and helped Houston, too.  But what about us — 2000  miles away?  We missed our son so much! At first, we tried filling our empty nest with a sweet cockatiel called Tilly. She sat on our shoulders and chirped whenever we played “Mame” for her.  But the house still felt empty. So, I volunteered on a big Senate campaign. You know when you’re on the phone trying to...