Archive for December, 2012

Two Words: Merry Christmas

Thursday, December 20th, 2012

best picture of me and michael, younger

One of the most memorable calls of my life was one that I picked up from my answering machine twenty-one years ago, Christmas Day.

It was my first Christmas alone after my husband had left me for another woman (READ THAT STORY HERE).  I was still reeling from that hit — and not because we had some loving marriage, but because of the betrayal.

I had gone on two very casual dates with a new man.  Didn’t know if there would be a third.  First date was for lunch at the Broadway Deli in Santa Monica, the second was dinner at Remi, a great Italian restaurant.  Both were on the Third Street Promenade, and are now gone.  It was followed by a game of pool in a sports bar across the way.  Throughout both dates, I kept the conversation going, filling in the empty spaces with my unique backstory – growing up in the slums of Beverly Hills, my one-of-a-kind, loudmouth producer dad, my quirky, Texas-born, goyishe mom.  Yakety yakety yak.  Was he even listening?   Who knows?  The first date was October 24th and the next was a few weeks later, in November.  And that could have been that; it wasn’t exactly a relationship moving quickly or even a relationship at all.  But, for some reason, I really liked those two dates, as they may have been the first dates in my whole life.  When I was younger, you met someone — there were no dates – and just sort of moving in right away was the norm. (more…)

In Times of Trouble, Let it Be

Wednesday, December 12th, 2012

When I find myself in times of trouble Mother Mary comes to me

 Speaking words of wisdom, let it be.

Oh, I was in trouble all right.  “Grounded for life,” were the words my mother said.

And in my hour of darkness she is standing right in front of me

 Speaking words of wisdom, let it be

I had switched parks.  And friends.  The new ones were stoners and longhairs.  A wild bunch.   I planned on having the time of my life.  Experimenting.  Transforming.

Let it be, let it be, let it be, let it be

 Whisper words of wisdom, let it be (more…)

Predictable Behavior

Wednesday, December 5th, 2012

I am a creature of habit.  So much so, that my kids and friends know where I am every minute of the day.  Each night, between 6:00 and 7:00 PM, dinner.  Same three meals  over and over again — if I’m cooking.   Same restaurants where I order the same meal.  Between 7:30 and 8:30 PM, I show up at the Y, where I’m greeted with big, friendly hellos from the young, hungry staff.  You see, I usually have some of my freshly baked cake in hand.  “FREDDE!!!!!!” Wendy and David yell from behind their tall desks where they’re doing their YMCA duties.  On the way home from the Y, I might make a quick stop at the market to drop off another piece of cake for my friend Kent, who bags groceries.  Then home for a swim. (more…)