My husband Stanley. We two were one. Now I’m half. The greatestlove I’ve known died June 1.  When he put hisarms around me, I felt safe. We had almost 50 years together. Stanley hada big personality. His curiosity was endless. Heliked classical music, Count Basie, Chinese food, baseball, crossword puzzles, talking to anyone–and he liked […]

It was a big problem. When I was 13, I had no personality.I didn’t fit in anywhere.  I was so shy I felt invisible. My oldersister, the first and favored grandchild, was a talker. I was ina class at school of bright children who were so eager to answera question, they raised both hands. I […]

How would you feel if someone called you a BadAss? Is calling a woman a BadAss a compliment or an insult? Marvel comics sexasized BadAss females by giving them super-duperphysical powers and bodies men fantasize about.  They could flythrough the air, kick butt, spill blood, and destroy armies ofmutants. You have any friends like that? […]

I blame Walt Disney.He had Snow White sing “Some day my prince will come, Some day I’ll find the one….” I grew up believing that song. I blame Dean Martin.He had a big hit when he sang “You’re nobody till somebody loves you.” I believed that song. The movies weren’t helpful. Everybody in the movies […]

If you didn’t have something Periwinkle Blue in your closet last year, you should have. The Influencers and Stylists said Periwinkle Blue was the most important color of 2022. What if they say Puce is the most important color of 2023? Will you buy something Puce? I don’t even know what color Puce is but […]

Dear Santa,I don’t want anything.After 87 years of accumulating stuff, I have too muchof everything.  My family doesn’t want anything I have.I’ll pack some stuff up and you can put it downsomebody else’s chimney. Merry Christmas.Gingy Dear Queen Elizabeth,I’m sorry you won’t be here this Christmas.I read that 3 of your 4 children got divorced.I […]

You’re just a button click away and I’d love to hear from you.  About your world, your family, your joys and frustrations, growing up, growing older, even recipes– even though I stopped cooking–by request–years ago.Goodbye until next time…Hope your day turns out as well as I hope (but doubt) mine will,Gingy (Ilene)

Remember the 1979 movie “10”? Dudley Moore called Bo Derek aperfect 10 out of 10 based on her looks. More interesting to me washer hair in cornrows and beads. I read it took glue and two women10 hours to braid. I gave up trying to duplicate the look in 10 minutes. The number 10 has […]

Some people say they learned everything about life in kindergarten.Some people say they learned everything about life from their dog.I learned everything about life from the movies. My Aunt Babbie took me to the movies every Saturday afternoon in the1940s, even if the sun was shining. That’s where I first learned about lifeand being a […]