Mrs. Eastwood and Company
She's a television newscaster in her 20's who goes to work one day and interviews a famous movie star and Hollywood icon. The professional turns personal when the interview turns into a romance, a marriage and children. It sounds a lot like my story; but it's also the story of Dina Ruiz---something we have in common besides living in Carmel. Despite the similarities in stories, there are some MAJOR differences. I interviewed the star but married his manager; Dina married the star himself---Carmel's most famous citizen ---Clint Eastwood. After I got married I moved from Miami to Los Angeles, where I lived for years before moving to Carmel. Dina did the opposite; remaining on the Monterey Peninsula, hundreds of miles away from everything Hollywood. Until now. Starting tonight she's embracing Hollywood, as the star of … [Read More...]
Perspective on Parenting: 10 Points
Everyone has talked about it, argued about it, written about it, parodied it — to the point that there’s nothing left to add to the conversation. But I’m doing it anyway. I can’t resist adding my two cents. Or sense. Or common sense. The cover is meant to get attention and sell magazines; that’s clear. [...]
I am Forbidden
I was 45 years old; divorced with two children, when I re-married a man who wasn’t Jewish. My father refused to come to the wedding— and shut me out of his life. Though we were not raised to be strictly observant Jews, he had been raised Orthodox; I knew that Orthodox Jews don’t accept inter–marriage; they [...]
B-Older and Wiser
BURNING BRAS WITH KEIRA KNIGHTLEY
I always thought she was gorgeous. That face. That skin. That elegant willowy body. And talented. Period English films. Pirate action movies. A teenage soccer movie. What couldn’t that girl do? In addition to all that, Keira Knightley, age 23, now becomes my inspiration. For standing up to the Hollywood system and the popular culture [...]
Cancer
The power of a punchline
There’s a surprising amount of power in a sense of humor, sometimes including the power of attraction— humor is what connected me to my first husband. Not only is he funny himself, he was the personal manager for Mel Brooks, a man who knows the power of a punchline. He told me once about a [...]
Popular Culture
Dear Celebrity, Your 15 minutes are up
(Hopefully this post will be read with the gravity it deserves.) As advertisers scrambled to save their campaigns and wives warily eyed their husbands’ cell phones and golf clubs.…Tiger created a tsunami. His sordid saga splashed across the globe, growing from golf ball to snowball size, gaining speed and momentum until it was a planetary [...]
Carmel Charm
By the C by the sea
Answer to the most frequently asked question around here: No, Clint Eastwood is no longer the mayor; but he’s still Carmel’s most famous citizen. Among other local oddities like no streetlights, no high heels and no eating ice cream on the street ( NOT urban legends but actual city ordinances) my biggest surprise 15 years [...]
Parenting
Stand back and watch
She’s two and a half. My daughter is sitting on the floor with the other toddlers in her weekly music class. Usually they sing songs as a group–but today’s there’s something new. 20 kids take turns singing solos—a song of their choice into a microphone. 19 of them sing the Alphabet Song or Twinkle Twinkle. [...]
Chocolate and other food for thought
More Matzo Roca
It’s become a yearly tradition at any seder I give or attend; and also a yearly tradition on my blog. For me, Passover means two words: Matzo. Roca. Whether you celebrate Passover or not—and you don’t have to be Jewish, either—I consider posting this a public service. MATZO ROCA 4 whole matzos 1 stick [...]
An Accidental Artist
Peace by piece –Hope by hand
I call my mosaics “Peace by Piece” —and the other night I learned that others can find the same in themselves. Especially people who know the feeling of hearing 3 words: You. Have. Cancer. Life goes from normal—to nightmare. Equal to the physical effects can be the emotional effects—constant fear and stress. As a mother [...]
All in the Family
Learning Curve
This is a piece I wrote about my daughter Alli– published in MORE Magazine, in March 2006. I finished college in 1971, a member of the first class of women to graduate from Yale. I would not describe myself as overly ambitious–still, I like to be first, and I like to be best. Of course [...]
After becoming a writer, artist, TV journalist, mother and breast cancer survivor----I realize nothing turns out the way we expect. So I blog about handling the big and little things — with humor, humanity, and hope.
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