We went to Maple Street bookstore tonight and their new motto is “Love Among the Ruins,” a fitting motto for anyone living in New Orleans at this time. It’s a little local bookstore, a booklovers paradise, exactly what you’d imagine if you thought of a dusty old bookshop from a mystery novel or a curiosity shop. Dirty, tattered, charming, and filled with books! I just finished reading The Moviegoer by Walker Percy, who also wrote Love Among the Ruins. Apparently…
This morning I wanted to weep. It was just a moment, a snapshot. Henry was toddling around the bedroom looking for mischief in his diaper and blue Martha’s Vineyard t-shirt, his wild curls sticking out the back of his head, and Annabelle was jumping on the bed next to me in her purple tinkerbell underwear. It was such a perfect moment and I didn’t want it to end. I want to preserve them here, at these ages, forever, hold the…
Ahhhh, we went to eat at Babylon Cafe on Maple Street tonight and I took one bite of the rice and labneh and instant intoxication. A flood of sense memories came rushing at me: so many years of being steeped in the best parts of Middle Eastern culture, the celebrations! Weddings, birthdays, Bar and Bat Mitzvahs, I even danced at a Briss (circumcision) and at a hospital for a man on his deathbed. I’ve danced for Saudi royalty, dignitaries, and…
I awakened completely furious with George after my third night of no sleep due to Henry and no help from my significant other. For the second time in three years, I put the pillow over my head and didn’t get up with the monkeys at the break of dawn, hoping George would take the hint and give me a break. I heard him say, “Henry, don’t play with that.” I knew Henry had gotten a hold of the alarm clock…
Some of you may be wondering why I write so much about fairies. That would be because I have fairy blood. That might seem crazy but it’s true. First of all, I’ve always suspected there was magic running through my veins, so I was hardly surprised when I found out I actually was a descendant of the fairies. I performed as Peasblossom in Midsummer Night’s Dream at the Globe in LA and I met some wonderful people and most importantly,…
Well, they were totally delighted by the treasures brought by the Fairies. We played for hours with the silks and wools and animals and fairies. Henry tried to climb into the silk hammock designed for a much lighter stuffed fairy, but other than that, (and the fact that a bike fell over right on his forehead and I caught him standing up, teetering really, on the tiny grand piano in the sun room), we had a great day. We made…
It’s Autumn Equinox Eve. Time for balance, baking, warmth, cinnamon, apples, love, and magic. “Annabelle,” I say, “the fairies might bring you something tonight for Autumn Equinox.” Her face lights up. “I’m going to call them on my phone and ask them!” she says. She has a pink maribou feather phone, basically a fairy hotline. She can talk to the fairy queen anytime, day or night. And the fairies are coming, bringing treasures to Annabelle’s fairy house. A stuffed squirrel,…
George came home this late afternoon and I was sitting in the kitchen holding Mr. Mischief on my lap, talking to Annabelle. I was on the verge of tears. “What’s the matter?” he asked me. “Henry fell out of the refrigerator,” I replied. George looked confused. “What was he doing in the refrigerator?” “He likes to climb up and stand on the lower ledge. He was standing there and he slipped and knocked his nose and forehead and cheek in…
Mr. Mischief has been hard at work today. For months he’s been trying his hardest to get the toilet scrub brush. I’ve chased him away from it countless times and finally hid it under the sink. Well, he got it. “Mom!” Annabelle yelled to me. “He’s got the toilet brush!” I came out of the kitchen and sure enough, he was running down the hall brandishing the brush like a sword, completely delighted with his victory. I chased him and…