The Village Voice print edition is about to die. This news leaves me nostalgic. In 1978, I was a Voice college intern. When the semester ended, the paper hired me as an office assistant. What an education. I learned about pushing boundaries and self-respect. At the time, The Voice was making a big, fat fortune in advertising revenue. Those were …
How to drive from NY to LA in 5 days
We were two women on our first cross-country road trip. We did it — we logged nearly 3,000 miles, just my daughter Gabi and me. The whole adventure felt so wildly American, spontaneous and independent. So here I am, with a blog post on how to drive from NY to LA in 5 days. Gabi mapped out a simple, direct …
I am a human being, not a human doing
My busy life is getting on my nerves; I’m tired. I’m also ready to minimize distractions, which are a form of madness. So here’s what I’m thinking now: I am a human being, not a human doing. When I first heard this line, part of me screamed out, yessss!!! Even though some people consider this little saying a cliché, it …
Turning 61 and feeling good about it
From the time I was 25, birthdays made me gloomy. I always felt I didn’t accomplish enough. But here I am, turning 61 — and feeling good about my life. There’s more happiness and depth than I thought possible. So it’s time to let go of disempowering beliefs about aging. In reality, I’m grateful for wonderful health. I enjoy the …
Happy 100th birthday: I love you Mom, thorns and all
Dear Mom, I used to hate roses because they reminded me of you: beautiful, with dangerous thorns. But when I planted your favorite flower on your 100th birthday, you sent me a sign. Now, I embrace you completely, Mother Dear. I love you, Mom, thorns and all. If you were still alive, you would’ve adored shopping for rose bushes at …
Time to get outta the house — a hello from L.A.
Somehow, my daughter and I pulled together a last-minute cross-country road trip, from New York to Los Angeles. Coast-to-coast. It was time to get outta the house! I’m grateful that the drive went well — it’s just one of many gratitudes on my list right now. As you know, I’m big on being thankful. In fact, I find that daily …