Month: November 1996

I missed it: Whirlpool Corporation’s “Clean out Your Refrigerator Day.” The idea was to ensure a clean appliance for the holidays. But, I did not have time to clean out last week’s leftovers and unidentified shriveling objects (USO’s) from my refrigerator before the holidays hit: I was busy preparing for my first holiday feast, a…

When I stepped out of the car, Aunt Erma called, “Hi, Joanie.” She’s the only one who still calls me by my childhood name. It is her special name for me and I like it – from her. Maybe because she is my other mother. My father is close to his identical twin brother, so…

Our teenager disagreed with everything we said. Declared we were too strict and wanted more independence than we were ready to give. Inevitably, we clashed. Late into that night we talked, reasoned and argued. Nothing made any difference. Finally, we simply declared a truce: My husband had to be at work very early and he…

I say “Yes!” to more memories like the summer I was old enough to walk up the hill to the tiny two-roomed library in Jasper, N.Y. The rooms were filled with book shelves and overflowing tables. Entranced, I pulled out the picture books on the lower shelve and discovered the story of “Madeline” and the…