The first person that comes to mind when I think of the word “successful” is Ketanji Brown Jackson. I think I most admire people who are very smart and accomplished by typical standards (valedictorians, Ivy League graduates, etc.), but who choose careers not entirely based on financial remuneration. Accomplished judges, scientists, writers…they impress me. They have so much power and influence and can push humanity forward. I think we really want our “best and brightest” in those kinds of jobs.
Now, if Ketanji Brown Jackson had used her brilliant mind, work ethic, and Harvard education to go into something like, I don’t know–investment banking–I wouldn’t blame her, but I also wouldn’t admire her so.
There’s a difference between a good neighbor and a close neighbor. I grew up in a close neighborhood where the kids played together and the adults were friends. The adults organized a big Labor Day picnic every year that was tons of fun. For many years, the kids held a “carnival for muscular dystrophy,” which was a bunch of silly games and performances (think magic shows and baton twirling) in which we attempted to raise a few dollars for Jerry’s Kids.
Our nextdoor neighbors were a big part of our lives. We didn’t hesitate to go nextdoor and ask for a cup of sugar (and vice versa), if we discovered we were out midway through baking some cookies.
As an adult, I lived in one neighborhood that might have passed the sugar test. For a few years, there was a critical mass of moms who were home during the day and we hung out. I could’ve asked one of them for a cup of sugar, if I needed it.
After that, we moved to a bigger house in a different town – a subdivision. Here we have two acre lots and beautiful lawns. The lawns are a big deal. We did have a little outdoor neighbordhood gathering last weekend, but it’s not the same as the old days. The one neighbor I had here that would’ve passed the sugar test got divorced and moved to a condo downtown. (I still see her, but she’s not technically a neighbor anymore.)
These days the Number One quality of a good neighbor is that they’re quiet. If they don’t mow their lawns at 8pm or use a dreaded leafblower for hours on Saturday morning, I’m good. The noise of children is an exception. I love hearing kids play. We currently have no annoying dogs nearby, but we do have a problem. A big one. Some people moved in next door and built a chicken coop, which is not unusual, but then they did the one thing that cannot be overlooked or forgiven – they got a rooster.
Here’s the culprit with his girlfriends. He rises before 6 and squawks ALL day.
Let’s see…I’ve tried caviar and snails (escargot), but I’ve never had frogs’ legs. They sound kind of gross, but I just learned how to ask for them in French: Vous servez des cuisses de grenouilles? This was like the number three food item they taught me how to say in my French app, so they must be popular there.
I guess I could try them for the first (and perhaps only) time. When in Rome Paris…
I think I’m more pragmatic than highly principled. I want to live in a peaceful world, where everyone gets along, and basic needs are met for all. I believe in democracy and capitalism within reason. I believe the government should provide basic services, including education, and should get involved in regulating and overseeing private industry to protect us and our environment. I believe there are certain things that only government can do, like protect our civil rights and bodily autonomy, including protecting us from gun violence.
I believe it is an individual’s responsibility to act in a way that contributes to society and if possible, don’t burden others. Work, pay your taxes, raise decent children, exercise, floss, and for goodness sake’s VOTE, even when it’s a real pain in the ass. Like tonight.
Massachusetts towns have this crazy form of local government called Town Meeting. It’s incredibly time consuming as people can stand up and pontificate ad nauseum on anything from a new firetruck to a new bylaw regulating backyard chickens.
Tonight there’s a zoning question around guns. Pro second amendment people will pack the meeting, as will parents and others who want to limit the number of firearms businesses in town. I’d rather stay home and watch Hotel Portofino on Masterpiece, but I will go to Town Meeting. Because you gotta do your part.
This is Article 9. It’s not as interesting as Masterpiece, but showing up and voting YES is the least I can do.The simple version
One of the things about being an empty nester is that you’ve got a lot more time than you used to. Consequently, I’ve done most of the things on my “to do” list.
Since the weather has been good, I’ve also been getting out for a 2-3 walk mile almost every day. A couple days ago, I saw a hawk in a tree at about eye level. I struggled to figure out how to quickly open the camera on my new iPhone. Also, I wasn’t wearing my glasses, so I couldn’t exactly see what was in the frame. Still, I ended up getting a pretty cool photo of a Red-tailed hawk with prey. Just after this photo, the hawk flew away with the meal dangling from its talon. I guess he/she wanted to eat elsewhere, unobserved.
Sorry, I realize this post has almost nothing to do with the writing prompt.
When was the first time you really felt like a grown up (if ever)?
About a week after I had my daughter, I ventured out into the world without her. I left her with my husband in our apartment while I went to a pharmacy to pick-up the first photos of her. (This was 1995 and we still took actual film to Walgreens or CVS to get prints made.)
I remember thinking, “This is so weird. It’s not just me walking around anymore. I’m someone’s mother.” I wondered if I looked different, because I sure felt different. I was 29 years old.
There’s nothing like the responsibility of having a teeny, tiny human completely dependent on you to make you feel like a true grown up real fast.
Here’s one of the photos I was picking up at the pharmacy that day: my February baby 💕
If you had a million dollars to give away, who would you give it to?
I know they say it’s better to give your money to legitimate charities, rather than directly to individuals, so you don’t get scammed. Still, it would be a lot more fun to drop 25K on 40 different people whose lives would be changed by that amount of money.
The mom who just really needs a reliable car, the elderly person who is cutting pills in half to save money, the guy who wants to take a college class or two. I’d like to find 40 people like that and give them 25K each. That would be fun.
What’s something you would attempt if you were guaranteed not to fail.
OK, I’ve heard versions of this question many times and I think it’s meant to be rhetorical. It’s a way of encouraging people to take risks, dream big, and push their limits without the fear of failure holding them back. It’s a message of empowerment and motivation.
One new thing I tried in my forties was voice lessons. I had always liked to sing, but never had lessons. While taking the lessons, I sang in a few student recitals, which was no great accomplishment, because some of the singers were truly terrible. I even participated in a couple of musical theater productions as an adult. I’m glad I took the lessons, because now I have some vocal technique to rely on when singing with my choir. Occasionally the choir director asks me to sing a solo line or two. I typically accept the solo…and sometimes I actually enjoy singing it.
Here I am in a 2009 production of “Too Many Sopranos” at the community music school where I took voice lessons.
What was the hardest personal goal you’ve set for yourself?
I’m not a big goal setter. I tend to believe in the old John Lennon quote, “Life is what happens to you while you’re busy making other plans.”
One time I really did make a conscious, considered decision to do something and then made it my personal mission was when I decided to have a second child at 35+.
We had one perfect kindergartner and my husband was not really on board with baby #2. I had been thinking the same, but then had a change of heart and knew I wasn’t getting any younger.
So I made it happen.
It took about six months to get pregnant. The pregnancy itself was OK, but my son was huge and 8 days late just before the holidays, so that was rough. Also, I had natural childbirth with a midwife which was hard, but also exhilarating and rewarding.
So yeah, having my son was the hardest and best personal goal I ever set for myself. And good news – my husband eventually came around too!
I try to see as much work by living artists as I can (although I like many dead ones too).
I’m a member of The Institute of Contemporary Art Boston, which is where I worked when I first got out of college. Back then, they had a small building in the Back Bay. Now they’re in a big new building out on the waterfront.
Typically I like painting and photography, but I’ve recently seen some wonderful sculpture, ceramics, and mixed-media work that blew me away. One artist in particular, Rose B. Simpson, had a great show at The ICA in 2022. The sculptures were displayed at about eye level and were so beautiful and powerful.
Stunning mother and child by Rose B. Simpson Close-up of the faces
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