Banned Books...Memories

Libraries in various places in the world have decided to memorialize the 9/11 attack on the USA by celebrating the banning of books. That's how it seems at first glance, although of course the idea is to glorify the freedom of speech promised by Democracy and to remember what bad things happen when societies practise censorship. Of course books are banned in democracies too, even today. In my opinion, the energy spent banning most books would be better spent educating people to become critical readers. Especially now, when the Internet is notoriously unfriendly to censorship.

I have vivid memories of two extraordinary people I "knew" who were directly associated with the publication of books banned for obscenity: Vladimir Nabokov and Pascal Covici.

Vladimir Nabokov was my Russian Literature and Comparative Literature teacher at college. During the summer of my sophomore year "Lolita" was published. It was banned in the USA, but friends who were fortunate enough to go to Paris that summer returned with suitcases full of English paperback copies. I regret that I was too much of a goody goody cheapskate to invest in buying one of them, but not so much of a goody goody that I didn't read it. Instead, I bought a copy of his less-controversial "Pnin," which he was gracious enough to autograph for me.

Pascal Covici became most famous as John Steinbeck's editor and friend. I met him and his wife Dorothy at a party at their Manhattan apartment, invited by my good friend Michael, Dorothy's nephew. Later, when Mrs. Covici had become a widow, Michael and I introduced her to my widowed mother, and as we had hoped, the two widows became good buddies. It was then that Mrs. Covici told us all about her honeymoon with Pascal. They were married in Chicago, and for their wedding trip they took a train from Chicago to New York, carrying smuggled copies of "Ulysses" as evidence for the judge(s) to read in the famous trial. At the time, and to this day, I can think of no honeymoon more exciting and romantic than that.

Fred's Movie is the Best!

Just when I start reviewing movies, Fred posts a video clip of his daughter that beats even the school play scene in one of my listed all-time favorites, "Parenthood." He's given us world class entertainment just a mouse-click away. Thank you, Fred!

Note to elswhere and Prowesslessnesslessness: If I'd had a video camera when you were little, I'd be posting scenes of elswhere's first ballet performance (age 3) in her bright red leotard, and Prowesslessnesslessness bringing down the house at the YMHA after-school program with his version of "My Blanket and Me" from "You're a Good Man, Charlie Brown." (Sigh.)

Two Movie Reviews

I saw one movie in August, while I was in Manhattan, and I'm so glad I saw it there. There's nothing like seeing "Mad Hot Ballroom" in a theater near Union Square: from their reaction, many members of that audience had attended NYC public schools and shared my municipal pride. But you don't have to be a New Yorker or even an American to be uplifted by this extraordinary documentary. And you certainly don't have to watch it in a Manhattan theater, or even any theater: I'm sure the DVD will be out soon, if it isn't already. Admirers of the art of film editing will also enjoy this movie on a professional level.

The other movie I saw this past Thursday. It's also a fairly new documentary, and already available on DVD: "What the Bleep Do We Know?" There is a web site for the film and its subject, which is quantum physics and the meaning of consciousness. Admittedly there is a New Age-y cultish component to this site, what with conferences and workshops that you can pay somebody's hard-earned money to attend, but the movie has some really interesting science. I only wish they hadn't used New Age music, which doesn't work for/on me as intended...it makes me agitated and irritated, as does old-fashioned "elevator music." Anyhow, the bottom line of "What The Bleep" is: the brain can perceive lots more than you think, you have lots more influence over events in your life than you think, and everything is deeply intertwingled*. One could conclude that "The Power of Positive Thinking" might actually be old wine in old bottles...the best kind of wine, y'know.

*credit to Tom DeMarco, from many many years ago.

Unpacking - Found Old Meme Tag

The last pile of papers and the last list leftover from my Big Summer Trip included a meme that Udge tagged me with back on August 1.

Five personal idiosyncracies:

1. I love to untangle knots

2. I hate to go to another room unless I have at least two reasons

3. I watch all the credits at the end of a movie

4. I could hang out all day at an office supply store

5. I don't like to shop

Let's see, whom to tag? elswhere, fred, and john. Gotcha!

On the Eighth Night...

I arrived home on Sunday, September 11, and after seven nights of wide-awakeness, punctuated by intermittent naps I finally slept through the night! They tell me that jet lag recovery takes one day for each time zone, so I'm two days away from total recovery.

Common sense may be the last faculty to return: I'm sitting here blogging because it's too hot to go out and take the dog for her morning walk. But it's already after 11 AM and it's not going to get any cooler for many, many hours, so what good is procastination? I sometimes wish my doggie had less patience, because she just encourages my foolishness. Blind devotion isn't always want you want from your best friend, although a dog with a large bladder is a comfort.

Hair

This post was inspired by Fred.

Hairstyles are sooo interesting. Above left is my daughter, below left is my son. To the right are my twogranddaughters' hairstyles. Which one belongs to which parent?

I Know I Left My Brains Somewhere...

Trying to figure out how to describe what's going on here, when lo! I stumble upon a much better description of jet lag than I could ever write.

And what's worse, I'm running out of bread.

Was it a dream, or did I actually meet Yael yesterday? I think we had lunch together. I think it was fun. It might even have been a lot of fun. Who is this "I" who keeps cropping up on my screen? Why is my camera so full of photos, way more than its stated capacity? Why are the light switches so cute? What makes the sun come up and go down like that? Am I under anaesthesia or what? Nothing hurts, but it's very spacey down here in this basement on the third floor. Ahh...dog licking face...I think I'll be on the ground one of these days...such altitudinous confusion!

Somebody's Been Sleeping in My Bed

Goldilocks was gone. I knew she was going to be sleeping in my bed, because we swapped apartments for the first (Manhattan) week of my trip, but I did find a big pile of laundry when I got home, and that made me happy because it's a mindless task that I don't think I can botch even with no sleep for the last 30 hours. And I do want to stay awake until "normal" bedtime to try to outsmart jet lag.

The flights were uneventful but people-full. Well, almost eventful: at one point when we were past the point of no return there was a flurry of flight attendants and an announcement requesting any doctors on board to identify themselves, but the ailing passenger recovered. That's the first time that ever happened on a flight I've taken, and I wondered if we'd have to make an unscheduled landing in England, but we didn't.

To cross America, I thought I was taking a Delta flight, but it turned into something called "Song Airlines". They had a fine entertainment system and the snacks-for-sale were a perfect supplement to my brown-bag sandwich. For some reason I have trouble remembering the name of this airline, and keep calling it "Soon" Airlines, which would not be a first choice name. Better "Now," than "Soon." And both flights were on time.

Despite the fact that both JFK and Ben Gurion airports have been nicely upgraded, I am happy to be done with airports for a while (I hope).

Thanks to all of you who wished me a good trip: your wishes were granted!

Leaving on a Jet Plane

With mixed feelings, I'm packing up to start the long trip home. Before I leave on one of these intense family visits it takes me about a month to prepare. Then, when I return, it takes about three weeks to settle back into my regular routine. No matter how long I stay away, there's this almost-two-month overhead. I'm grateful that I've been able do it (so far), and that "my people" seemed to be doing OK.

There's a temptation to skip down to Houston and volunteer, but I'm afraid I'd become part of the problem instead of part of the solution.

Now for the big question, to which I already know the answer. Is it still hot in Tel Aviv?

The Wheels on the Bus (Updated)*

Bus Driver Bill0001
Originally uploaded by savtadotty.

The wheels on the school bus went pretty slowly today, Mermaid Girl's first day of kindergarten, so the bus was about 20 minutes late picking her up. But the bus driver Bill was so cheerful and friendly. Don't you think he looks like a Norman Rockwell school bus driver?


* For accompanying narrative, go elswhere.

Spoon Outdoors

Spoon01
Originally uploaded by savtadotty.

You can see the Jewish symbols on Cousin Lucy's Spoon more clearly in this photo: the Menorah, the Torah, the two tablets, and others. I thought Cousin Lucy had bought it in Israel, but I looked on the back and found: "Michael C. Fina Co., 1 W. 47 St. NYC."

Now for the Truth

Some of you may have thought I travelled 8,000 miles to escape the Tel Aviv August heat. Some of you may have thought I wanted to check up on my invalid brother. Some of you may have thought I wanted to visit my granddaughter for her fifth birthday. Some of you may even have thought I wanted to fly on the same plane as my one-year-old granddaughter and her mom and dad. And you would all have been a little bit right.

But the truth is, I wanted to get a photo of Cousin Lucy's Spoon, and we all know, if you want to be sure something gets done, you have to do it yourself. (Tomorrow I'll try a photo in the daylight, and maybe the flash reflection will go away. Why did I have to go and polish that spoon?)

Elementary School Sign in Booland

Elementary School Sign in Booland
Originally uploaded by savtadotty.

Today I attended Kindergarten Orientation with Mermaid Girl. At her public elementary school, I noticed the "All Families Welcome" sign in front of the administration office. It says: "Our school wants to be welcoming. If you do not feel welcome here, or know of any gay, lesbian, bisexual, or transgender harassment, please call 1-888-307-9275."

I suppose families who can't read English aren't their target audience.