From Taos to Laos (and back)

In 1951, three activist rabbis formed an organization called the American Jewish Society for Service. In 1968, when my mother was sixteen, she went with AJSS to New Mexico for the summer, working with other high schoolers to build houses and do community service work. In 1997, my cousin, Jen, did the same in Oklahoma. And when I was sixteen, I followed suit.

I was reluctant at first. I pretty much hated doing anything that my mother recommended, and I wasn't too keen on the Jewish aspect of the organization. It turned out to be a really magical summer and I made some friends there who I have stayed in touch with, off and on, over the years. The Jewish aspect of the trip turned out to be low-key, if present at all. People came from pretty diverse backgrounds when it came to religion. Some people on the trip barely considered themselves Jewish, while others were raised kosher and went to services every Saturday. I think the mix fostered a nice spirit in regards to Judaism, without ever being dogmatic or by-the-book.

We were stationed in Taos, New Mexico. We slept on air mattresses in the classrooms of a church compound, and took a van every day to the Taos Pueblo Nation, where we all worked on building a house. We worked under the guidance of a man named Benito, who had lots of interesting and fantastical stories to tell us, but ultimately, was not the best foreman. And in retrospect, I don't think we made a huge impact on the house, aside from some plastering and stucco. But I remember it as a really unique, special summer that had a big impact on my development as a person - and that's why I was so jazzed to have a reunion with both Hanna (who you may remember from many travel adventures in Asia) and Melanie. The three of us hadn't been together in about eight years.


I think we all turned into some badass motherfuckers, if I may say so myself! Hanna spent two years in Guangzhou, teaching English and assisting documentary filmmakers, and now lives in Brooklyn and works at Teacher U, helping shape a new generation of educators. Melanie spent many years as a New Orleanian and environmentalist, is now at Rutgers for mechanical engineering, and is helping lead the New Jersey team in the national Solar Decathlon. And you all know what I do. Here's to many more reunions with these great women.

December 2010

Things I'm Thankful For

Childhood books, green apples, Amy Poehler & Tina Fey, the feeling of my town in autumn, good health, the fact that I like my job, public transportation, my family, travel, Buffy the Vampire Slayer, people being kind to one another.

The Internet, The Whitney, my year in China, my wonderful grandmother, the state of Michigan, good friends (near and far), Clueless, singing along to songs in my mom's car, The Mountain Goats, old typewriters, subcultures, gay art-scene bloggers, certain parts of Judaism.

Romance, popcorn, having Barack Obama as president, dancing, my baby cousin Sam, home movies, financial stability, my education.

And lastly, America. It can be a perplexing, awful, racist, sexist, hypocritical place, but it's also beautiful, mesmerizing, diverse, and thrilling. I am thankful to live in America. I am thankful that I am free to publish this blog. And I am thankful for my readers. (All six of you.)

Poetry in Motion

In high school I was co-editor of a poetry magazine called Calliope. Even though it was full of typical teenage drama and we appreciated a certain type of angsty prose, I have really fond memories of it and there was a good structure in place for running the club. We met once a week at lunchtime in an English classroom (usually poorly attended), and once a week at night at my house (usually well-attended). At the meeting, we all read the poem to ourselves, then someone read it aloud. We discussed it, put it to a blind vote, and afterward gave the author a chance to reveal themselves and talk about the poem. At the end of the year, we printed a magazine.

Last week, I went with Rachel (Calliope Editor '05) to see Naomi (Calliope Editor '04) in a poetry collective reading/show at Lolita Bar on the Lower East Side. Not only was it great to see both of them and catch up, but it reminded me how much I like poetry and how I miss writing it. I did a little bit in college (especially when I lived with Aebra), but nothing since. Maybe I'll take it up again.

So here's to Naomi and her group, Intangible Collective, and dark bars and the desire to play with words again on my grandmother's typewriter.

Three generations of Calliope editors!

Treasure Trove

Sophie and I went through a folder of all our old things and found some gems:


Now, I know I look impossibly adorable in this first-day-of-school photograph, but don't be fooled. I was a vigilant letter-writer and when I wasn't pleading with my parents to let me go to acting school, I was letting them know of my extreme disappointment in them. In my defense, I think I was going for the German spelling of "good." You know, for extra emphasis.

Wedding Bells

This past weekend I went to (and participated in) my cousin Jen's wedding. It was really fun, even if I found being a bridesmaid a bit overwhelming. There was a ton of love in the air and you could just feel how much Jen and Odie adore one another. My sister sobbed throughout the whole thing, making me feel like a total robot - but I shed some tears during the parents' speeches. Something about the relationship between parents and children is what gets to me. That's why I always cry at the end of "Riding In Cars With Boys," my favorite cheesy Drew Barrymore movie.

In addition to seeing two lovely people start a life together, the nicest thing about the wedding was an opportunity to spend time with people that I normally don't get a chance to see: great aunts and uncles, second cousins, relatives from the other side of the family. Sometimes I forget how nice it is to feel connected to people for no reason other than blood and marriage. There's something permanent and unchangeable about it.

Jen and Oded

My dad looks at the chuppah my aunt made

BFF: My grandmother, Bern, and Jacob, the ring bearer

Bridesmaids

Zaluskis!

Retro: My grandmother & grandfather in 1949

Dad Buys a Scanner

Bob, Maggie, and Ronald Reagan. (Well, a cardboard cutout of Ronald Reagan.)

Los Angeles, 1986