I know a lot of people have dentist horror stories, and I also believe– from listening to those stories – that the horror stems not from what actually happened at the dentist’s office, but rather from what the individual’s own fear brought to the procedures. Some people simply can’t descend into that slick, contoured chair without conjuring up images from Marathon Man.
I never had those fears.
At least, not until I was in my early 30’s.
As a child, I’d had what were probably standard experiences for anyone born in the late 50’s. My earliest visits to the dentist – and specifically, those appointments that called for having a cavity filled – included no pain-numbing injections. My dentist – an old-fashioned gent who stood while he drilled and who played the sax in a combo band when he wasn’t wearing his white coat – simply took the process slowly. He pulled back when it was clear that the nerve was alarmed. After a moment, he would proceed. Sure, it hurt. But only in spurts. And only a little.
By my teen years, our family had switched to another dentist. This man, who was younger than the first, recommended the use of Novocain, and since I wasn’t afraid of an injection (I mean, you don’t have to look at the needle), I said, “Bring it on.”
After all those years of feeling the process of having a cavity filled, the numbing afforded by Novocain was an absolute treat. Beyond that, this younger dentist did what dentists have done from that point forward: he sat on a stool and put the patient in full recline mode.
For me, the opportunity to lie down in the middle of the day was a gift. The fact that I didn’t feel a thing made that gift an invitation to nap. I’m not saying I ever fell asleep in my dentist’s chair, but I was always phenomenally relaxed.
I will confess one exception to that statement, and my dentist got a kick out of it. My appointment, you see, was about a day ahead of one of my prep school finals, and I needed to study. So… I brought my notes with me, and as my dentist worked in my mouth, I held the notes above me in the air, and I read them.
He drilled.
I memorized.
The numbing in my mouth was completely gone a full 24 hours before I aced the exam.
Fast forward to my adulthood.
More dentists, here and there.
In New York, never a problem.
In Los Angeles, somehow trickier.
And as I was looking for one near my then-apartment in what is called “Beverly Hills adjacent,” a co-worker recommended her dentist.
We’ll call him Dr. Blatt.
During my premiere visit with Dr. Blatt, I was struck by the seeming passion he brought to his work. He appeared to be remarkably interested in every tooth in my mouth, and as he conveyed his observations to his assistant (and she took notes), his statements straddled a fence between dental speak and English. I got the impression that he was a bit anal.
As I walked home from the appointment (yes, I walked home – in L.A. – that’s how convenient this dentist was!), I thought, Hey, a perfectionist working on my teeth? I could do worse!
A week or so later, I went in for the first of several follow-up appointments. On this particular morning, Dr. Blatt would be working on the upper left quadrant. Apparently, there was a cavity up there, and it needed to be filled.
Until the day of this appointment, I had never experienced a “dental dam,” and for those who don’t know what I’m referring to, I’ll try to paint the picture as quickly as possible. A dental dam is a very thin, round rubber thing that the dentist places in your mouth. In the middle of it, there is a hole that is flush with your throat and allows you to breathe. The remaining rubber is there to prevent uninteresting parts of your mouth from getting in the way of the procedure at hand.
As for the procedure at hand, that is accomplished by forcing the designated work area through the dental dam. I.e., if the dentist is working on a molar near the back of your upper left quadrant, s/he pushes the dam until that tooth – and, I’m guessing, a few neighboring teeth – make their appearance on the working side of the rubber barrier.
So, class, are you with me?
It was new to me, too, but it all went fine. I was reclined, I was relaxed, and since Dr. Blatt was speaking only dental speak with his assistant, I had nothing to listen to but the sound of my body not having to be at work.
I was so relaxed, in fact, that at one point, Dr. Blatt returned to using English words with which I was familiar: “Katie?” he said, soothingly, “ Are you still alive? Because if you’re dead, there’s really no reason to continue.”
Maybe that’s dental humor. Anyway, it didn’t offend me. (I took it as a compliment, actually.) I’m sure I smiled with my eyes.
A week or two later, I was back for more. Another quadrant to be dealt with. This time, it was the lower left.
I was relaxed, numbed and ready to go when Dr. Blatt pushed the dam over the designated work area. And that’s when my jaw moved a bit.
(You see, I have kind of a popping jaw. Not a big issue. Not one for which I have ever sought counseling, but, yes, it pops.)
Dr. Blatt began with his procedure, speaking dental speak to his assistant, and for the first 45 minutes or so, I was okay. There was no pain in the area that they were working on, but slowly… slowly… the jolt to my jaw was starting to mess with my sense of alright. I was beginning to feel increasingly uncomfortable. I was beginning to feel downright nauseous.
I should mention now that one of the little quirks of Dr. Blatt is that, before any procedure, he provides his patient with a little hand mirror in case you want to watch his work!
(In retrospect, I could slap myself for not seeing the red flag in that! I mean, who the hell wants to watch that shit going on? Are you kidding?)
Anyway, I’m lying there, not nearly as relaxed as I had been during the prior appointment. The pain from the jaw pop is starting to get to me in a big way. And, I’ve got this damn dam in my mouth. I’m prone. This is so not a good time to be sick.
I’m seriously concerned, and the gravity of that feeling compels me to communicate as best I can.
I begin to make moaning sounds.
Dr. Blatt responds to those sounds by switching from dental speak to regular English. In a register louder than mine, he begins to tell his assistant about the luncheon he attended the previous week.
I’m lying there in pre-vomit pain and the bastard is ignoring me!
I tap my fingernails on the “patient mirror” that I’ve been holding in my hand. Those taps provide a percussive accompaniment to my continued moans.
Dr. Blatt speaks even more loudly about the luncheon.
I begin to kick my feet up and down, still moaning, still tapping the mirror.
FINALLY, Dr. Blatt acknowledges me, and in a tone that is belittling, he says, “I think Katie wants to tell us something!”
I sit up, and with all the Marcel Marceau in my soul, I mime, “Get this fucking goddamn dam out of my goddamn fucking mouth!” (Pardon my French, Marcel.)
Dr. Blatt removes the dam.
I take a deep breath, and I tell him, “I’m sorry, I feel like I’m going to be sick.”
He turns his head dramatically.
“And now I feel sick,” he says, “because now I am going to have to finish the procedure without the dam.”
Poor Dr. Blatt.
Poor inhumane, sociopathic, perfectionist, let-him-be-road-kill Dr. Blatt.
A week or so later, I was due to go back to him, and I guess I hadn’t fully processed the trauma he caused me because my intention was to keep the appointment. But, when I woke up on the morning when I was due in his office at 9:00, the first thing I did was cry.
I cancelled, needless to say, and I never saw that bastard again.
I’ve had the same dentist now for more than 12 years. He’s wonderful, as is his staff.
I’ve regained my ability to enjoy the opportunity that a dental appointment provides.
…Reclining.
…During the day.
The work at hand? …Somebody else’s problem.
Wednesday, August 11, 2010
Saturday, August 7, 2010
Sneak-Peek Saturdays: Excerpt Seven
A NOTE BEFORE READING: I began sharing weekly excerpts from my novel, The Somebody Who, on June 26th. If you want to begin at the beginning, go here.
If you want to read more sooner, head over to Amazon where you can purchase a copy. (There’s a button on the left that will take you there).
CHAPTER TWO
I
It’s ten past ten when Evelyn enters the kitchen the next morning, and she isn’t surprised to see that the counters are sparkling clean. Such is the rigid routine of Mrs. Krosky.
Mrs. Krosky is one of the reasons that Evelyn really doesn’t like weekends. Mrs. Krosky is the woman who plays the Claudia role on Saturdays and Sundays. And while Evelyn is grateful for the generous benefits that come with Davy’s long-term care insurance, she wishes she had someone more like Claudia on the weekends. She wishes Mrs. Krosky were a little more gentle. She wishes Mrs. Krosky did not appear to have retired from the military. She wishes she didn’t feel so intimidated by Mrs. Krosky’s airs of judgment and finality.
Crossing to the coffeemaker near the bay window, Evelyn knows that she will see more of Mrs. Krosky’s routine. She will see The Krosk (as she silently calls her) and Davy, doing calisthenics in the backyard.
Does she really have to wear that damn whistle? Evelyn muses, as she pours coffee into her favorite mug and watches The Krosk persuade Davy to touch his toes for the umpteenth time.
Evelyn grimaces as she observes the routine. The Davy she married, the Davy she fell in love with, would never have let a rigid woman with ex-army airs tell him to touch his toes!
Evelyn’s observations of the calisthenics session manage to put her in some sort of trance, and so she doesn’t hear the front door opening. In fact, Adam’s voice makes her jump.
“Anybody home? Ma? Dad?”
Evelyn quickly returns to the moment and listens to the sound that always seems to accompany Adam: other thirtysomethings.
“In the kitchen, Sweetie!” Evelyn calls, as she follows a maternal instinct to open the refrigerator door and survey what she might offer the hungry masses.
Adam saunters into the kitchen with his flank of fellow activists—two guys and a gal. “Ma! How ya doin’?” he asks, as he hugs her.
Evelyn, lingering in his hug, knows not to answer that question honestly. For that matter, she doesn’t even attempt to answer it dishonestly. She just asks, “You folks hungry?”
Adam and his cohorts exchange shrugs and grins that indicate they won’t reject any food that is offered, so Evelyn returns to her fridge perusal while Adam makes introductions.
Brian. Aaron. Phoebe.
“Where’s Dad?” Adam asks then.
“He’s exercising in the backyard,” Evelyn replies, retrieving from the fridge a bag of bagels and a brick of cream cheese. “With Mrs. Krosky.”
“Mrs. Krosky? That sounds intense.”
Brian, Aaron, and Phoebe snicker a bit, and Evelyn wonders if they’ve been smoking pot.
“You should go back and say hi,” Evelyn tells her son.
“Well, he’ll be in soon, right?”
Evelyn tilts her head and shrugs her shoulders as she places bagels on the broiler tray. It strikes her as odd that Adam does not even go to the window to look out. It strikes her that Adam is, in some way, scared of Davy.
“So what’s the, uh, demonstration about?” Evelyn asks, knowing that a change of subject will make the room more comfortable for everyone else that is in it.
“State legislation,” replies Brian, with an orator’s tone. “Gay marriages.”
“Oh,” she comments, closing the oven door. “Are you for or against?”
“Mom!” Adam attempts a sarcastic admonition, and Evelyn senses that he is embarrassed.
“Sweetie, it’s just that it’s a loaded topic. There’s marriage. And… there’s being gay. Some people are opposed to one or the other. Some people are opposed to neither. Some people are opposed to both. Are any of you married?”
“That’s not the point!” Brian jumps in. “The government should not be in the business of defining relationships and deciding whether they are legitimate! The Conservative Right is pulling God and the Bible into the argument, and God and the Bible have nothing to do with it! It’s about the separation of church and state!”
Evelyn admires the fire behind Brian’s words. And though she wonders where the talking points end and he begins, she admires his confidence in making a statement that has been made for the past several decades. It’s good, she thinks, that there are still Brians and Adams and Aarons and Phoebes to fight the fight.
But what she really wants to know is this: Is Brian Adam’s lover? Or is Aaron Adam’s lover? And where does Phoebe fit in? Does Adam even know he’s gay?
She’ll have to ask later. The bagels are ready.
* * *
… to be continued on August 14th .
In the meantime, if you want to read a short piece about the back story, click here.
If you want to read more sooner, head over to Amazon where you can purchase a copy. (There’s a button on the left that will take you there).
CHAPTER TWO
I
It’s ten past ten when Evelyn enters the kitchen the next morning, and she isn’t surprised to see that the counters are sparkling clean. Such is the rigid routine of Mrs. Krosky.
Mrs. Krosky is one of the reasons that Evelyn really doesn’t like weekends. Mrs. Krosky is the woman who plays the Claudia role on Saturdays and Sundays. And while Evelyn is grateful for the generous benefits that come with Davy’s long-term care insurance, she wishes she had someone more like Claudia on the weekends. She wishes Mrs. Krosky were a little more gentle. She wishes Mrs. Krosky did not appear to have retired from the military. She wishes she didn’t feel so intimidated by Mrs. Krosky’s airs of judgment and finality.
Crossing to the coffeemaker near the bay window, Evelyn knows that she will see more of Mrs. Krosky’s routine. She will see The Krosk (as she silently calls her) and Davy, doing calisthenics in the backyard.
Does she really have to wear that damn whistle? Evelyn muses, as she pours coffee into her favorite mug and watches The Krosk persuade Davy to touch his toes for the umpteenth time.
Evelyn grimaces as she observes the routine. The Davy she married, the Davy she fell in love with, would never have let a rigid woman with ex-army airs tell him to touch his toes!
Evelyn’s observations of the calisthenics session manage to put her in some sort of trance, and so she doesn’t hear the front door opening. In fact, Adam’s voice makes her jump.
“Anybody home? Ma? Dad?”
Evelyn quickly returns to the moment and listens to the sound that always seems to accompany Adam: other thirtysomethings.
“In the kitchen, Sweetie!” Evelyn calls, as she follows a maternal instinct to open the refrigerator door and survey what she might offer the hungry masses.
Adam saunters into the kitchen with his flank of fellow activists—two guys and a gal. “Ma! How ya doin’?” he asks, as he hugs her.
Evelyn, lingering in his hug, knows not to answer that question honestly. For that matter, she doesn’t even attempt to answer it dishonestly. She just asks, “You folks hungry?”
Adam and his cohorts exchange shrugs and grins that indicate they won’t reject any food that is offered, so Evelyn returns to her fridge perusal while Adam makes introductions.
Brian. Aaron. Phoebe.
“Where’s Dad?” Adam asks then.
“He’s exercising in the backyard,” Evelyn replies, retrieving from the fridge a bag of bagels and a brick of cream cheese. “With Mrs. Krosky.”
“Mrs. Krosky? That sounds intense.”
Brian, Aaron, and Phoebe snicker a bit, and Evelyn wonders if they’ve been smoking pot.
“You should go back and say hi,” Evelyn tells her son.
“Well, he’ll be in soon, right?”
Evelyn tilts her head and shrugs her shoulders as she places bagels on the broiler tray. It strikes her as odd that Adam does not even go to the window to look out. It strikes her that Adam is, in some way, scared of Davy.
“So what’s the, uh, demonstration about?” Evelyn asks, knowing that a change of subject will make the room more comfortable for everyone else that is in it.
“State legislation,” replies Brian, with an orator’s tone. “Gay marriages.”
“Oh,” she comments, closing the oven door. “Are you for or against?”
“Mom!” Adam attempts a sarcastic admonition, and Evelyn senses that he is embarrassed.
“Sweetie, it’s just that it’s a loaded topic. There’s marriage. And… there’s being gay. Some people are opposed to one or the other. Some people are opposed to neither. Some people are opposed to both. Are any of you married?”
“That’s not the point!” Brian jumps in. “The government should not be in the business of defining relationships and deciding whether they are legitimate! The Conservative Right is pulling God and the Bible into the argument, and God and the Bible have nothing to do with it! It’s about the separation of church and state!”
Evelyn admires the fire behind Brian’s words. And though she wonders where the talking points end and he begins, she admires his confidence in making a statement that has been made for the past several decades. It’s good, she thinks, that there are still Brians and Adams and Aarons and Phoebes to fight the fight.
But what she really wants to know is this: Is Brian Adam’s lover? Or is Aaron Adam’s lover? And where does Phoebe fit in? Does Adam even know he’s gay?
She’ll have to ask later. The bagels are ready.
* * *
… to be continued on August 14th .
In the meantime, if you want to read a short piece about the back story, click here.
Wednesday, August 4, 2010
This is Going to Sound Weird, but...
Last week, one of my favorite clients sent me an email. She let me know that they’d soon be “adding a sub-domain to their splash page,” and so… she might need my help with some language. Before ending her missive, she commented on the jargon she was using, and I could sense that her eyes were rolling with irony and amusement as she typed.
I appreciated what drove her comment about the jargon. The fact of the matter is, she and I have laughed – for a few years now – over our common (and often reluctant) emergence from the luddite trenches. Both of us baby boomers, we are doing our best to keep up with the times.
That same day last week, I sent an email to another client. This particular email was sent to assuage my client’s concerns. I wanted to ensure her that I had not missed a prospective grantmaker’s automatic reply to our online Stage One application. In fact, I had retrieved that reply from my “Suspect Mail” just an hour before my client sent her relatively alarmed message.
“Don’t worry,” I shared, typing quickly before hitting SEND, “I check my spam at least four times a day.”
And that’s when it hit me.
Imagine, for a minute…
Imagine if, 15 years ago, someone had said to you, “I check my spam at least four times a day.”
How many red flags?
Okay, the first and most obvious one is the OCD flag. And, mind you, I’m not belittling that issue; I’ve got some of my own OCD manifestations. I’m big on expiration dates, for example. (Don’t get me started.) And, the checking thing? There’s a pre-departure routine that revolves around my kitchen; I always do it at least three times.
So, okay, that’s one way the statement might have seemed alarming 15 years ago. The “checking” … The “four times a day”…
But what about the reference to spam?
And what's in those cans, anyway? Does that weird meat concept even exist anymore?
(Pardon me while I do a Google search...)
I’m back, folks, and guess what. Spam does exist anymore. Not only that, it was the first hit!
Forward-thinkers, those meat canners. How smart they were to grab the domain of “www.spam.com” and make it their own before the cyber-geeks had a chance to take it and run with it. Damn. Good for Spam. But still, I’m not quite sure what it is… And, that site of theirs (however primary on the search results page) isn’t helping.
(Pardon me while I go to Wikipedia…)
Okay, I can’t possibly paraphrase (nor do I want to, really), so I’ll just share here what we might as well call the Wiki Executive Summary of Spam. (And if this whets your appetite, I strongly suggest a nutrition counselor.)
Spam is a canned precooked meat product made by the Hormel Foods Corporation. The labeled ingredients in the classic variety of Spam are chopped pork shoulder meat with ham meat added, salt, water, modified potato starch as a binder, and sodium nitrite to help keep its color. Spam’s gelatinous glaze, or aspic, forms from the cooling of meat stock. The product has become part of many jokes and urban legends about mystery meat, which has made it part of pop culture and folklore.
Pop culture and folklore, huh?
It’s kinda nice to know those concepts have a shelf life in our fast-paced cyberworld.
… I’ve never eaten Spam, and I don’t think I ever will (despite its undoubtedly seductive gelatinous glaze). And so I am especially glad that there aren’t seven or eight cans of it confronting me when I peer into the kitchen cupboard. If there were, I’d have to throw those cans in the trash. I’d have to make room for the seven or eight more that are likely to appear out of nowhere in the next several hours.
***
A Post Script to my Post: It's still Wednesday (barely, here on the West Coast), and what I've come to share has nothing to do with spam. Just want to alert you to my being a featured guest blogger on Eliza's Silver & Grace website, which is dedicated to "guiding graceful women into beautiful aging." Eliza has deemed me "spunky," which is not -- to my knowledge -- a synonym for "grace." Regardless, she is kindly featuring my little rant on menopause, which I originally posted here, some months ago. Go there, enjoy, and check out her site!
I appreciated what drove her comment about the jargon. The fact of the matter is, she and I have laughed – for a few years now – over our common (and often reluctant) emergence from the luddite trenches. Both of us baby boomers, we are doing our best to keep up with the times.
That same day last week, I sent an email to another client. This particular email was sent to assuage my client’s concerns. I wanted to ensure her that I had not missed a prospective grantmaker’s automatic reply to our online Stage One application. In fact, I had retrieved that reply from my “Suspect Mail” just an hour before my client sent her relatively alarmed message.
“Don’t worry,” I shared, typing quickly before hitting SEND, “I check my spam at least four times a day.”
And that’s when it hit me.
Imagine, for a minute…
Imagine if, 15 years ago, someone had said to you, “I check my spam at least four times a day.”
How many red flags?
Okay, the first and most obvious one is the OCD flag. And, mind you, I’m not belittling that issue; I’ve got some of my own OCD manifestations. I’m big on expiration dates, for example. (Don’t get me started.) And, the checking thing? There’s a pre-departure routine that revolves around my kitchen; I always do it at least three times.
So, okay, that’s one way the statement might have seemed alarming 15 years ago. The “checking” … The “four times a day”…
But what about the reference to spam?
And what's in those cans, anyway? Does that weird meat concept even exist anymore?
(Pardon me while I do a Google search...)
I’m back, folks, and guess what. Spam does exist anymore. Not only that, it was the first hit!
Forward-thinkers, those meat canners. How smart they were to grab the domain of “www.spam.com” and make it their own before the cyber-geeks had a chance to take it and run with it. Damn. Good for Spam. But still, I’m not quite sure what it is… And, that site of theirs (however primary on the search results page) isn’t helping.
(Pardon me while I go to Wikipedia…)
Okay, I can’t possibly paraphrase (nor do I want to, really), so I’ll just share here what we might as well call the Wiki Executive Summary of Spam. (And if this whets your appetite, I strongly suggest a nutrition counselor.)
Spam is a canned precooked meat product made by the Hormel Foods Corporation. The labeled ingredients in the classic variety of Spam are chopped pork shoulder meat with ham meat added, salt, water, modified potato starch as a binder, and sodium nitrite to help keep its color. Spam’s gelatinous glaze, or aspic, forms from the cooling of meat stock. The product has become part of many jokes and urban legends about mystery meat, which has made it part of pop culture and folklore.
Pop culture and folklore, huh?
It’s kinda nice to know those concepts have a shelf life in our fast-paced cyberworld.
… I’ve never eaten Spam, and I don’t think I ever will (despite its undoubtedly seductive gelatinous glaze). And so I am especially glad that there aren’t seven or eight cans of it confronting me when I peer into the kitchen cupboard. If there were, I’d have to throw those cans in the trash. I’d have to make room for the seven or eight more that are likely to appear out of nowhere in the next several hours.
***
A Post Script to my Post: It's still Wednesday (barely, here on the West Coast), and what I've come to share has nothing to do with spam. Just want to alert you to my being a featured guest blogger on Eliza's Silver & Grace website, which is dedicated to "guiding graceful women into beautiful aging." Eliza has deemed me "spunky," which is not -- to my knowledge -- a synonym for "grace." Regardless, she is kindly featuring my little rant on menopause, which I originally posted here, some months ago. Go there, enjoy, and check out her site!
Saturday, July 31, 2010
Sneak-Peek Saturdays: Excerpt Six
A NOTE BEFORE READING: I began sharing weekly excerpts from my novel, The Somebody Who, on June 26th. If you want to begin at the beginning, go here. If you want to read more sooner, head over to Amazon (there’s a button on the left that will take you there).
IX
Evelyn knows better than to go much longer without eating. So she goes to the kitchen, places a large helping of stew in a bowl, and puts it in the microwave. She is waiting for the beep that will tell her it is ready. She is waiting to take a tray back to the study. The stew. More wine. A chance to listen to the other messages.
“I’m going out now.”
It is Davy, at the door between the kitchen and the dining room.
“Where are you going?”
“I don’t know.”
“You can’t go out without shoes.”
“That’s what I’m saying!”
“Maybe you should watch television.”
“But I don’t know how!”
“Sure you do,” Evelyn says. “It’s right in here.” She walks toward the small family room that is off the kitchen. She approaches the low, round coffee table and picks up the remote. She clicks on the TV, and places the remote back on the table.
“Oh…” Davy says, with the awe-inspired tone one might hear on an archeological dig. “Oh my. Now that is very interesting.”
“It’s just cable, baby,” Evelyn says. “It’s just cable.”
X
Back in the study, Evelyn savors the stew. She takes her time slowly chewing the chunks of beef, the squares of potato, the slices of zucchini. She smiles as she picks up the hints of spice that only Claudia can explain.
And Evelyn makes sure to bring variety to the process. Between spoonfuls of stew, she tears off chunks of the fresh Italian bread, and she dips it into the thick liquid in the bowl.
She lets the juices run down her chin, but just for a bit. Then she quickly collects them with the remaining bread or her napkin. She will not let herself get sloppy. She will not allow a stain on her blouse.
No matter what, she will remain neat and clean.
Still, there is something almost Neanderthal in the meal. And she loves it. In a way, it frees her.
To put food into her mouth. To chew and taste and swallow.
XI
After rinsing out her bowl and putting it in the dishwasher, Evelyn circles the counter to get a view of Davy. She is relieved to see that he is sound asleep in the chair that faces the television. She doesn’t dare go into the room and turn down the volume; doing so might wake him. Rather, she hopes he will stay there, stay asleep for as long as possible.
Evelyn returns to the study with the remaining wine—a bottle that was once half full is now half empty. She returns to the study knowing that she has yet to listen to the two remaining messages.
This time, she presses the correct button: New. And the message that plays is the message she is supposed to hear.
“Yes, hello, Mrs. Bennett?” The voice is mature, yet tentative. “My name is Ashley Morgan. I was one of your husband’s students. I’m, um, calling because I’m involved with a nonprofit that supports elder care and research. We’re putting together an event. I know that Dr. Bennett has been diagnosed with—oh God, should I be talking about this in a message? Jeez, I’m sorry. He was so dear to me…” (Ashley seems to be having a moment. Evelyn doesn’t know whether to feel for her, resent her, or think she is naïve.) “…I’m wondering, Mrs. Bennett, if we might include some of his work. I remember his amazing pen-and-ink sketches of architecture. I’m wondering if you might donate them. I’d appreciate hearing back from you. I’m in Manhattan. Two-one-two, five-five-five, four-nine-oh-one. Or you can email me at ashmor—that’s A S H M O R at A O L dot com. I hope I’ll hear from you. And if I don’t, please forgive me if I call you again in a few days. Thanks!”
Click. And then, again, the nasal-voiced man who lives in the phone. “Friday. Three-oh-three-p.m.”
Why does he always emphasize the “p” part? Evelyn wonders, as she waits for the next message to play.
“Hey, Ma. Adam here. Calling on Friday. How’s it going? Anyway. Got a demonstration in Albany tomorrow afternoon, so I thought I’d stop by in the morning. Might have a few people with me. Hope it’s okay. See ya then!”
“Friday,” the nasal-voiced man says. “Four-twelve-p.m.”
Evelyn looks at the clock on the mantle. Four-twelve is now history. Ancient history.
She wishes she were tired. She wishes she could sleep. But she knows better than to belabor that cause. And while she is glad she might see Adam tomorrow, she knows she doesn’t need to get rest for the event. He’ll have his mind on other things. He’ll probably not even notice her.
* * *
... to be continued on August 7th.
In the meantime, if you want to read a short piece about the back story, click here.
Or, you can read the back story and more in the interview that was posted by book reviewer Kristin on July 28th. It's here. You'll also find on that site Kristin's July 23rd review of The Somebody Who as well as instructions for entering the book giveaway that will end this week. Hurry to enter, as the giveaway ends at 6PM EST, August 6th.
IX
Evelyn knows better than to go much longer without eating. So she goes to the kitchen, places a large helping of stew in a bowl, and puts it in the microwave. She is waiting for the beep that will tell her it is ready. She is waiting to take a tray back to the study. The stew. More wine. A chance to listen to the other messages.
“I’m going out now.”
It is Davy, at the door between the kitchen and the dining room.
“Where are you going?”
“I don’t know.”
“You can’t go out without shoes.”
“That’s what I’m saying!”
“Maybe you should watch television.”
“But I don’t know how!”
“Sure you do,” Evelyn says. “It’s right in here.” She walks toward the small family room that is off the kitchen. She approaches the low, round coffee table and picks up the remote. She clicks on the TV, and places the remote back on the table.
“Oh…” Davy says, with the awe-inspired tone one might hear on an archeological dig. “Oh my. Now that is very interesting.”
“It’s just cable, baby,” Evelyn says. “It’s just cable.”
X
Back in the study, Evelyn savors the stew. She takes her time slowly chewing the chunks of beef, the squares of potato, the slices of zucchini. She smiles as she picks up the hints of spice that only Claudia can explain.
And Evelyn makes sure to bring variety to the process. Between spoonfuls of stew, she tears off chunks of the fresh Italian bread, and she dips it into the thick liquid in the bowl.
She lets the juices run down her chin, but just for a bit. Then she quickly collects them with the remaining bread or her napkin. She will not let herself get sloppy. She will not allow a stain on her blouse.
No matter what, she will remain neat and clean.
Still, there is something almost Neanderthal in the meal. And she loves it. In a way, it frees her.
To put food into her mouth. To chew and taste and swallow.
XI
After rinsing out her bowl and putting it in the dishwasher, Evelyn circles the counter to get a view of Davy. She is relieved to see that he is sound asleep in the chair that faces the television. She doesn’t dare go into the room and turn down the volume; doing so might wake him. Rather, she hopes he will stay there, stay asleep for as long as possible.
Evelyn returns to the study with the remaining wine—a bottle that was once half full is now half empty. She returns to the study knowing that she has yet to listen to the two remaining messages.
This time, she presses the correct button: New. And the message that plays is the message she is supposed to hear.
“Yes, hello, Mrs. Bennett?” The voice is mature, yet tentative. “My name is Ashley Morgan. I was one of your husband’s students. I’m, um, calling because I’m involved with a nonprofit that supports elder care and research. We’re putting together an event. I know that Dr. Bennett has been diagnosed with—oh God, should I be talking about this in a message? Jeez, I’m sorry. He was so dear to me…” (Ashley seems to be having a moment. Evelyn doesn’t know whether to feel for her, resent her, or think she is naïve.) “…I’m wondering, Mrs. Bennett, if we might include some of his work. I remember his amazing pen-and-ink sketches of architecture. I’m wondering if you might donate them. I’d appreciate hearing back from you. I’m in Manhattan. Two-one-two, five-five-five, four-nine-oh-one. Or you can email me at ashmor—that’s A S H M O R at A O L dot com. I hope I’ll hear from you. And if I don’t, please forgive me if I call you again in a few days. Thanks!”
Click. And then, again, the nasal-voiced man who lives in the phone. “Friday. Three-oh-three-p.m.”
Why does he always emphasize the “p” part? Evelyn wonders, as she waits for the next message to play.
“Hey, Ma. Adam here. Calling on Friday. How’s it going? Anyway. Got a demonstration in Albany tomorrow afternoon, so I thought I’d stop by in the morning. Might have a few people with me. Hope it’s okay. See ya then!”
“Friday,” the nasal-voiced man says. “Four-twelve-p.m.”
Evelyn looks at the clock on the mantle. Four-twelve is now history. Ancient history.
She wishes she were tired. She wishes she could sleep. But she knows better than to belabor that cause. And while she is glad she might see Adam tomorrow, she knows she doesn’t need to get rest for the event. He’ll have his mind on other things. He’ll probably not even notice her.
* * *
... to be continued on August 7th.
In the meantime, if you want to read a short piece about the back story, click here.
Or, you can read the back story and more in the interview that was posted by book reviewer Kristin on July 28th. It's here. You'll also find on that site Kristin's July 23rd review of The Somebody Who as well as instructions for entering the book giveaway that will end this week. Hurry to enter, as the giveaway ends at 6PM EST, August 6th.
Wednesday, July 28, 2010
At Your Service
Several years ago, I was having dinner with a friend at the Louise’s here in Los Feliz. The waiter approached our table, and as servers now do, de rigueur, he introduced himself.
“Hello,” he said. “I’m Jan [pronounced YON], and I will be your server tonight.”
My first thought was to share with him, Oh-my-god, that’s the name of the workstation I just bought at Ikea! But I held back. Instead, I smiled and politely said, “And I’m Katie. And I’ll be your customer!”
And so we went on from there. A lovely night, complete with fresh ground pepper and shaved parmesan until we said “when.”
… Such a different world from my waitressing years in Manhattan. Back in the 80’s, nobody knew your name. I spent seven years waitressing in NYC, and in those years, I worked at 24 restaurants. The last five of those years I spent at ONE restaurant. Do the math.
Yeah. So there were some years of hopping around, looking for the place where I could hang my apron for a while.
At one point during the drifting phase, I was working a lunch shift in the Wall Street area, and my friend and neighbor, who had a non-stop station at a family-owned Hungarian restaurant in our Upper West Side neighborhood, had persuaded that establishment’s owner and owneress to allow me to fill in for her on Wednesday nights. (I would later take over her full shift, after she was fired, but I’m getting ahead of myself.)
Okay, so I’m working Wall Street lunches, Monday through Friday, and on Wednesday nights, I’m at the Hungarian place in my own ‘hood. Money’s good enough, but I’m always looking for a new venue. For this reason, I’ve consistently combed the environs, dropping off -- to restaurant owners and managers all along the west side of Manhattan -- my home-made, so-very-low-tech, 3x5 index cards. The cards indicate my availability as a waitress. They also provide contact information.
By about the fourth or fifth Wednesday at the Hungarian place, I’m getting a sense of the drill. My station comprises nine “deuces” (that’s restaurant lingo for a table for two) and three “rounds” (which can seat up to eight per table). And if that sounds like a lot of station, your sense of empathy is commendable. Add to that sheer person capacity an acute absence of trays. The acrobatics I learned at that restaurant are a subject for another essay, and so we’ll come back to that at another time.
Regardless, on the Wednesday evening in question, I’m running around like usual. I’m wearing one of my mix ‘n match waitress outfits (“Restaurant Garanimals,” as it were). In this case, the combo started with a straight-lined beige skirt that falls just below knee-length but has sassy side pleats. Topping it off, above my tie-in-the-back, two-pocketed, standard issue waitress apron is a raw linen, short-sleeved, tailored plaid top whose primary color is red.
With harried energy, I approach a young couple sitting in one of the deuces. I smile as I ask if they’re ready. They are. And after they place their order, I move on. Within two or three minutes, I return to deliver their drinks. Thereafter, in sequence, I deliver their appetizers, their main courses, their desserts, and their coffees.
Just as I do for the other 20 or so couples I wait on during a four-hour shift that night.
Just as I do for the parties of six or more that take up the larger tables in my constantly turning-over station.
By the following Saturday, I’m ready for a weekend off, but I also know that my index cards are out there. Anything can happen.
Sure enough, late Saturday evening, I get a call from a local restaurant owner named Augie. His Sunday brunch waitress has phoned in sick. He’s wondering if I can fill in. I accept the offer.
I awake that Sunday morning just before eight. Shower and put on my beige skirt and red plaid top. Head down to the local eatery. (Augie’s is just west and south of my apartment; about the same walking distance as the Hungarian restaurant, which is east and north.)
When I get to Augie’s in time for the nine o’clock set-up (no one is expected before ten – this is New York, after all), I wrap the apron around my waist and introduce myself to the bartender.
The bartender is relaxed and kind. He shows me where I can find everything for set-up (creamer pitchers, all the sidestand stuff, coffee makings). He reviews the menu with me. He introduces me to the kitchen staff. He makes it clear that I can call on him if I get in a jam. (Oh, and yeah, he shows me the jam…)
Customers filter in, and while it gets a little busy at times, it never feels out of control. (After the Hungarian place, I can handle anything.) The bartender even comments on my cool at one point. He is clearly impressed by my capacities as a “guest-waitress.”
I am in the rhythm of Augie’s when I approach a couple in the corner.
“Ready to order?” I ask, smiling, my pad held in front of me, my pen primed to record their needs.
There’s a pause. The man in the pair stares up at me and adapts a dumb-founded look.
“Hey!” he says, “Didn’t you wait on us at the Hungarian place on Wednesday?”
Sure enough.
That same couple.
And me, in the same outfit.
Were it fifteen years later, my approach might have gone something like this:
“Hello, my name is Katie, and I will be your server for the rest of your life!”
* * *
Dear Readers, Follower, and Passers-By: I’m happy to direct you to “Always with a Book,” where book blogger Kristin has just posted our Q&A. (You’ll also find on that site her July 23rd review of my novel, The Somebody Who, excerpts from which I have been posting on Saturdays.)
“Hello,” he said. “I’m Jan [pronounced YON], and I will be your server tonight.”
My first thought was to share with him, Oh-my-god, that’s the name of the workstation I just bought at Ikea! But I held back. Instead, I smiled and politely said, “And I’m Katie. And I’ll be your customer!”
And so we went on from there. A lovely night, complete with fresh ground pepper and shaved parmesan until we said “when.”
… Such a different world from my waitressing years in Manhattan. Back in the 80’s, nobody knew your name. I spent seven years waitressing in NYC, and in those years, I worked at 24 restaurants. The last five of those years I spent at ONE restaurant. Do the math.
Yeah. So there were some years of hopping around, looking for the place where I could hang my apron for a while.
At one point during the drifting phase, I was working a lunch shift in the Wall Street area, and my friend and neighbor, who had a non-stop station at a family-owned Hungarian restaurant in our Upper West Side neighborhood, had persuaded that establishment’s owner and owneress to allow me to fill in for her on Wednesday nights. (I would later take over her full shift, after she was fired, but I’m getting ahead of myself.)
Okay, so I’m working Wall Street lunches, Monday through Friday, and on Wednesday nights, I’m at the Hungarian place in my own ‘hood. Money’s good enough, but I’m always looking for a new venue. For this reason, I’ve consistently combed the environs, dropping off -- to restaurant owners and managers all along the west side of Manhattan -- my home-made, so-very-low-tech, 3x5 index cards. The cards indicate my availability as a waitress. They also provide contact information.
By about the fourth or fifth Wednesday at the Hungarian place, I’m getting a sense of the drill. My station comprises nine “deuces” (that’s restaurant lingo for a table for two) and three “rounds” (which can seat up to eight per table). And if that sounds like a lot of station, your sense of empathy is commendable. Add to that sheer person capacity an acute absence of trays. The acrobatics I learned at that restaurant are a subject for another essay, and so we’ll come back to that at another time.
Regardless, on the Wednesday evening in question, I’m running around like usual. I’m wearing one of my mix ‘n match waitress outfits (“Restaurant Garanimals,” as it were). In this case, the combo started with a straight-lined beige skirt that falls just below knee-length but has sassy side pleats. Topping it off, above my tie-in-the-back, two-pocketed, standard issue waitress apron is a raw linen, short-sleeved, tailored plaid top whose primary color is red.
With harried energy, I approach a young couple sitting in one of the deuces. I smile as I ask if they’re ready. They are. And after they place their order, I move on. Within two or three minutes, I return to deliver their drinks. Thereafter, in sequence, I deliver their appetizers, their main courses, their desserts, and their coffees.
Just as I do for the other 20 or so couples I wait on during a four-hour shift that night.
Just as I do for the parties of six or more that take up the larger tables in my constantly turning-over station.
By the following Saturday, I’m ready for a weekend off, but I also know that my index cards are out there. Anything can happen.
Sure enough, late Saturday evening, I get a call from a local restaurant owner named Augie. His Sunday brunch waitress has phoned in sick. He’s wondering if I can fill in. I accept the offer.
I awake that Sunday morning just before eight. Shower and put on my beige skirt and red plaid top. Head down to the local eatery. (Augie’s is just west and south of my apartment; about the same walking distance as the Hungarian restaurant, which is east and north.)
When I get to Augie’s in time for the nine o’clock set-up (no one is expected before ten – this is New York, after all), I wrap the apron around my waist and introduce myself to the bartender.
The bartender is relaxed and kind. He shows me where I can find everything for set-up (creamer pitchers, all the sidestand stuff, coffee makings). He reviews the menu with me. He introduces me to the kitchen staff. He makes it clear that I can call on him if I get in a jam. (Oh, and yeah, he shows me the jam…)
Customers filter in, and while it gets a little busy at times, it never feels out of control. (After the Hungarian place, I can handle anything.) The bartender even comments on my cool at one point. He is clearly impressed by my capacities as a “guest-waitress.”
I am in the rhythm of Augie’s when I approach a couple in the corner.
“Ready to order?” I ask, smiling, my pad held in front of me, my pen primed to record their needs.
There’s a pause. The man in the pair stares up at me and adapts a dumb-founded look.
“Hey!” he says, “Didn’t you wait on us at the Hungarian place on Wednesday?”
Sure enough.
That same couple.
And me, in the same outfit.
Were it fifteen years later, my approach might have gone something like this:
“Hello, my name is Katie, and I will be your server for the rest of your life!”
* * *
Dear Readers, Follower, and Passers-By: I’m happy to direct you to “Always with a Book,” where book blogger Kristin has just posted our Q&A. (You’ll also find on that site her July 23rd review of my novel, The Somebody Who, excerpts from which I have been posting on Saturdays.)
Saturday, July 24, 2010
Sneak-Peek Saturdays: Excerpt Five
A NOTE BEFORE READING: I began sharing weekly excerpts from my novel, The Somebody Who, on June 26th. If you want to begin at the beginning, go here. If you want to hold the book in your hands, head over to Amazon and order a copy (there’s a button on the left that will take you there).
OR: go here to enter the book giveaway at Kristin's "Always With a Book" blog, where she posted a review yesterday.
VII
Evelyn is uncorking a fresh bottle of Cabernet when Claudia appears in the door of the dining room. “Do you want to eat now?” she asks Evelyn.
“No, I’ll eat later. Please feed Davy, though, turn off the stove, and just put the rest in a tupperware in the fridge. I’ll heat it up later. Is Davy in the kitchen?”
“Yes. He’s reading.”
“I’ll bet he is.” Evelyn can say this to Claudia in a tone they both know is flippant, and Claudia can receive the statement without feeling uncomfortable. It is symptomatic of the odd friendship that has developed between them, a friendship that Evelyn is starting to value more than she ever could have imagined.
“Would you like a glass of wine?” Evelyn asks Claudia.
“No, thank you, I’ve got to get home.”
“Hubby’s waiting, right?”
“He better be there!” Claudia says, laughing (because she knows that Gabriel will be there and because she can’t wait to see him).
Evelyn holds up her glass of wine. “Enjoy him while he lasts.”
Claudia tilts her head and smiles in the awkward way that occurs when a part of the mouth desperately wants to frown with sadness or pity. “Anything else, then?” she asks her employer.
“No, dear. We’ll be fine. See you Monday.”
“Have a good weekend, Evelyn.”
“I’ll do my best.”
VIII
Drawn that night to the comfort and soft light of the study, Evelyn knows she has two more messages to listen to. And she is bound and determined to hit the right button when the time comes to listen to them. But, she isn’t quite ready. She is still bothered by Angie’s call (make that, calls)—by Angie’s incessant apologies and consistent unavailability.
They had been enjoying such a good friendship over the past several years. Angie was fun and funny—a wacky rightbrain type who always wanted to try new restaurants and go to esoteric movies. She was an inquisitive spirit and didn’t seem to sweat the small stuff. And her attitude about men was unbelievably refreshing to Evelyn. Though only eight years younger than Evelyn, Angie seemed a generation apart when it came to men and relationships. Angie had no desire to be married or even to settle down. Exclusivity didn’t matter to her. She just had fun. That was all she wanted.
Hmm… Evelyn wonders, the thought only now dawning on her. It doesn’t sound, from her messages, like Angie’s having a lot of fun right now.
Evelyn picks up the phone and calls Patrick’s house. Maybe Judy will go to the concert with her on Sunday.
Two rings later, a darling voice fills Evelyn’s ears with joy.
“Bennett residence. Zoe speaking.”
“Zoe! My beautiful girl!”
“Granny! Granny! Hi, Granny!”
“How are you, my sweetheart?”
“I lost another tooth!”
“You did? Are you going to try to find it?”
“You’re funny, Granny!” she says.
“Oh, honey, I try to be. I really try.”
“So—do you wanna talk to Dad or to Mom?”
“I would love to talk to either of them, but I actually have a question and an offer for your Mom. Is she there?”
“Hold on.” Zoe puts down the phone and calls for her Mom. Evelyn can hear, at the other end, snippets of a conversation—about dinner and dolls and a sleepover the next night. Then, the rattling of the phone being picked up.
“Hello, Evelyn!” Judy says, with a warmth that most mothers-in-law can only hope for. “How are you?”
“I’m managing. You know, same-old-same-old.”
“Bless your heart. God, I think of you so often.”
“Thank you,” Evelyn responds. “I appreciate it. So—what’s new there?”
“Well—where do you want me to begin? Let’s see, I am thrilled because I finally closed on a house today.”
“My God, Judy, that’s fabulous!”
“No kidding! I’ve had that real estate license for, what, three years now?”
“That really is wonderful.”
“It is. We’re going to do the final paperwork the beginning of next week, and then, damn, a nice chunk of change for the former stay-at-home Mom!”
“Good for you! I bet Patrick is proud!”
“He will be as soon as he gets over his jetlag!” Judy says, with mock irritation. “He just got back from the ADA Convention.”
“Oh, that’s right. Where was it this year? California, right?” Evelyn shakes her head in bewilderment. Her son—at an ADA Convention! Her son—a dentist! (It makes her teeth itch.)
“San Francisco.” says Judy. “He said it was great. He actually thinks we should take the family out there for a vacation. Maybe next summer.”
“That sounds like a wonderful plan.”
“We’ll see…”
Evelyn can hear Judy’s distractions in the background, and she appreciates her daughter-in-law for not caving to them. Evelyn knows, as she sits there in the warm, low-lit study, sipping her wine and needing to eat, that Judy is waiting for her to speak. That Judy is attentive in that way.
“So, Judy, I have a proposition.”
“That sounds intriguing.”
“You know, I have these season tickets to Lincoln Center—the Philharmonic—the Sunday matinee. And my partner-in-crime cannot go. She’s going to bring her ticket by tomorrow. I was wondering if you’d like to go with me.”
“Wow. This Sunday, huh?”
“I know it’s short notice,” Evelyn says, “but I just heard from Angie this afternoon.”
“Oh yeah. Angie. Hmm… I would like to go. So: let me just check around here and make sure no one needs me Sunday afternoon. Can I let you know tomorrow?”
“That’d be great.”
“Then that’s what I’ll do.”
“You’re an angel, Judy.”
“Tell that to my kids.”
“Well. They’re angels, too.”
“Okay,” Judy says, with her fabulous homespun sarcasm, “now I’m starting to wonder about your criteria!”
Evelyn smiles, starts to laugh even. “We’ll talk tomorrow,” she says to Judy.
“You got it. Goodnight.”
“Goodnight, Judy. Kiss all the babies for me.”
* * *
… to be continued on July 31st .
In the meantime, if you want to read a short piece about the back story, click here.
OR: go here to enter the book giveaway at Kristin's "Always With a Book" blog, where she posted a review yesterday.
VII
Evelyn is uncorking a fresh bottle of Cabernet when Claudia appears in the door of the dining room. “Do you want to eat now?” she asks Evelyn.
“No, I’ll eat later. Please feed Davy, though, turn off the stove, and just put the rest in a tupperware in the fridge. I’ll heat it up later. Is Davy in the kitchen?”
“Yes. He’s reading.”
“I’ll bet he is.” Evelyn can say this to Claudia in a tone they both know is flippant, and Claudia can receive the statement without feeling uncomfortable. It is symptomatic of the odd friendship that has developed between them, a friendship that Evelyn is starting to value more than she ever could have imagined.
“Would you like a glass of wine?” Evelyn asks Claudia.
“No, thank you, I’ve got to get home.”
“Hubby’s waiting, right?”
“He better be there!” Claudia says, laughing (because she knows that Gabriel will be there and because she can’t wait to see him).
Evelyn holds up her glass of wine. “Enjoy him while he lasts.”
Claudia tilts her head and smiles in the awkward way that occurs when a part of the mouth desperately wants to frown with sadness or pity. “Anything else, then?” she asks her employer.
“No, dear. We’ll be fine. See you Monday.”
“Have a good weekend, Evelyn.”
“I’ll do my best.”
VIII
Drawn that night to the comfort and soft light of the study, Evelyn knows she has two more messages to listen to. And she is bound and determined to hit the right button when the time comes to listen to them. But, she isn’t quite ready. She is still bothered by Angie’s call (make that, calls)—by Angie’s incessant apologies and consistent unavailability.
They had been enjoying such a good friendship over the past several years. Angie was fun and funny—a wacky rightbrain type who always wanted to try new restaurants and go to esoteric movies. She was an inquisitive spirit and didn’t seem to sweat the small stuff. And her attitude about men was unbelievably refreshing to Evelyn. Though only eight years younger than Evelyn, Angie seemed a generation apart when it came to men and relationships. Angie had no desire to be married or even to settle down. Exclusivity didn’t matter to her. She just had fun. That was all she wanted.
Hmm… Evelyn wonders, the thought only now dawning on her. It doesn’t sound, from her messages, like Angie’s having a lot of fun right now.
Evelyn picks up the phone and calls Patrick’s house. Maybe Judy will go to the concert with her on Sunday.
Two rings later, a darling voice fills Evelyn’s ears with joy.
“Bennett residence. Zoe speaking.”
“Zoe! My beautiful girl!”
“Granny! Granny! Hi, Granny!”
“How are you, my sweetheart?”
“I lost another tooth!”
“You did? Are you going to try to find it?”
“You’re funny, Granny!” she says.
“Oh, honey, I try to be. I really try.”
“So—do you wanna talk to Dad or to Mom?”
“I would love to talk to either of them, but I actually have a question and an offer for your Mom. Is she there?”
“Hold on.” Zoe puts down the phone and calls for her Mom. Evelyn can hear, at the other end, snippets of a conversation—about dinner and dolls and a sleepover the next night. Then, the rattling of the phone being picked up.
“Hello, Evelyn!” Judy says, with a warmth that most mothers-in-law can only hope for. “How are you?”
“I’m managing. You know, same-old-same-old.”
“Bless your heart. God, I think of you so often.”
“Thank you,” Evelyn responds. “I appreciate it. So—what’s new there?”
“Well—where do you want me to begin? Let’s see, I am thrilled because I finally closed on a house today.”
“My God, Judy, that’s fabulous!”
“No kidding! I’ve had that real estate license for, what, three years now?”
“That really is wonderful.”
“It is. We’re going to do the final paperwork the beginning of next week, and then, damn, a nice chunk of change for the former stay-at-home Mom!”
“Good for you! I bet Patrick is proud!”
“He will be as soon as he gets over his jetlag!” Judy says, with mock irritation. “He just got back from the ADA Convention.”
“Oh, that’s right. Where was it this year? California, right?” Evelyn shakes her head in bewilderment. Her son—at an ADA Convention! Her son—a dentist! (It makes her teeth itch.)
“San Francisco.” says Judy. “He said it was great. He actually thinks we should take the family out there for a vacation. Maybe next summer.”
“That sounds like a wonderful plan.”
“We’ll see…”
Evelyn can hear Judy’s distractions in the background, and she appreciates her daughter-in-law for not caving to them. Evelyn knows, as she sits there in the warm, low-lit study, sipping her wine and needing to eat, that Judy is waiting for her to speak. That Judy is attentive in that way.
“So, Judy, I have a proposition.”
“That sounds intriguing.”
“You know, I have these season tickets to Lincoln Center—the Philharmonic—the Sunday matinee. And my partner-in-crime cannot go. She’s going to bring her ticket by tomorrow. I was wondering if you’d like to go with me.”
“Wow. This Sunday, huh?”
“I know it’s short notice,” Evelyn says, “but I just heard from Angie this afternoon.”
“Oh yeah. Angie. Hmm… I would like to go. So: let me just check around here and make sure no one needs me Sunday afternoon. Can I let you know tomorrow?”
“That’d be great.”
“Then that’s what I’ll do.”
“You’re an angel, Judy.”
“Tell that to my kids.”
“Well. They’re angels, too.”
“Okay,” Judy says, with her fabulous homespun sarcasm, “now I’m starting to wonder about your criteria!”
Evelyn smiles, starts to laugh even. “We’ll talk tomorrow,” she says to Judy.
“You got it. Goodnight.”
“Goodnight, Judy. Kiss all the babies for me.”
* * *
… to be continued on July 31st .
In the meantime, if you want to read a short piece about the back story, click here.
Wednesday, July 21, 2010
The Handwriting on the Wall (or, in this case …on the Post-It)
Back in the late ‘80s, when I was employed by the Ford Foundation, I had a co-worker friend who amused me one day by sharing something she had found in her boss’ outbox. It was a one-page letter onto which he had placed a post-it.
The post-it said, “Toss.”
Lest you think that Ford had a shortage of wastebaskets, don’t even go there. Said boss could easily have saved himself a few offline keystrokes by simply doing the “Toss” maneuver all by himself. But nooooo… He had to delegate!
I don’t write this with any desire to condemn the Ford Foundation. To this day, I greatly admire the work they do. Nonprofits across the world need their philanthropy, and because of their grantmaking, positive things happen and lives are saved.
That being said, I also am happy to have learned that, in the wake of recent economic upsets, the Foundation reduced its staff by about a third.
Good for them.
When I was there, and when I was working as a Grants Administrator, I could easily have done my Monday-Friday, 9-to-5 job in about 10 hours a week. But I was on staff, and so… I showed up every day. At least, I did as much until I reached that two-year mark, when I knew that, even if I quit, I could walk away with two-months’ salary.
And that’s also what I did.
Yup, it was with that “grant” from the Ford Foundation that I moved to California to pursue a television writing career. And while that free money didn’t lead to the Hollywood gigs I had envisioned, it nevertheless did open the door to a new chapter. It put me on the other side of the country, where I’ve been establishing my turf ever since.
I realize that the Ford Foundation (what with its fairyland perks) is one end of the spectrum, and mom-and-pop joints are another. I get it, too, that a lot of hard-working people are experiencing some serious suffering right now. But there’s also been a lot of spoiled, wasted time outside mom-and-pop world, and frankly, I’m glad that many of the big cheeses are having to revisit their staffing plans. Getting rid of the dead weight is long overdue, and the existence of those superfluous bodies is hardly unique to Ford.
By the late ‘90’s, I had been exposed to enough government workers to know that a lot of them are way too comfortable. It’s been said (and I didn’t say it first) that it’s nearly impossible to get fired from a government job.
While that statement may no longer hold true, I consider Linda Tripp its ultimate poster girl.
Remember her?
She’s the one who had nothing better to do with her day than to track her “friend” Monica’s comings-and-goings, particularly in relation to a certain stained dress and a different spelling of the word “coming.”
Our tax dollars at work. Gotta love it.
As for the present? I’m aware of what’s happening in California, and I’m guessing it’s also happening in states and municipalities across the country: layoffs, government furloughs, and general restructuring. As our elected officials make their decisions, I hope they are taking a good, hard look not just at the boxes on the org charts but also at the people they have working for them. Get rid of the Lindas if only to protect, ultimately, the moms-and-pops.
It’s high time our economy revolved around real work, not idle gossip.
And we certainly don’t need to support bosses who delegate the disposal of their trash.
The post-it said, “Toss.”
Lest you think that Ford had a shortage of wastebaskets, don’t even go there. Said boss could easily have saved himself a few offline keystrokes by simply doing the “Toss” maneuver all by himself. But nooooo… He had to delegate!
I don’t write this with any desire to condemn the Ford Foundation. To this day, I greatly admire the work they do. Nonprofits across the world need their philanthropy, and because of their grantmaking, positive things happen and lives are saved.
That being said, I also am happy to have learned that, in the wake of recent economic upsets, the Foundation reduced its staff by about a third.
Good for them.
When I was there, and when I was working as a Grants Administrator, I could easily have done my Monday-Friday, 9-to-5 job in about 10 hours a week. But I was on staff, and so… I showed up every day. At least, I did as much until I reached that two-year mark, when I knew that, even if I quit, I could walk away with two-months’ salary.
And that’s also what I did.
Yup, it was with that “grant” from the Ford Foundation that I moved to California to pursue a television writing career. And while that free money didn’t lead to the Hollywood gigs I had envisioned, it nevertheless did open the door to a new chapter. It put me on the other side of the country, where I’ve been establishing my turf ever since.
I realize that the Ford Foundation (what with its fairyland perks) is one end of the spectrum, and mom-and-pop joints are another. I get it, too, that a lot of hard-working people are experiencing some serious suffering right now. But there’s also been a lot of spoiled, wasted time outside mom-and-pop world, and frankly, I’m glad that many of the big cheeses are having to revisit their staffing plans. Getting rid of the dead weight is long overdue, and the existence of those superfluous bodies is hardly unique to Ford.
By the late ‘90’s, I had been exposed to enough government workers to know that a lot of them are way too comfortable. It’s been said (and I didn’t say it first) that it’s nearly impossible to get fired from a government job.
While that statement may no longer hold true, I consider Linda Tripp its ultimate poster girl.
Remember her?
She’s the one who had nothing better to do with her day than to track her “friend” Monica’s comings-and-goings, particularly in relation to a certain stained dress and a different spelling of the word “coming.”
Our tax dollars at work. Gotta love it.
As for the present? I’m aware of what’s happening in California, and I’m guessing it’s also happening in states and municipalities across the country: layoffs, government furloughs, and general restructuring. As our elected officials make their decisions, I hope they are taking a good, hard look not just at the boxes on the org charts but also at the people they have working for them. Get rid of the Lindas if only to protect, ultimately, the moms-and-pops.
It’s high time our economy revolved around real work, not idle gossip.
And we certainly don’t need to support bosses who delegate the disposal of their trash.
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