Learner's permit

My son holding his temporary permit

In Virginia, you can get your Learner's Permit at 15 years, 6 months. That was yesterday, but there was a two-hour wait at the DMV, so we got there before they opened this morning.

And now I'm all verklempt.

My grandmother's latest poem

My grandmother (who is in her late 90's) writes poetry and has been published in magazines and elsewhere.

Her latest poem got shared around by family, and it's beautiful. Evocative. Heart-breaking. Joyful.

She gave me permission to share it with you here.

I’M SAYING GOODBYE TO MY BODY

I’m saying goodbye to my body,

long ago disdained

for size of breasts, shape of legs,

now nudging me downhill all the way.

I’m saying goodbye to my body,

ancient collaborator with

the smell of new-cut grass,

the thrust of arm throwing a ball,

the velvet feel of East New York’s slates

under my speeding roller skates,

the taste of June’s wild strawberries,

the pull of dancing à la Isadora, à la Martha,

the glory of May Day marching,

the sight of Jenny Lake in the Tetons,

of broom in bloom in the Luberon,

the sweet oasis of Shabbos,

the pride of menstrual flow,

the head-loosening orgasms,

the glow of babies suckling, the mindful heat of Emily’s poems,

the hug of Sons and Lovers,

the startle of “Sunflowers” hanging in a school,

the wake-up of Mozart’s G-Minor,

the movies subtitled, French and Soviet,

most of all, words, words, words,

jousting among us until 2 o’clock in the morning.

I’m saying goodbye to my body and

its first-time joys,

now recycled into memory.

I’m saying goodbye and thank you.

©Ruth Dropkin

June 2017

My grandmother's memoir of her oldest sister

My grandma wrote a beautiful memoir of her sister Emma. Emma was the oldest of four daughters born to a rabbi and his wife. They immigrated from eastern Europe in the early part of the 20th century.

Here it is, just as she typed it, with her hand-writing on it. Published as 5 jpegs with her permission and also the permission of my cousin, Emma's daughter.

Fifteen (posted a week late, oops)

Silly, charming, taller than me, all hoodies all the time. Was in THREE plays since his last birthday!

Here he is in his high school's production of Radium Girls, playing The Reporter (photo courtesy my friend Erin)

Here he is in the red hat playing Nathan Detroit in his summer camp's production of Guys and Dolls. (photo courtesy my friend Erin, again)

And, of course, he was Iago in his middle school production of Aladdin last spring. 

He went from blue hair

To gold hair

To pink hair 

And back to blue.

He's got a great group of friends, and a terrific sense of humor. I'm proud to be his mom.