252/365 Alyce

Another close friend young enough to be my daughter. Hard to say what stands out about Alyce…is it her classic beauty? Her impeccable taste? Her warmth? Her generous spirit? Could be any of these…or perhaps her ribald sense of humor…

251/365 Janine

The hospital staff wouldn’t let her hold her stillborn daughter. No goodbyes, no pictures. Later, longing for a photograph, she telephoned the doctor. “Oh, yes, sure,” he said, before subjecting this grieving mother to a slide show of the autopsy.

250/365 Tony

Superbly musical, dapper, and elegant, when this jazz pianist adjusts the lyrics to showcase one of his friends she (it’s always a she) feels like the star of the club. So does his beautiful 90+-year-old mother. And well she should.

249/365 The Horrid Dentist

Immobilized by all that was in my mouth—his hands, a couple of tools, and a drain—I was forced to listen to his sickening tale of how he shot and killed a German Shepherd that was running a deer.

248/365 My Young Cousin Karen

Years ago her late grandmother won a dishwasher (first prize!) in a recipe contest. This month Karen entered her own original cheesecake in a contest, and it took first prize. Being a modern woman, she also has a Master’s degree.

247/365 My WWII Vets

I spent much of 1995 using my computer to help WWII vets locate their military buddies for the 50^thanniversary reunions. The information I uncovered brought them to tears—of happiness or sadness. Either way, they were so very grateful.

246/365 My Cousin Gabrielle

He was my hunk, my rock,” she says, describing the husband who recently died. Gabrielle is experiencing the transforming power of taking over his duties.  She feels the power even when mowing the lawn. Or especially when mowing the lawn.

245/365 My husband’s ex-wife

Animosity does not begin to describe our early relationship. But she’s been divorced from him for well over 40 years. And he’s gone now. So you’d think we’d be able to connect on a peaceful, woman-to-woman level. And we have.

244/365 Judith

We were in high school together. She was the sort of Judith you never call Judy. She didn’t date, but instead spent her evenings learning Chinese. I’m not quite sure why, because she planned to join a kibbutz in Israel.

243/365 Another neighbor, c. 1960

There’s a name for his affliction, but it escapes me. He pretended to be a surgeon, among other things. He got away with it for a time. He had a certain charm and a Maserati. He was a physician’s son.