I originally posted these scrapbook pages in 2016, but thought I would “reprise” them in honor of the 14th anniversary of Mom’s passing. I actually had to do the math TWICE as I couldn’t believe that much time had passed. Looking back at these pages, I’m struck by how memory works—how it carries someone […]
Read MoreOmi’s Little Room I was killing time today at Adorn, a local vintage shop, when a little folding travel alarm clock caught my eye (yes, pun fully intended). Instantly I thought of my grandmother—our beloved Omi (Rose Spiegel Lichtenthal)—who always traveled with one just like it. Omi didn’t drive (something I couldn’t quite wrap my […]
Read MoreSaturday We arrived at the Courtyard Marriott around 7 pm, and within five minutes of dropping our bags, we were seated at a table in Connor’s Restaurant. I ordered enchiladas—a very uncharacteristic choice for me—which turned out to be a mistake. (Let’s just say I began eyeing our limited supply of Tums with concern.) Conference […]
Read MoreI’ve always believed that things happen for a reason—even if we don’t always see it right away. Some connections are too powerful, too precise, to be chalked up to coincidence. In January, a man walked into the Woodbury Public Library and stopped at the small display about my family’s Holocaust-era history. He paused. Looked at […]
Read MoreToday, January 27 is International Holocaust Remembrance Day—the 80th anniversary of the liberation of the Auschwitz concentration camp. Last year, at this time, my novel Nothing Really Bad Will Happen had yet to be released. This year, I marked the day (a few days early) by bringing my 9-year-old granddaughter, Paisley, to the Woodbury Public […]
Read MoreThis post was inspired by the Day 1 Writing Prompt for Lynn Palermo’s February Writing Challenge. Dear Great-Grandpa, I know we must have met. but I was 2 years old when you passed so, have no memory of that My impression of you was formed by pictures of you looking stern and imposing and a […]
Read MoreNOTE: I intended to post this on the 15th, but… um… life. According to Thomas MacEntee’s Facebook post, today is National Hat Day. Thank goodness he made us aware of this very important observance! There have been some exciting happenings recently related to my great-grandparents’ hat business, LITAL (Vienna, Austria – 1899-1938). Many years ago, […]
Read MoreIMPOSTER SYNDROME: “a collection of feelings of inadequacy that persist despite evident success.” Social Psychologist, Dr. Amy Cuddy When people refer to me as an author, I generally respond with something like, ” Well… Gee.. thanks, but I’m not a real writer.” Or maybe, “No. I’m not really. I just have a lot of stories […]
Read Morehttps://encyclopedia.ushmm.org/content/en/article/kristallnacht On November 9–10, 1938, Nazi leaders unleashed a series of pogroms against the Jewish population in Germany and recently incorporated territories. This event came to be called Kristallnacht (The Night of Broken Glass) because of the shattered glass that littered the streets after the vandalism and destruction of Jewish-owned businesses, synagogues, and homes. https://encyclopedia.ushmm.org/content/en/article/kristallnacht 84 years […]
Read MoreIt seems my ancestors really want to help get my book written. I’ve posted before (here and here) about “coincidences” where I’ve stumbled upon material to support the story of my great-grandfather, Sigmund Lichtenthal, and his business—its growth and loss in 1938 and his lifelong quest for reparation. At least, that was the original plan. […]
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Who We Are and How We Got This Way 