Jay, I think it was the great Annie Dillard who wrote of a poet friend of hers who, whenever he Gave a Talk at a university, inevitably had someone come up and express the desire to become a poet. He’d respond, ‘Okay. What’s your favorite word?’ If there were no answer, his (and Annie’s) conclusion was that young person didn’t wish to become a poet, but only to Look Cool in a beret. I think that applies well beyond poets and poetry.
Thanks for mentioning Congregation Shearith Israel. It didn't get a mention in the Dispatch article beyond the illustration, so thanks for giving the congregation a few kind words in your piece. Whenever we visit NYC we daven in this beautiful Sephardic shul. Thanks for the reminder.
Sometimes in life a reference to one thing can trigger a happy memory of something "quasi-related". Your reference to a friend who is a doctor-pianist triggered such a happy memory in me. Seven years ago I was diagnosed with cancer and referred to a specialist to have the tumor removed. The surgery and follow up treatments were successful (so far) but a few years later a mass showed up in a routine exam. I was told a biopsy was to be done under a local anesthetic so I would be awake throughout. Along the way I had also learned my doctor was a concert pianist in an "earlier life". When his assistant came in before the procedure she said the doctor liked to have classical music playing while he worked and did I have a favorite the doctor might have in his play list? I said, "Anything by Chopin." When the doctor entered the OR he stopped short, listen to the music and asked, "Did you request the Etudes Op.10?" I told him I did. He leaned over to me and said, "You know, Chopin is THE MAN! If I knew you liked him I would have brought my key board."
The tension I was feeling melted away and I knew all was going to be fine. Thanks for triggering that most happy memory, Jay.
Flipping through the channels after the ballgame last Saturday, and there's Paul on SATURDAY NIGHT LIVE. Very few singers, even the great ones, can maintain their voice past 50, and Paul is 83. But the man can still perform!
Thank you for sharing that short story again, I missed it in 2010. I'll have to look for Ms. Jones's collection at the library, I too am convinced to read more.
It takes serious craftsmanship to hook a reader in so few words and she succeeded. Reminds me of Ray Bradbury's All Summer in a Day, which, if you have not read, you simply must.
On Racism ... This morning I read Numbers chapter 12 where Miriam and Aaron rebuke Moses for marrying a Cushite woman (Somalia/Ethiopia area ... Dark skin). God's response was to give Miriam leprosy. Oh, the contortions required of Bible believing Confederates!
I have a story I have posted before. I think it applies to your thoughts about race.
When I was in university in the early 80s, a psychology professor by the name of Phillip Rushton published a paper suggesting whites had higher IQs than blacks, and Asians higher IQs than either of those groups.
A well/known television celebrity, environmentalist, geneticist, and all around gadfly named David Suzuki flew to London, Ontario to debate Mr. Rushton.
Not only did Mr. Suzuki crush Mr. Rushton’s definitions, methodology and scientific approach, he also heartily chastised the assembled UWO faculty members: “Why did I have to fly from Vancouver to London to do your job? Is there no one in this university capable of countering these ideas?”
Jay-Any thoughts regarding the passing of Sonny Rollins?
Jay, I think it was the great Annie Dillard who wrote of a poet friend of hers who, whenever he Gave a Talk at a university, inevitably had someone come up and express the desire to become a poet. He’d respond, ‘Okay. What’s your favorite word?’ If there were no answer, his (and Annie’s) conclusion was that young person didn’t wish to become a poet, but only to Look Cool in a beret. I think that applies well beyond poets and poetry.
Hi Jay,
Thanks for mentioning Congregation Shearith Israel. It didn't get a mention in the Dispatch article beyond the illustration, so thanks for giving the congregation a few kind words in your piece. Whenever we visit NYC we daven in this beautiful Sephardic shul. Thanks for the reminder.
Hi Jay:
Sometimes in life a reference to one thing can trigger a happy memory of something "quasi-related". Your reference to a friend who is a doctor-pianist triggered such a happy memory in me. Seven years ago I was diagnosed with cancer and referred to a specialist to have the tumor removed. The surgery and follow up treatments were successful (so far) but a few years later a mass showed up in a routine exam. I was told a biopsy was to be done under a local anesthetic so I would be awake throughout. Along the way I had also learned my doctor was a concert pianist in an "earlier life". When his assistant came in before the procedure she said the doctor liked to have classical music playing while he worked and did I have a favorite the doctor might have in his play list? I said, "Anything by Chopin." When the doctor entered the OR he stopped short, listen to the music and asked, "Did you request the Etudes Op.10?" I told him I did. He leaned over to me and said, "You know, Chopin is THE MAN! If I knew you liked him I would have brought my key board."
The tension I was feeling melted away and I knew all was going to be fine. Thanks for triggering that most happy memory, Jay.
Hugh Donohue
In the "melting pot" that was the southwestern Pennsylvania of my youth, the question, "
Are Italians white?" was not considered settled science
RE: Customers of size
Was not expecting Jay Nordlinger to bring to mind a Frank Zappa lyric:
"I'm coming over shortly
"Because I am a portly"
Flipping through the channels after the ballgame last Saturday, and there's Paul on SATURDAY NIGHT LIVE. Very few singers, even the great ones, can maintain their voice past 50, and Paul is 83. But the man can still perform!
Thank you for sharing that short story again, I missed it in 2010. I'll have to look for Ms. Jones's collection at the library, I too am convinced to read more.
It takes serious craftsmanship to hook a reader in so few words and she succeeded. Reminds me of Ray Bradbury's All Summer in a Day, which, if you have not read, you simply must.
On Racism ... This morning I read Numbers chapter 12 where Miriam and Aaron rebuke Moses for marrying a Cushite woman (Somalia/Ethiopia area ... Dark skin). God's response was to give Miriam leprosy. Oh, the contortions required of Bible believing Confederates!
Reminds me of politicians who say they pay no attention to polls.
Any writer who tells you they write just to write and don’t really give a rip about readers is probably a writer not worth reading.
I have a story I have posted before. I think it applies to your thoughts about race.
When I was in university in the early 80s, a psychology professor by the name of Phillip Rushton published a paper suggesting whites had higher IQs than blacks, and Asians higher IQs than either of those groups.
A well/known television celebrity, environmentalist, geneticist, and all around gadfly named David Suzuki flew to London, Ontario to debate Mr. Rushton.
Not only did Mr. Suzuki crush Mr. Rushton’s definitions, methodology and scientific approach, he also heartily chastised the assembled UWO faculty members: “Why did I have to fly from Vancouver to London to do your job? Is there no one in this university capable of countering these ideas?”
It was an intellectually fortifying experience .
It ain’t Sunday morning without Jay.
Many thanks!
A pleasure!!
"What’s more, people around him are called “Latinos”—but the original “Latin lover,” Rudolph Valentino, was an Italian."
Romanians always seem to get left out of the "Latin" thing, but Romanian is a Romance language just like Italian, Spanish, French, and Portuguese.
I don't think I've ever met a Romanian-American to ask whether he "identifies" as "Latino."