Prime Digits

Three of us on the Monday morning elevator, going down: hot young suit with slicked back hair reading the Wall Street Journal, my 7-year old sporting a milk mustache and pulling on her coat, pajama-clad bus stop escort (me).
"What if my head keeps hurting?"
"Just call me."
"What if my ear hurts again?"
"Call my cell and I'll come get you."
"What if I don't want to go on my play date?"
"Then I'll pick you up. Just call."
"What if I just don't want to be at school?"
"Then call me and we can talk about it."

Long pause. Suit looks up and asks, "Hey. Can I get that number, too?"

Two words:

Film. Students.

Filthy the Snowman

It was seriously dirty snow, even by New York standards. But they didn't care. They were 11 years old. In an hour homework would start, dinner, all that. So why not at least try, even if there were five cigarette butts in the torso alone. When I asked them for a picture one of them pulled a tiny, wilted carrot out of his pocket and held it proudly near the "head" while all three mugged.

AC/CD

Since they are few and far between, we get snazzed up for Date Nights. This time I brushed my bangs straight and put on eyeliner; he found a cool tie and shaved his nice face. Champagne and dessert seemed like the way to go, and since it was late enough for the place to be clearing out, the cute waiter didn't mind. At all. In fact he was winking. A lot. Of course, with my cleavage and mascara, I thought it was me. But then I noticed the giggle next to me and when I said, "what?" he said,
"That waiter keeps winking at me."
"Really? 'Cause I thought he was winking at me."
"No, check it out when he brings the chocolate."
Sure enough, planting a parfait glass in front of us, he managed an artful, sweeping wink, including both of us in the flirt.

Here's to multitasking with elegance, to leaving the door open, and to the occasional preen.

1969

My grandmother gave me this cup the year I was born. I have twelve more, all different.

Bangs, Pigtails

Just Like a Nuthatch

My sister loves and studies birds enough to know that this one is in a "quintessential nuthatch pose."