Cabos Celebration

Nearly a week since Andrew and I returned from the celebration in Cabos, Mexico, honoring the marriage of Matt and Suzi. As we learned a few months ago, Matt and Suzi married in Florida, December 11, 2010, this, in anticipation of a celebration originally scheduled for February 2011. Beheadings in Mexico combined with a transfer to Phoenix delayed the celebration. In November when plans were finalized, we got the word: The party was on!  February 9-12. Dreams Resort, Cabos San Lucas, Mexico.

The wedding party and guests formed a small but hearty group, each committed to the proposition that this was to be, first and foremost, a ‘celebration.’ A celebration of Matt and Suzi, their marriage, their characters and lives and all they bring to the ‘marital’ relationship.

It’s a truism in photography that ‘proof sheets don’t lie.’ This past week as I edited and arranged photos for a slideshow of the event, this thought struck me: Marriage is not for children. 

The proofs revealed the fact that the two principals ‘joined together’ in the bonds of holy matrimony were both adults. Here were two grown, mature individuals who know who they are and what they want. Footwear told the tale: Suzi sported jewel-bedecked, four-inch spiked heels; Matt wore flip flops. Suzi gusssied up in a strapless, full-bosomed bridal gown; Matt wore a plain linen shirt and slacks. The point being, that both presented themselves as they wished--both comfortable with themselves are they are.  This feeling of ‘ease’ settled upon the whole party, allowing all to jump in and enjoy. And that we did! Each in our own way. Ole!

Another factor in the joy of celebration was the interaction between/among the two supporting characters--Best GF, Maggie, and Best Man, James. Both enlivened as they stood second to bride and groom. Case in point: Shortly before the ceremony was to begin, I found Suzi at the spa with Maggie and hairdresser, Laura. Things were not going well in the arrangement of the bridal ‘do.’ Too much chlorine in the water. Too little humidity. The curls were NOT laying down as they should! Crisis! Here we were, an hour before the ceremony! Two years of planning! Hundreds of hours, thousands of dollars expended! Every detail planned, checked, cross-checked. Every possibility considered. After all this! Disaster! Suzi was on the verge of tears!

Laura was firm. “Don’t cry. You’ll ruin your make-up.” Maggie was right there. She threw her arms around Suzi. Looking in the mirror, she said, “You are beautiful. Matt loves you. Don’t worry about the hair, just smile.” Laura attached the veil; the smile appeared. All was well. 

P.S: After the ceremony, I recounted this to Matt. His reply, “I didn’t notice the hair. All I saw was the DRESS.” Ole! 

Tuesday, January 31, 2012

Society’s Child: my autobiography  by Janis Ian (2008). 

Singer/songwriter Ian’s autobiography tracks the ups and downs of her tumultuous career which began at age 15 with the release of her mega-hit “Society’s Child,” a song that Ian describes as “the best of songs, the worst of songs.” The ‘best’ of songs because it launched her career; the ‘worst’ because it nearly got her killed. The same could be said of Ian’s career--a wild ride from the top of the charts to down in the gutter and points in-between. 

Ian writes candidly about her career--the hits and flops; love affairs; bigotry; the music business; life on the road; fellow musicians; therapists; FBI and IRS; the devils who betrayed and the friends who stood by her. The narrative includes stories behind her greatest hits, including “Society’s Child,” “Jesse,” “At Seventeen,” “Between the Lines,” and “Tatoo.” Some came easy, some came hard. Creativity, like everything else in her life, has its ups and downs. 

The one thing that can be said about Janis Ian is this: her career was her life. Life and career appear seamless, inseparable. She lived her career, body and soul. Her best songs reflect this ‘lived life’ quality. Other artists have recorded Ian’s songs,; but, for me, the renderings aren’t the same. Her songs resonant through her voice. We hear the celebration, confusion, surprise, perplexity, wonder, sadness and the joy. It all filters through.

Sometime in the late 90s, Ian performed at the Dead Dog Saloon in Salt Lake City. I sat up front, close enough to watch her as she sang and conversed with the audience. She seemed curious about the audience, as curious about us as we were of her. Curious about these women her own age, living in the heart of Zion. 

Something else struck me about Ian’s performance. She seemed detached, split--the performer reveling in the limelight while the introverted writer shivered off-stage.

Glad to read that Janis Ian has achieved resonance in her career and personal life. It has been a long time coming.  

Higher Education in the 21st century

Dukies camped out for b-ball tickets

The Education Life section of the Sunday New York Times, January 22, 2012, contained several interesting articles on current trends in higher education. The title of the lead article, “How Big-Time Sports Ate College Life,” by Laura Pappano, says it all. Exhibit A: Ohio State recently signed former Ute coach Urban Meyer to a contract worth $4 million per year plus bonuses and use of a private jet. “For good or ill,” writes Pappano, “big-time sport has become the public face of the university, the brand that admissions offices sell, a public relations machine thanks to ESPN exposure (p. 23).” This is higher education today--branded, commodified. Colleges and universities ‘consumed’--packaged, marketed, sold to the highest bidder. So too, college ‘life.’ 

Another fascinating article by Lawrence H. Summers describes “The 21st Century Education.” The message: The digital age has changed both how we teach and what we need to learn. What goes? Term papers, facts, trigonometry, calculation, and memorization. What goes forward? Blogging, Google Translator, statistics, video lectures, collaboration.

An interview with David J. Helfand, former chair of the astronomy department at Columbia, now president of Quest University Canada, suggests how the structure of the ‘traditional’ university will change in the 21st century. What goes: tenure, departments, large lecture halls, semesters, term papers, traditional grading. What goes forward: the block system (month-long study of one subject), small classes, faculty evaluation based on student engagement, ‘guest’ faculty, final two years (upper division) of study on a single topic. 

Other articles deal with student activism, addiction and how to cope with stress: shout out!, therapy dogs, coloring (yes, old-fashioned coloring with crayon or marker), impromptu ‘one-song dancing’ in the library, and, ‘stress balls.’ 

Finally, an excellent article on continuing education for us older folks. How to take 10 years off your brain’s age? Get a college degree. Keep on learning. There is no “preordained march toward senescence.” I’ll buy that . . . 

Plucked from a dumpster . . .

The Red Leather Diary

The Red Leather Diary by Lily Koppel (2008). 

The story behind the book is interesting. As Koppel, a journalist newly arrived in New York City, set off for work one morning, she noticed a collection of old steamer trunks piled in the dumpster outside her Upper East Side apartment. Intrigued, Koppel investigated and discovered that one of the trunks had spilled open revealing among other items a sleek, sequined “flapper’ dress from the 1920s and a fraying, red leather diary. 

The diary belonged to Florence Wolfson, a gift on her 14th birthday, August 11, 1929. Over the course of the next five years Florence recorded short descriptions of daily life on the Upper East Side of New York City: cultural events, school, friends, frustrations, adolescent crushes, sexual encounters (male and female), college, her university ‘salon’, and, a trip to Europe (summer 1936) conculminating in an affair with a famous Italian aviator. The handwritten accounts though brief convey the contours not only of the life, but the personality, passion, talent and intelligence of the adolescent Florence Wolfson. Koppel fills out the narrative with descriptions of New York City, institutions, events and personalities mentioned in the diary. 

Sample entries: August 3, 1932: “Spent all day reading something of Jane Austin’s--how refreshing--how novel--has her breed died out?” June 28, 1932: “Have stuffed myself with Mozart and Beethoven--I feel like a ripe apricot--I’m dizzy with the exotic.”  January 11, 1931: “I’m so happy--gloriously happy--more than I deserve to be--It’s George--George with his arms  and kisses . . . “ April 11, 1932: “Slept with Pearl tonight--it was beautiful. There is nothing so gratifying as physical intimacy with one you like.” 

Florence’s entries along with Koppel’s descriptions make for a good read. But there’s more. Intrigued by the diary’s author, Koppel launched a search for Florence Wolfson hoping find her alive. With little to go on, Koppel hired Charles Gordon, a private investigator, license plate “Sleuth3,” to help in the search. Using old telephone books, Charlie narrowed the field to a Dr. Daniel Wolfson,1391 Madison Ave, which happened to be the same address as Lily Koppel’s apartment. The father’s name led to a birth certificate, Florence Wolfson, born August 11, 1915. 

Sleuth3 found more. He discovered that Florence Wolfson, now Florence Wolfson Howitt (93) was alive and well, living in Florida. With this news came a phone number. One afternoon in April 2006, Koppel made the call. After two rings, “a refined voice with the command of a stage actress” answered. Without introduction, Koppel knew with whom she was about to speak.