Remember the old movie, “The Crying Game”, where one of the lead characters passes as a different gender until the big reveal toward the end of the movie? The audience was admonished to not give away the secret so it wasn’t ruined for those who hadn’t seen the film yet. That came to mind when I first saw this prompt. Then I dug a bit deeper and understood it was really about whom we took as role models to emulate in our own lives.
With Dad
I don’t have one person, though certainly my father was formative – his sunny personality, his love of family, his ability to make and keep life-long friendships, even while making new friends everywhere he went, his genuine interest in community service work and the betterment of those around him. Those were all traits I deeply admired and chose to emulate.
With Mom
Conversely, I knew I wanted to avoid being like my mother in the way she parented. She was stingy with praise; a nervous cook, so wouldn’t let me into her kitchen. She was anxious around babies, her own and others, so even when visiting after my children were born, wouldn’t help at all, nor could she give any parenting advice. She was afraid to handle babies.
Yet she did know and love the arts, which are central to my life and she taught me about those. She also taught me good manners, a lost art these days, but I still feel it is important and will get one gracefully through many difficult situations. So in some ways, I did follow her lead.
With my glamorous cousin in the Hotel Sacher, Vienna, 2008
My cousin Sissi taught me about self-resilience, generosity of spirit, work ethic, but also, love of family and taking care of oneself.
With Mel, while visiting camp in the ’70s
Dude sings my praises – delivering my 3rd Operetta Chorus Award, 1969
From my favorite camp teachers, Dude Stephenson and Mel Larimer, I learned discipline and hard work, but to always make it fun. We WANTED to work hard, so we would produce a great product. They were both marvelous teachers as well as friends (as we campers grew into adulthood). And the friends I made at camp sustain me even today. I love and honor the teachers’ memories, converse with my wise and wonderful camp friends around the country on a constant (in some cases, daily) basis. Their accumulated wisdom, talent and goodness guide me. As do my two best high school friends and a few Brandeis friends – friendships of a lifetime. Nothing can be better.
My two best friends from high school and camp friend, who sang at my wedding. 6/16/74
