So much love for this story. I can close my eyes and picture the plastic covered couch and the apron and the airport and the Oil of Olay. Sneaking the Cadbury eggs with your dad makes me so happy. I use to sneak them, too. In fact, I would buy a few for myself at Easter and hide them from my children. Perhaps this was why I did not win the mother of the year awards.
My mom and I used to hide Almond Joys from my brother and sister. We put them in the blender because it had a cover and you could not see through it. When my sister was a senior in high school, I came home for a visit, and she watched me grab a candy from the stash. She said she had been looking for those for three years, which made us both laugh. My mom had never told her. She'd kept it our secret.
So much here resonated! The bossy grandma, the terror of sleeping with the olds, the schmaltz, the chopped liver, the brisket. Thank you for the stroll down memory lane. I almost felt like I was in the Caddy (and sneaking peeps and Cadbury's) with you! xo
TERROR is putting it mildly. HEY, tomorrow's your big day, yes? I got a notice from Bookshop that my copy's on its way! When we finally meet in person, we're gonna have to eat some Peeps. Love you. xo
Yes and yay to all of the above! (Except for the terror. Please remind me to tell you how my mom once sent me to check on my grandma who wasn't answering her phone... which, now that I think about it, might be material for another Wham! Bam! installment.)
Am I interested in being an alternate for Mothers and Daughters? YES PLEASE!! And I’d love it if you could join us on Wednesday for the Zoom launch. Here’s the link:
This is a story worthy of repeating. I never tire of that picture of your dad in his bunny costume, or of the characters and traditions you bring to life here, Nan.
Thank you, Elizabeth. We were quite the couple, my dad and I. One of the things I love best is the comments I get from other Jewish people who completely recognize the memories, and hold them as their own. We are all connected. And of course, not just Jewish people. We all have so much in common. The cuisine represented is just a side note. Peeps and chopped liver. What a combo! xo
I love, and I also have to admit I have a hard time with both. But -- Peeps rank at the top of the yuck pile for me. Marshmallow anything, actually. Except roasted on an open fire and smashed into a s'more. 🔥 The ambiance takes my mind off the texture. LOL!
Peeps are awful. That's what I love about them. I have a mixed relationship with marshmallows, too. But I mostly love them, just not too frequently. They lose their appeal quickly. Novelty candy holidays are great. Like candy corn at Halloween. Really, when analyzed critically, they're disgusting, but they're also addictive. And jelly beans at Easter. Hanukah gelt (chocolate coins). Candy canes are the only things that fall short for me. Because, meh. xo
I lived with a family at 9 Prospect Park West as an au pair for a couple of years. I worked parttime in the cheese shop (Murray's?) on 7th Avenue for a while and for a cabinetmaker too. I loved the Slope back then. It was friendly and felt like an entity unto itself. Special. And then about 12 years later, I lived on Eastern Parkway, right across the street from the museum before I moved to the Hudson Valley in the early 90s.
Park Slope was great then, yes. It’s still that way in my head. I don’t recall Murray’s but we loved The Big Cheese. Not sure if that was still there in the 80s. I was on Union bet 7th and 8th (my father’s) and Plaza St with my mother before she moved to SoHo in ‘78
It was The Big Cheese! I think the owner's name was Murray. Two of my very dear friends lived on Union bet. 7th and 8th. So maybe we just missed each other...but it's still fun to meet people who know what it was like. xo
Lovely descriptive recollections and so much that I identify with. Those spring trips to West Palm, for me. School break by the pool. My grandpa was an Oldsmobile man. Really enjoyed this, and love the bunny suit picture. My grandparents weren’t always so good at avoiding Easter treats with me since my father wasn’t Jewish. I think my grandmother (at one time freaked out by my mother’s choice, of course), did enjoy tuning in the occasional Easter bunny holiday special for me in the sly (I was sooo clueless about why her guilty looks). Still I got pinched in the cheek by my Aunt Ester and Uncle Irving who lived in the next door condo (and the occasional crisp bill for my pocket). Thanks for the memories, Nan
Hi Eliza! I love Substack because I just looked at your stack just now. I lived in Park Slope for a time, 1980-81ish...loved it. And your parents, such painters. I've known of them for years. I never know who or when might start my day off in such a beautiful way.
Later in my dad's life, his boyfriend bought him a Peeps-making machine. To my knowledge, it was never used. Nice to meet you! xo
Yes, I've definitely published it before. It is now, officially, my replacement for the Passover Haggadah. We will read of the Exodus that Sid and Nan(cy) made to the sandy shores of Miami, and how we survived the famine of normal food with the cream egg of our affliction. xo
This is surely one of my favorites. I was smiling the whole time I was reading. Tony used to host our Seder with our friends family(Ivan and Di) for many years. We were pretty heavy on those 4 cups of wine I must say. I don't make Seder anymore, but I did make charoset and macaroons( I'm a huge fan, dipped in dark chocolate). I could almost "taste" your family Passover and I thankyou for that. And Sid in the bunny suit OMG perfection! Zissen Pesach Nan
Love you, Margie. You knew Sid when! He could be pretty mischievous. Zissen Pesach, darling friend. You know the salmon poacher story, too, right?
You and Tony were his first dinner guests when he moved to Manhattan. He wanted to make poached salmon, so he when out, bought a fancy poacher, expressly for salmon. Made a great dinner and never used that poacher again. It sat in a low cabinet in his tiny kitchen for 34 years, waiting, waiting. He was so proud of the dinner he made for us that night. In 1977!
Let's see. What does it say about you? I think it says, yes, you and I can be friends! And that night, we could not stop laughing. I can still see it so clearly. Two adults acting like little kids up to no good! xo
Me, too. But for me, if there was sugar, I'd eat it. Never a big fan of macaroons, but if that's all on offer, I'd grudgingly eat one or two, especially if they were dipped in chocolate. A zissen Pesach, Nancy. xo
Nan, I love this wonderful narrative. Reading this brought back memories of my own Passover experiences. We would eat the marshmallow twists and sugar coated fruit slices. I wasn't a macaroon fan, but I did love the matzo brie. My family would all get together in the Bronx or Manhattan, depending on which part of the family was hosting.
Your dad is so cool. My dad ruled Passover with an iron fist, so much so that we all felt enslaved as the ancient Hebrews were. It felt very real to us. Having the sweet, delicious Cadbury eggs would've softened the blow of the continuous Passover diet, although we did indulge in chocolate-covered Matzos.
I loved Passover when I was a young kid because my Aunt Helene would say, "Look! Elijah is drinking the wine from the cup!" and then she would slightly knock on the fold-up table and make the glass of wine jiggle, as I stared in amazement. My aunt was like a mom to me, but like your dad, she didn't always play by the rules. I loved that part of her. I also remember having real wine instead of grape juice. Four cups! And there I was when I was a kid, drunk, banging into walls and giggling.
Your memories are delightful! I love Aunt Helene. Good on her. My father was my grandmother's shayna yingele...they were all pretty nuts, and I loved them. My father and I had a lot of fun together over the years. He loved to celebrate. Family dynamics shape who we become in so many ways. My dad thought he was rebelling....but he really learned this stuff from his very righteous kosher mother...well, except when she was hovering over the shrimp platters at other people's traif homes. You couldn't tear her away. And oh, Chinese food, for her, too. As long as it wasn't in her house, it didn't count. She was hilarious. Apples and trees. We learn what we live. xo
So much love for this story. I can close my eyes and picture the plastic covered couch and the apron and the airport and the Oil of Olay. Sneaking the Cadbury eggs with your dad makes me so happy. I use to sneak them, too. In fact, I would buy a few for myself at Easter and hide them from my children. Perhaps this was why I did not win the mother of the year awards.
I LOVE THAT. It probably has nothing to do with the Mother of the Year award. You deserve secret Peeps and Creme Eggs.
My father was the better mother of the two of my parents, but I think that award is probably mythical at best! xo
My mom and I used to hide Almond Joys from my brother and sister. We put them in the blender because it had a cover and you could not see through it. When my sister was a senior in high school, I came home for a visit, and she watched me grab a candy from the stash. She said she had been looking for those for three years, which made us both laugh. My mom had never told her. She'd kept it our secret.
That's MARVELOUS! xo
So much here resonated! The bossy grandma, the terror of sleeping with the olds, the schmaltz, the chopped liver, the brisket. Thank you for the stroll down memory lane. I almost felt like I was in the Caddy (and sneaking peeps and Cadbury's) with you! xo
TERROR is putting it mildly. HEY, tomorrow's your big day, yes? I got a notice from Bookshop that my copy's on its way! When we finally meet in person, we're gonna have to eat some Peeps. Love you. xo
Yes and yay to all of the above! (Except for the terror. Please remind me to tell you how my mom once sent me to check on my grandma who wasn't answering her phone... which, now that I think about it, might be material for another Wham! Bam! installment.)
DEFINITELY sounds like a great slam story. How do I not have you on the Mothers & Daughters program??? If anyone drops out are you interested? xo
I want to go to your launch with Stephanie Weaver. Can you send me the link info or post it again if appropriate? It's on Zoom, too, yes? xo
Am I interested in being an alternate for Mothers and Daughters? YES PLEASE!! And I’d love it if you could join us on Wednesday for the Zoom launch. Here’s the link:
Oops sorry I think this should work but if not I'll text it to you https://us02web.zoom.us/j/89725254134#success
That link leads me nowhere...fast! Help. Please. xo
This is a story worthy of repeating. I never tire of that picture of your dad in his bunny costume, or of the characters and traditions you bring to life here, Nan.
Thank you, Elizabeth. We were quite the couple, my dad and I. One of the things I love best is the comments I get from other Jewish people who completely recognize the memories, and hold them as their own. We are all connected. And of course, not just Jewish people. We all have so much in common. The cuisine represented is just a side note. Peeps and chopped liver. What a combo! xo
I love, and I also have to admit I have a hard time with both. But -- Peeps rank at the top of the yuck pile for me. Marshmallow anything, actually. Except roasted on an open fire and smashed into a s'more. 🔥 The ambiance takes my mind off the texture. LOL!
Peeps are awful. That's what I love about them. I have a mixed relationship with marshmallows, too. But I mostly love them, just not too frequently. They lose their appeal quickly. Novelty candy holidays are great. Like candy corn at Halloween. Really, when analyzed critically, they're disgusting, but they're also addictive. And jelly beans at Easter. Hanukah gelt (chocolate coins). Candy canes are the only things that fall short for me. Because, meh. xo
I'm eagerly awaiting the day after Easter or, as I call it, Half-Price Peeps Day!
And Creme Eggs, too! xo
Oh definitely!
This is so special. I feel like I’m there with you <3
We were fun! What a family. xo
Love this! Wow. Curious where you were in park slope back when I was in middle school..? 😊
I lived with a family at 9 Prospect Park West as an au pair for a couple of years. I worked parttime in the cheese shop (Murray's?) on 7th Avenue for a while and for a cabinetmaker too. I loved the Slope back then. It was friendly and felt like an entity unto itself. Special. And then about 12 years later, I lived on Eastern Parkway, right across the street from the museum before I moved to the Hudson Valley in the early 90s.
Park Slope was great then, yes. It’s still that way in my head. I don’t recall Murray’s but we loved The Big Cheese. Not sure if that was still there in the 80s. I was on Union bet 7th and 8th (my father’s) and Plaza St with my mother before she moved to SoHo in ‘78
It was The Big Cheese! I think the owner's name was Murray. Two of my very dear friends lived on Union bet. 7th and 8th. So maybe we just missed each other...but it's still fun to meet people who know what it was like. xo
Lovely descriptive recollections and so much that I identify with. Those spring trips to West Palm, for me. School break by the pool. My grandpa was an Oldsmobile man. Really enjoyed this, and love the bunny suit picture. My grandparents weren’t always so good at avoiding Easter treats with me since my father wasn’t Jewish. I think my grandmother (at one time freaked out by my mother’s choice, of course), did enjoy tuning in the occasional Easter bunny holiday special for me in the sly (I was sooo clueless about why her guilty looks). Still I got pinched in the cheek by my Aunt Ester and Uncle Irving who lived in the next door condo (and the occasional crisp bill for my pocket). Thanks for the memories, Nan
Hi Eliza! I love Substack because I just looked at your stack just now. I lived in Park Slope for a time, 1980-81ish...loved it. And your parents, such painters. I've known of them for years. I never know who or when might start my day off in such a beautiful way.
Later in my dad's life, his boyfriend bought him a Peeps-making machine. To my knowledge, it was never used. Nice to meet you! xo
I remember reading this before. Aunt Paulie's wet kiss with the dentures out. So descriptive! xoxo
Yes, I've definitely published it before. It is now, officially, my replacement for the Passover Haggadah. We will read of the Exodus that Sid and Nan(cy) made to the sandy shores of Miami, and how we survived the famine of normal food with the cream egg of our affliction. xo
This is surely one of my favorites. I was smiling the whole time I was reading. Tony used to host our Seder with our friends family(Ivan and Di) for many years. We were pretty heavy on those 4 cups of wine I must say. I don't make Seder anymore, but I did make charoset and macaroons( I'm a huge fan, dipped in dark chocolate). I could almost "taste" your family Passover and I thankyou for that. And Sid in the bunny suit OMG perfection! Zissen Pesach Nan
Love you, Margie. You knew Sid when! He could be pretty mischievous. Zissen Pesach, darling friend. You know the salmon poacher story, too, right?
You and Tony were his first dinner guests when he moved to Manhattan. He wanted to make poached salmon, so he when out, bought a fancy poacher, expressly for salmon. Made a great dinner and never used that poacher again. It sat in a low cabinet in his tiny kitchen for 34 years, waiting, waiting. He was so proud of the dinner he made for us that night. In 1977!
xoN
My salmon poacher became an overpriced flower pot when I discovered I could poach salmon in the microwave in 5 minutes
You hade one, too?? Obviously, you used it more than my father did. And then it was repurposed. My father's poacher just lived in a closet....
I love this story. Not sure what it says about me but my favorite part was when you and your dad split the Ativan! 😂
Let's see. What does it say about you? I think it says, yes, you and I can be friends! And that night, we could not stop laughing. I can still see it so clearly. Two adults acting like little kids up to no good! xo
I used to love those jellies. Ach, memories.
Me, too. But for me, if there was sugar, I'd eat it. Never a big fan of macaroons, but if that's all on offer, I'd grudgingly eat one or two, especially if they were dipped in chocolate. A zissen Pesach, Nancy. xo
xoxo
Nan, I love this wonderful narrative. Reading this brought back memories of my own Passover experiences. We would eat the marshmallow twists and sugar coated fruit slices. I wasn't a macaroon fan, but I did love the matzo brie. My family would all get together in the Bronx or Manhattan, depending on which part of the family was hosting.
Your dad is so cool. My dad ruled Passover with an iron fist, so much so that we all felt enslaved as the ancient Hebrews were. It felt very real to us. Having the sweet, delicious Cadbury eggs would've softened the blow of the continuous Passover diet, although we did indulge in chocolate-covered Matzos.
I loved Passover when I was a young kid because my Aunt Helene would say, "Look! Elijah is drinking the wine from the cup!" and then she would slightly knock on the fold-up table and make the glass of wine jiggle, as I stared in amazement. My aunt was like a mom to me, but like your dad, she didn't always play by the rules. I loved that part of her. I also remember having real wine instead of grape juice. Four cups! And there I was when I was a kid, drunk, banging into walls and giggling.
Your memories are delightful! I love Aunt Helene. Good on her. My father was my grandmother's shayna yingele...they were all pretty nuts, and I loved them. My father and I had a lot of fun together over the years. He loved to celebrate. Family dynamics shape who we become in so many ways. My dad thought he was rebelling....but he really learned this stuff from his very righteous kosher mother...well, except when she was hovering over the shrimp platters at other people's traif homes. You couldn't tear her away. And oh, Chinese food, for her, too. As long as it wasn't in her house, it didn't count. She was hilarious. Apples and trees. We learn what we live. xo
I remember this piece and it's even more Nan-flavored now. Love the pic of your pops. xo!
It was quite a Passover! Why more Nan-flavored now? xo