What a sweet story, Princess Pussycat! I will forever see you with some kind of kitty-ears tiara, with Tom Jones singing “What’s New, Pussycat?” in your honor. xoxo
I don't know how hot he was, but I remember lots of sweat. I didn't want to throw my panties at him (I was 8), I wanted to sing like him! I'm gonna look for that video, though! xo
Thanks, Jamie! That was some night. I don't know how I knew not to laugh, but I knew it so clearly. I loved that guy. As crazy as it could sometimes get with him, he really was a mensch doing the best he could. More to come! xo
Thanks, lovely. He was my biggest fan and in many ways, the person who held me back in many ways, because we were so codependent. And I have so many good memories of our relationship, even so. There's a fun one coming on Wednesday! The memoir material that I'm working on is heavier, more dark, but still threaded with so much love. xo
Isn't that always the way of memoir? I think if I read a memoir that is too dark, it hurts my heart to know it was so bad for someone. Threading it with love means that you've come out on the other side. I cannot wait to read.
This is a wonderful story. Good for you for standing your ground! So young and so courageous. Your dad sounds like a gem. Reading this piece made me think of the dinner parties my parents held and how drunk people got -- and loud. I could never sleep through that.
Thanks, Beth. My dad WAS a gem, a lot of the time. But not always, because he was quite human, and quite flawed. I loved him so much. My folks weren't big drinkers, ever. They had other issues! xo
I love this story. So delightful, and all the details really take me there. Somehow it makes me think of those occasional times I would ask my parents about a situation and they would tell me I would understand when I got older. I always wondered “but why not now?”
Thanks, Sarah. Exactly. Why not now? Little kids are smart. Really smart. I believe children see truths that become obscured as they get older. There's an aspect of purity that enables kids to see without the filters we use to ignore the uncomfortable! xo
A woman of conviction, even at five! My memories from childhood are not nearly as crisp as yours, Nan, and I've long regretted it. One of my kids has that gift, one doesn't. It's funny how some of us get to keep those differently than others.
This is a delightfully fun story, and I'm glad your dad was such a sweetheart. Saul, though? What a putz!
Yup. That was me...at least about certain things. Memory is fascinating to me. The things that are vivid are mostly from childhood. Teen years not as much, but not bad. Things began to start running together in my late 20s to my early 40s. And then there was the memory disrupting ECT, but that was more short term memory loss. And yes, Saul was a major putz. A successful lawyer and really good friend of Rudy Giuliani, to give you an idea of how high up the putz ladder he climbed. My dad was a total doll on lots of occasions, but he had his putz moments as well. Don't we all? xo
This is adorable, Nan. And you're describing Carol's hair and I'm thinking to myself, "Is it like Sharon Gless/Christine Cagney's blonde hair? Like a kind of glorious meringue, that you wouldn't mind decorating a cake? Yes. Delicious." 😂
Thanks, Troy. No, not like Sharon Gless's hair in Cagney and Lacey. I loved that show, and couldn't decide who I had the bigger crush on, but it always came down to a greater lust for Tyne Daly. Carol's hair was curlier, and a bit shorter than Cagney's. So funny that we can discuss things like this. I loved Tyne Daly in The Rookies, too. xo
What an observant child you were, Nan. And I love that you stood up for your mom. Real guts! Bravo!
Thanks, Pamela. I had to protest. She was being bullied by a big, whiny baby! xo
What a sweet story, Princess Pussycat! I will forever see you with some kind of kitty-ears tiara, with Tom Jones singing “What’s New, Pussycat?” in your honor. xoxo
He was pretty hot. I remember women throwing their panties onstage. There’s a great video on YouTube of him dancing with Janis Joplin. xoxo
I don't know how hot he was, but I remember lots of sweat. I didn't want to throw my panties at him (I was 8), I wanted to sing like him! I'm gonna look for that video, though! xo
I LOVED Tom Jones when I was a kid!
"It's not unusual to be loved by anyone
It's not unusual to have fun with anyone
But when I see you hanging about with anyone
It's not unusual to see me cry
I wanna die."
Signed, Your Princess Pussycat! xo
This must be such a happy memory to conjure. I love bedtime routines, and the "Princess Pussycat" makes me smile. What a sweet man he seems to be.
Absolutely charming! 🥰
Thanks, Jamie! That was some night. I don't know how I knew not to laugh, but I knew it so clearly. I loved that guy. As crazy as it could sometimes get with him, he really was a mensch doing the best he could. More to come! xo
You capture the moment and your relationship so beautifully. And I could hear you smiling as you read the story. Just delightful. 🥰
Thanks, lovely. He was my biggest fan and in many ways, the person who held me back in many ways, because we were so codependent. And I have so many good memories of our relationship, even so. There's a fun one coming on Wednesday! The memoir material that I'm working on is heavier, more dark, but still threaded with so much love. xo
Isn't that always the way of memoir? I think if I read a memoir that is too dark, it hurts my heart to know it was so bad for someone. Threading it with love means that you've come out on the other side. I cannot wait to read.
Hi Nan,
This is a wonderful story. Good for you for standing your ground! So young and so courageous. Your dad sounds like a gem. Reading this piece made me think of the dinner parties my parents held and how drunk people got -- and loud. I could never sleep through that.
Thanks, Beth. My dad WAS a gem, a lot of the time. But not always, because he was quite human, and quite flawed. I loved him so much. My folks weren't big drinkers, ever. They had other issues! xo
I love this story. So delightful, and all the details really take me there. Somehow it makes me think of those occasional times I would ask my parents about a situation and they would tell me I would understand when I got older. I always wondered “but why not now?”
Thanks, Sarah. Exactly. Why not now? Little kids are smart. Really smart. I believe children see truths that become obscured as they get older. There's an aspect of purity that enables kids to see without the filters we use to ignore the uncomfortable! xo
A woman of conviction, even at five! My memories from childhood are not nearly as crisp as yours, Nan, and I've long regretted it. One of my kids has that gift, one doesn't. It's funny how some of us get to keep those differently than others.
This is a delightfully fun story, and I'm glad your dad was such a sweetheart. Saul, though? What a putz!
Yup. That was me...at least about certain things. Memory is fascinating to me. The things that are vivid are mostly from childhood. Teen years not as much, but not bad. Things began to start running together in my late 20s to my early 40s. And then there was the memory disrupting ECT, but that was more short term memory loss. And yes, Saul was a major putz. A successful lawyer and really good friend of Rudy Giuliani, to give you an idea of how high up the putz ladder he climbed. My dad was a total doll on lots of occasions, but he had his putz moments as well. Don't we all? xo
PRINCESS PUSSYCAT!!!! 🐈⬛♥️
Yes, that would be me! xo
This was so lovely. I love the detail in your story telling.
I'm glad you enjoyed, Liza, thank you. I like being able to share more playful stories every so often, and it's a wonderful memory! xo
This is adorable, Nan. And you're describing Carol's hair and I'm thinking to myself, "Is it like Sharon Gless/Christine Cagney's blonde hair? Like a kind of glorious meringue, that you wouldn't mind decorating a cake? Yes. Delicious." 😂
Thanks, Troy. No, not like Sharon Gless's hair in Cagney and Lacey. I loved that show, and couldn't decide who I had the bigger crush on, but it always came down to a greater lust for Tyne Daly. Carol's hair was curlier, and a bit shorter than Cagney's. So funny that we can discuss things like this. I loved Tyne Daly in The Rookies, too. xo
And Judging Amy - and her 1 episode appearance as Lily's teacher in Modern Family was a hoot. :)
Hmmmm. Are you sure you're not a lesbian???? xo!
I am a wee bit 🩷
I had a hunch! xo