Memory is a Funny Thing: Portraits

Summer '71

River

On a picnic on the river, my boyfriend is breaking up with me.  

I didn’t know it then but I would recover and years of happiness were in front of me.

Aunt Mary

North Carolina, 1978

My first date with Peter.

We were going to a party.

My son Hill was at the

party, too and his

girlfriend’s mother said:

“No wonder Hill is so

screwed up, just look at

his mother.” I guess I just

hate the South.

Ama

My Brother's Bar Mitzvah

For the whole year before, Dan had had to memorize the Hebrew chants from records.  I can still remember some of it now. I was 11 but dressed up like I was 6. My father got a promotion and we moved to a new house.  We were all miserable.

The Miss Marlos

School of Dance, 1945

I was crazy about ballet,

everything about it: the

tutu with the bonnet, the

recital the orange crate

covered with paper.

I was really short, as

everyone pointed out to

me, but in ballet I felt like I

shone!