—
It was a little uncomfortable, all those birthday speeches about what an amazing human being I am. But hearing your mother and aunt say how lucky they are to have me as their mother? That’s a level of naches everyone should know.
Still, I have to tell you, it was a little like being at my own funeral. Which reminds me, I want you to make sure there is just as much joking and laughing when I die. You were the funniest of all: I can’t believe you told them that we smoked pot on my eightieth birthday.
Maybe you’ll put that in when you do the eulogy. And please, you do it. It would be too hard for your mother or your aunt, and it’s always so moving when a grandchild speaks.
Don’t look at me that way. I’m fine. The doctor said she only hopes she’s as healthy as me when she’s eighty-five. And anyway, there is no way I’m dying before I get to hear someone call you Rabbi Ava Miller.
I keep trying to imagine what my father would say about his great-granddaughter becoming a rabbi. I think his head would explode.
Rabbinical school is five years, right? So I’ll be ninety when you graduate. Oh, excuse me, when you’re ordained.
Now there’s something to look forward to.
Acknowledgments
Grateful thanks to the staff of the Schlesinger Library at Harvard University, who rearranged their schedule to catalog more than fifty boxes of papers related to Rockport Lodge for my use: Susan Earle, Kathryn Allamong Jacob, and Sarah M. Hutcheon.
Thanks for their generous assistance to Bridget Carr, Boston Symphony Orchestra; Katherine Devine, Boston Public Library; Susan Herron, Sandy Bay Historical Society; Jane Matlaw, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center; Maureen Melton, Museum of Fine Arts Boston; Ethel Shepard, Crittenton Women’s Union; Ellen Smith, Brandeis University; Donna Webber, Simmons College.
Chris Czernik, Rosalyn Kramer, Deb Theodore, and Pattie Chase shared memories of Rockport Lodge. Dexter Blumenthal and Joe Mueller provided early research assistance. Thanks to Ellyn Harmon, Amy Fleming, Joyce Friedman, and Marilyn Okonow for their support and suggestions, and to Denise Finard, Ben Loeterman, Harry Marten, Nancy Schön, Sondra Stein, Jonathan Strong, and Ande Zellman for being there when I needed you.
Thanks to Amanda Urban at ICM and the Scribner team, Roz Lippel, Susan Moldow, and Nan Graham: I so appreciate your belief in me.
My longtime, wise, and gentle writing group partners, Amy Hoffman and Stephen McCauley, were on this long march with me every step. Janet Buchwald provided fresh eyes when they were sorely needed.
My family endured more than the usual mishegas from me. Thanks to my mother, Helene Diamant, brother Harry Diamant, daughter Emilia Diamant, and especially my husband, Jim Ball, who bore the brunt and never lost faith.
Bob Wyatt talked me off the ledge half a dozen times. Without his help, you wouldn’t be holding this book in your hands.
About the Author
Mark Ostow
Anita Diamant is the bestselling author of the novels The Red Tent, Good Harbor,The Last Days of Dogtown, and Day After Night, and the collection of essays, Pitching My Tent. An award-winning journalist whose work appeared in The Boston Globe Magazine and Parenting, she is the author of six nonfiction guides to contemporary Jewish life. She lives in Massachusetts. Visit her website at AnitaDiamant.com.
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Also by Anita Diamant
NOVELS
Day After Night
The Last Days of Dogtown
Good Harbor
The Red Tent
NONFICTION
Pitching My Tent
The New Jewish Wedding
How to Raise a Jewish Child
Saying Kaddish: How to Comfort the Dying,
Bury the Dead, and Mourn as a Jew
Choosing a Jewish Life: A Handbook for
People Converting to Judaism and for Their Family and Friends
Bible Baby Names: Spiritual Choices from Judeo-Christian Tradition
The New Jewish Baby Book: Names, Ceremonies, and Customs—
A Guide for Today’s Families
Living a Jewish Life: Jewish Traditions,
Customs, and Values for Today’s Families
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This book is a work of fiction. Although based on historical events and historical characters, the names, places, and incidents are either products of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously.
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Contents
* * *
1985
Nobody Told You?
1915–16
That’s Where I Started To Be My Own Person.
Three Cheers For Addie Baum.
What Are Friends For?
You Have a Good Eye.
Like Nothing I Could Actually Touch.
You Must Be the Smart One.
Mazel Tov.
This Daughter of Yours Is a Firecracker.
Maybe I Wouldn’t Be a Wallflower After All.
We Got a Suffragette In the Family.
I Thought I Was In Love.
It Was My Fault.
1917–18
It Was Like Waking Up From a Bad Dream.
The Quick Brown Fox Jumps Over the Lazy Dog.
I Figure God Created Margaret Sanger, Too.
You May Kiss the Bride.
You Know—living Life.
How Do You Go on After That?
1919–20
I Was Still Gun-shy About Men.
I Thought He Was Sweet and That I Was Sweet on Him.
1922–24
If I Wasn’t So Busy, I Would Have Felt Sorry For Myself.
A Girl Should Always Have Her Own Money.
It’s Not Your Problem, Addie.
By Addie Baum.
My Jaw Hurt From Keeping Quiet.
It Made Me Feel Like a Real Boston Girl.
1925–26
Nice Turn of Phrase.
Never Apologize For Being Smart.
Luck. I’m Telling You.
I Say So.
I Have No Choice, Addie.
This Is Auntie Addie’s Fella.
What’s His Name?
Look At Me, I’m Becoming a Metsky!
My World Got Very Small.
1927
All I Felt Was Pain.
Life Is More Important Than Death.
You Never Looked At Me With Anything But Love.
Don’t Let Anyone Tell You Things Aren’t Better Than They Used To Be.
You’re That Addie, Aren’t You?
1931 . . .
Some of the Best Years of My Life.
Old Friends Are the Best.
I Still Miss Him Like Crazy.
1985
Now There’s Something To Look Forward To.
Acknowledgments
About the Author
Also By Anita Diamant
The Boston Girl_A Novel Page 23