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It’s all in your head

My husband Michael and my daughter Lily spent an hour at a neighborhood fair on Sunday to enjoy a petting zoo, moon bounce, and face painting.

When Lily came home I asked her how she enjoyed her time. She said it was good. But then what transpired was amazing. For the next four hours she re-enacted the fair. This took many forms. She gave all the animals — sheep, lamb, calf, donkey — dialogue about how their day was going, and what they really thought of all those kids. She had me pretend to be her favorite characters and we went around the fair and toured all the rides. We even had a picnic in the middle of all the excitement. Her fantasy version of the fair went on long after the actual fair. She had such a wonderful time that she kept the experience alive as long as she wanted.

What struck me about this was how many times I relive something in my mind, but it’s often not pleasant. Yet somehow Lily knew that the power and magic of our minds is to keep the party going long after the confetti is swept away. We can always keep the party going in our mind.

If you could relive any moment in your life right now, what would it be?

In fact is there a moment that you know someone else had that you want to pretend to have for yourself? Go ahead. Borrow it.

You can make it real… And actually, in your imagination, it may be even better.

Does Woody Allen only employ shiksas?

Does Woody Allen only employ shiksas?

I am Jewish, I am a woman, I am a comedian. Like Tracey Ullman or Lily Tomlin I do multiple characters. Yet what is my future as a performer in a Woody Allen film? Zilch.

Woody Allen employs shiksas* as his leading ladies. Mia Farrow, Diane Keaton, Diane Wiest, Scarlett Johansson, Penelope Cruz, Helen Hunt are all shiksas. I love them all. I bow at their feet. They are amazing. But when oh when will he use one of us?

I know I am not famous, I have not been discovered yet. I know I am 40 in May. I am mostly concerned with raising my three year-old. So I am largely distracted from my career. (Many days I cannot remember to attend to my own basic needs; did I eat? Did I sleep? Did I shower? Which Disney character am I playing in this particular role play?) I may not exactly be in the running for a Woody Allen film.

But there are many many other women Jewish comedians. When will Woody write for one of us? Youd think by now hed use Sara Silverman. The most famous of our tribe. But no. Or maybe even Rain Pryor, Richard Pryors daughter who is half Jewish, but no. Fran Drescher’s whine has never been recorded in an Allen film. Can you even conceive of that? And why didnt he jump at the chance to employ Barbra? Barbra! Come on Woody.

Ill make it easy for you. Just let me be Ruth, my old Jewish woman who tells dirty jokes. You could squeeze her into a scene where we go comparison shopping on cataract treatments. Ruth can supply some comic relief. Then again, that wouldnt exactly be a role for a leading lady.

Maybe we Jewish women comedians are not leading ladies. We are uppity, we are hard to pigeon hole, we steal focus.

So you know what, just let us be ourselves Woody. Put all of us together in one of your movies. I swear whatever amazing material you write for us, even if we adlib — well give you full credit.

*shiksa non-Jewish woman, a gentile

GLOWING

My friend John Cregar took this shot of me. I hope you enjoy it. I am holding some glowing orbs called “Oggz.” The light changes and changes inside them. Here’s my invitation to you…. What do you notice glowing around you? Perhaps a neon sign, maybe the sun, or your friend’s face when they smile. What do you appreciate that is glowing in your life today?