Suprise Me

Guardian  I never thought we’d lose touch or become estranged from good friends,   but sadly it happened.   (See The Gs and Malcolm)  But it seemed inconceivable that in our own family there’d be an estrangement,  but tragically that happened as well. In the early 1990s my sister Laurie married Andy,  and at the time… Read More

If not for Retrospect, I would probably not be writing at all. Read More

Upon reaching the age of three, what does a little boy expect from his dad? Read More

Retrospect Caption Contest (just like the New Yorker): Please write a caption for this picture of Donald Fagen, age 71, who is the co-founder and lead singer of the band Steely Dan. You may recall one of their biggest songs, Hey Nineteen. Here is an excerpt from the lyrics: Hey, nineteen That’s ‘Retha Franklin She… Read More

The first time I lied about my age, I was five years old. It was my parents’ idea. Our family was visiting the United Nations in New York – perhaps one of my older sisters was studying it in school – and to get in to the General Assembly gallery at that time you had… Read More

The demise of the family dinner is definitely a loss. Read More

I resorted to wearing sunglasses and a painter's mask to do any gardening, even trimming the lemon tree. Upon seeing me, my cat recoiled in horror. Read More

“Everybody’s a dreamer, everybody’s a star,” sang the Kinks in their 1972 song “Celluloid Heroes.” So true. I nominate this song to be the permanent theme song of the Academy Awards show. First movie: Sayonara. As far as I remember, this was my first movie in a theatre, although I probably saw others on television… Read More

It is Monday, October 2, 1978. As I wait for my flight to Pittsburgh, I watch Bucky Dent break the hearts of thousands of Boston baseball fans. Read More

What was it like for my neighbors to have an FBI agent knock on their doors in December 1970 and ask questions about me. Read More