We’ve all experienced unexpected surprises in life. They can be shocking, daunting or even scandalous—or amusing, gratifying and amazing.  Last Friday was National Smile Day, a celebration founded by Harvey Ball, creator of the iconic smiley face. As I was writing about the true meaning of that day, I couldn’t help but think […]

    Today, at sundown, is the start of my judgment day. Not me alone, but all of the members of my faith community of Judaism.  Tonight is Rosh Hashanah (Jewish holidays start at sundown rather than daybreak), which most people think of as a celebration of the New Year. In fact, Rosh Hashanah, literally […]

I remembered an incident in my life after reading my writer friend, Barbara Ballinger’s story, “What’s in a name.” Her story sparked a memory dating back twenty-six years. After attending a Friday night Sabbath service, in the oldest synagogue in Europe, my intoxicating and over the top romance with Sheldon Good almost came to an end. […]

Last night, over dinner, I met a charming man and spent some time remembering the past. He is from Cleveland; a theatre director, a traveler and a very enlightened man. We shared a mutual friend, Carol, who invited a group of us from different cities to join her for dinner and the theatre production, “War Paint” […]

My Good Morning stories generally take me down memory lane and today it also presents a lesson in how to be a good gift giver. The key is listening. The first chapter begins, in the present, in my beautiful Chicago. The second chapter takes me back in time to Washington, D.C., the third to Paris, […]