Fiber! Food!

Inspired by an article by Frank Bruni in this past Sunday's New York Times Magazine section (March 6, 2011, The Billionaire Who Is Planning His 125th Birthday," http://tinyurl.com/462kdta), I was motivated to put more fruits and vegetables in my grocery cart this week. At the store, I noticed Tanya Zuckerbrot's new line of F-Factor foods. Zuckerbrot's claim to fame is her F-Factor diet, which emphasizes eating substantial amounts of fiber daily.

I bought a few bags of frozen blueberries and raspberries and a bunch of bananas. I pureed some of the berries for an enjoyable afternoon snack. This morning, I made a smoothie with the fruit, adding a dash of cranberry juice and a dash of orange/peach/mango juice, plus a sprinkle of xylitol crystals. Both concoctions were delicious, but they required time, planning and equipment.

The F-Factor line includes a line of snack bars. They pack in a remarkable 12 grams of dietary fiber, which is 50 percent of the suggested daily requirement. I tried the banana walnut. It didn't come close to my tasty fruit smoothie, but it didn't taste like cardboard, either. There was a definite banana walnut taste. Though chocolate usually makes anything palatable, it didn't do the trick in this case; the brownie flavor didn't stand up. It's all subjective, but in my opinion, the brownie flavor was, well, yuck.

If you do try these bars, do remember to drink tons of water so that the fiber can work its magic. Zuckerbrot's product certainly is convenient, but nothing competes with mother nature.

Joan Hamburg Show, Ice Storm or No!

Joan Hamburg of WOR 710 am Radio is one of my favorite radio hosts. Periodically, Ms. Hamburg tapes her show before a live audience at either Sardi’s or 21 Club in Manhattan. I finally had the chance to attend a recording on February 2, 2011 at Sardi’s. The ice storm that had closed schools in the New York metropolitan area did not deter. Ever intrepid, I slid my car down my driveway and made it to the train station. We were tush to tummy on the train, but I made it to Sardi’s with time to spare.

My efforts were rewarded. I enjoyed watching Ms. Hamburg interview Donatella Arpaia, Isaac Mizrahi, Brooke Shields and Harvey Fierstein in person. I don’t know if a theme was intended, but all of the guests had in common ambition, creativity and the ability to take chances. Family and education were also formative influences on these accomplished talents.

Donatella Arpaia is a firebrand of youthful energy. This remarkable young woman has become a formidable restaurateur, television personality and cookbook author. Raised in a restaurant family, Ms. Arpaia recounted that her father had to go to work as a waiter even on his own wedding day. Ms. Arpaia became an attorney by the time she was 22, and her father was chagrined when she announced her desire to enter the restaurant business. Ms Arapaia is an elegant woman who persevered even after losing substantial amounts of money in a venture. Every experience, she said, is a lesson.

Delightful, darling and genuine. That is what I think of Isaac Mizrahi. Mr. Mizrahi’s father manufactured childrens’ wear. When young Isaac started to experiment with sewing, his father gave him a machine and taught his son the craft. By the age of 15, Mr. Mizrahi already had a line of clothing being sold commercially. Though he always knew what he wanted to do, he is at a crossroads. He loves selling on QVC. His innovative web venture, watchisaac.com, is an on-line community devoted to fashion is a must join.

Beautiful, brilliant Brooke Shields breezed in wearing a pretty magenta chiffon dress and the highest of heels to cheer up the audience on this stormy day. Brooke told the audience how much she values her education and that going to college was a risky choice in the entertainment business. Now, she is taking a chance doing something new; a solo cabaret show at Feinstein’s at the Loew’s Regency.

Harvey Fierstein was the last guest. I have long held that life sometimes leads in unexpected directions and that it is best to follow the current. Fierstein was pursuing a painting degree at Pratt Institute when he auditioned for an Andy Warhol play. He found himself acting. Then, someone suggested that he try writing. Because he is dyslexic, writing never occurred to him. But he took a chance and the result was Torch Song Trilogy and, subsequently, the book for the musical version of La Cage au Folles, garnering numerous awards for his efforts. He is returning to Broadway in a new production as Albin in a few weeks.

Obviously, being present at the taping was quite different than listening to the show on the radio. It was fun to be part of the action, watching producer Natalie busily managing guests, the audience and recording equipment to make sure all was as smooth as silk. But I enjoy the listening experience, too. Joan Hamburg is a remarkable personality. Listening to Joan Hamburg on the radio, one gets the impression that she is friendly and open. An in-person meeting was no different. She is genuine and truly values the relationships she develops with her guests and her audience. Warm, welcoming and sincere, Ms. Hamburg is a unique gem. Braving the elements was worthwhile.

Judgment Day

Dr. Andrea Gould of Lucid Learning Systems, www.lucidlearning.com, recently led a group in which all the members were confronting some sort of life transition. Dr. Gould taught us to listen to one another and preface any suggestions with the phrase "if it were my life." At first glance, it seemed like a polite way to couch criticism. In fact, the phrase is a rich, potent communication tool.

Everyone has issues to confront, decisions to make and conflicts to resolve. We all scrutinize how others raise their children, how others interact with their partners or other people or how others maintain their physical well-being. We can judge our friends and family members for failing to pursue what we think are obvious solutions, but the truth is that solutions can only be presumed, not guaranteed. Except in severe and rare circumstances, no choice is definitively wrong. See, e.g. my review of The Glass Castle by Jeanette Walls, 1/21/10. One path may successfully avoid one set of problems, but another set of problems might be encountered on the alternative route.

More often than not, choices are like ever so many roads intersecting in the woods. The woods tend to be dark, the 'right way' generally is lost* and taking "the one less travelled" can make all the difference.** Every decision involves individual point of view. Decisions can often be painful, confusing and frightening. Often, those pronouncing judgment really mean to be helpful. Judgmental criticism, however, obscures this intent. Instead, judgmental criticism is just one more onslaught, while tendering advice by offering a different perspective is far more constructive and calming. Use of the phrase "if it were my life" enhances empathy, increases respect for autonomy and serves as a useful tool for offering support.

*Inferno, Dante Alighieri, 1st Tercet: In the middle of the journey of our lives, I came upon myself in the middle of a dark wood, where the right way was lost.

** The Road Not Taken, Robert Frost

Why is this day different?

Christmas makes me appreciate that I am different. I am not part of the dominant, white Christian culture, thoughsSome of my best friends are both white and Christian. Seriously. But the experience of not being part of the mainstream, not being part of the revelry that is Christmas, reminds me of my heritage.

The exclusion is just as much as a reminder as is observance. To be sure, there are subtle differences in experiencing exclusion versus observance. Observance requires active involvement with tradition, while exclusion is passive and subtle.

This time of year highlights an awkward divide. Some Christian friends are at a loss for words. One friend warmly drew us into her home and celebration. We honestly had great fun and ate ourselves silly, but we were visitors. I am proud of who I am, I am comfortable and I am grateful to appreciate what it feels like to be different.

When I am among the dominant culture in the room, I have the strength to reach out to the 'other' among us. Today, I have everything in common with any other non-Christian. How ironic that on Christian holidays, Muslims and Jews are especially united as outsiders. If only we could embrace that commonality.

Postcards from the edge

In some respects, receiving cards from friends at holidays is a warm gesture that I appreciate. How nice it is to know that you are in someone's thoughts. On the other hand, once I have opened the envelope, I have no idea of what to do with these cards.

Frankly, the cards I receive are promptly placed in the garbage. Then, I feel badly; someone thought enough to keep me in their thoughts, and I toss their card in the trash. Being environmentally conscious makes the greeting card issue especially irksome. Someone thought enough to send me a card, I guiltily toss the missive or picture of their precious children and, to top it all off, I get an additional dose of guilt for having added to a landfill.

My solution is that I simply don't send out holiday cards. Never have, never will. I don't send them for the Jewish New Year, nor do I send them at Christmas. On occasion, I have sent out e-mail missives for various holidays and that is about the extent of it. Perhaps I should be more thoughtful. Perhaps I should be more organized, but I am not. Oh well, I suppose I will have to accept imperfection. Happy holidays to all.

A Dog's Life

National Public Radio's "All Things Considered" featured a memorable program about parasites. Toxoplasmosis, a parasite in cat feces, was discussed in detail. Apparently, rats and mice ingest the toxoplasmosis, which travels into the rodents' brains. As a consequence of the parasite, the smell of cat becomes attractive to the smaller critters. Since the infected mice and rats are drawn to cats, they become easy prey. Anyone who has had a cat knows the rest of the story. The radio program I listened to surmised that perhaps toxoplasmosis has a similar effect on people who live with cats. It is often said that the cat owns the human, and not the other way around.

I wonder if there is a similar substance in dogs. Before I had a dog, I had little interest in these creatures. Now, I notice dogs constantly. This morning I heard a brief discussion about the death of Target, a former stray who, along with several other dogs, thwarted a suicide bomber in Afghanistan. Target was accidentally euthanized. Honestly, I got a little choked up as I heard the story recounted.

Target and the other dogs who were with him in Afghanistan demonstrated the quality of altruism - unselfish concern for others' welfare. How remarkable that such a lofty emotion can be demonstrated by a simple dog. How pathetic that the dogs were morally superior than most humans.

Has my little dog affected some chemical change in my brain that makes me partial to other dogs? Or have I been moved by a truly remarkable story involving purity of spirit? In any event, there is a lesson here for all of us humans, dog and cat lovers alike. Would that we all could demonstrate gratitude for the simple things that others do for us. Would that we could all be sufficiently brave to protect and defend our pack.

The Circle of Life

Today is my birthday. The first week in this new year of my life is filled with practically every life-cycle event imaginable. A friend called to let me know her son and daughter-in-law had a new baby boy this week and asked me to join them at the bris. In a short while, I will head to the local Jewish Center to help celebrate a bat mitzvah. Tomorrow, there is a funeral for a friend's mother died yesterday after a very long illness. On this day, I feel like I am in the middle of a whirlpool, surrounded and embraced by all of these events.

Yesterday, I called our family's favorite special occasion restaurant to make a reservation. The maitre d' knows my family and we caught up on the news of pending marriages of the then children, now young adults. We spoke about the perspective we have up here on this mountain of the aged. It is frightening, kind of like peering over a cliff.

Though I am definitely more vibrant and active than my parents were at my age, I wonder if my children, nieces and nephews think of me as an ancient. In some ways, I think they don't. On the other hand, it would be nice to be accorded the respect of a venerable elder.