New creative writing; travel notes

Mar 13, 2024

Richard Peabody, a legendary member of Washington’s literary community, reached out to me a few months ago to invite me to contribute to Gargoyle, an art and writing magazine combining gravitas and creativity that he founded in the 1990s.

I sent him “Grandmother,” surely the only piece in which I’ve written, “I’m crying my eyes out and shaking my fist skyward.” A 750 word limit does wonders to focus the mind. It’s a joy to be included in Gargoyle.

I’m just back from London, which was wonderful in so many ways.

On the trip to Dulles airport, I chatted with my cabbie, newly retired from the US army, having served as an Arabic translator in Iraq and Afghanistan. Raised in Morocco, he married a Peruvian-born nurse, who also served in the US army. (“I’m Muslim, she’s Christian, what do I care?” he said.)

In Marrakesh, he received an exceptional education, learning fluent Urdu, French, and English (“Why Urdu?” I asked; “I thought it would be interesting,” he said.) He added fluent Spanish to his linguistic quiver when he got married.

Why was I going to London? “To present my novel at a book festival,” I said. He asked about my book, which I described as a love affair between a Holocaust survivor and a ballerina. “Oh,” he said, “I wish you could meet the 116 year old guy I drove a while back, who survived the Holocaust.” We pulled up to the United Terminal at Dulles, where he took out his phone, and ordered a copy of Three Muses.

I traveled by train from Heathrow to the picture perfect town of Lewes (near Brighton) where I visited my adored cousin Pam whom I don’t see often enough.

In London, we divided our time among museum hopping, walking, and a daily pint at a pub.

We saw Shifters by Benedict Lombe at the Bush Theatre, in a bustling neighborhood away from London’s theater district. Shifters was dubbed “A fierce new romance for anyone desperate for a different kind of love story.” This play had all the things—passion, misunderstandings, grief, empathy, immigrant ancestors, family, humor, loss, and reconciliation. As well as terrific acting by Tosin Cole and Heather Agyepong.

We wandered into St. Stephen’s Walbrook Church, a Christopher Wren masterpiece, where Douglas Tang was practicing the Bach Chaconne for a recital. Unfortunately, I can’t link to video here, but if you’re on Instagram, here’s a brief snippet.

Tang was using a French transcription of the Chaconne (organ stops at right).

We explored the canals in a newly developed neighborhood near Kings Cross, replete with houseboats. Jewish Book Week was held in that part of town.

I loved having tea at author Amanda Craig’s home and recommend her book THE THREE GRACES. Our event turned out to be on English Mother’s Day. Author/playwright Samantha Ellis interviewed us, asking about Jewish mothers, and immigration, and epigenetic trauma, and fiction writing, and lots of other stuff. I’ll share a video when I get hold of it.