The New York Times has a column I enjoy called “My Ten.” Writers spotlight a celebrity, briefly sum up their latest project, and get into the meat of the conversation – what ten things do they swear by? Or what ten things excite them? Or what ten things can they not live without?

Well, I’m no celebrity, but I’ve been around for a while, so I thought I’d make my own list. Here goes nothing.

1. Reading historical fiction – As many of you already know, I’m an avid reader. Most of the time, I’m reading what everyone else is reading, whether it is a bestseller, a juicy memoir, or a political thriller. But my favorite books are historical fiction. I love being engrossed in a different time period, a new culture, or a foreign country. I learn so much from the era a writer has researched thoroughly and find myself genuinely caring for the protagonist caught in the middle of something momentous and missing them when I finish the book.
2. Late-night talk shows – The world is a messed up place, and I am concerned about my children’s future. Between ignoring climate change, accepting gun violence (and the resulting tragedies), and denying women the right to make their own decisions about their reproductive future, it’s downright scary. So, when I’m done being depressed by watching the news, I love to turn on Jimmy Kimmel, Stephen Colbert, Seth Meyers, Amber Ruffin, Leslie Jones, and so many others, and their brilliant writers, who deliver the right balance of humor, befuddlement, and wisdom that I need to hear on a nightly basis. They let me know it’s not just me who feels the way I do about the world around me.
3. My back patio – Two years ago, we built a beautiful patio complete with an awning that has become an outdoor refuge from my crazy life. I love to take a glass of wine and a good book and sit on one of my comfy couches. It is also a wonderful space for entertaining our friends. Plenty of seating for everyone in a formation that allows us all to engage with each other in conversation. And when it gets dark outside, the awning has lights so we can sit out there all night.
4. My friends – I didn’t have a ton of friends growing up. I keep in touch with a few people from high school and almost none from college. The friends I have now are all very different from each other, but together they bring me the most joy. And if possible, I think we should all move into a nursing home together when it is time so we can keep the party going for as long as possible.
5. Networking – When I was looking for a new job, one of my favorite things was meeting new people. A lot of people don’t enjoy networking, but I love it. I am good at small talk and love to learn what people are passionate about and how I might be able to help. My last two positions came to me because of my business relationships. I know it isn’t for everyone, but I tell my college-age kids to give it a try. Doors will open, and endless possibilities await you.
6. Fresh flowers – I ordered fresh flowers for my Passover seder, which are beautiful. I need to remember to buy them more often and not wait for a special occasion to treat myself. Give me some pretty tulips, gorgeous roses, or fun wildflowers, and my day is automatically brighter. Life is too short.
7. Philadelphia –  I grew up in South Jersey. I moved across the Delaware River into the Philly suburbs, but this town has always been my home. While I sometimes think it would be nice to live someplace else for a while, this is the city I love. I love our sports teams and our fans (even though we get a little crazy). We have everything from colonial history to the Rocky Steps. The food scene has gotten so much better over the years. There are so many places I have yet to explore, and sometimes a staycation is all I need.
8. Adulting in Disneyworld – We went on our first Disney vacation without our kids and had the time of our lives. The rides, the food, the festivals – it’s such a special place, and I can’t wait to plan our next trip.
9. Power napping – Whenever I need to recharge during the workday and on the weekends, I will lie down on the couch for a 20-minute power nap. I always feel recharged afterward, and I never see it as being lazy. For me, it’s necessary self-care.
10. Brunch – One of the things I aspire to do is try out different places for Sunday brunch. I’ve always been a morning person, and I love breakfast food. I will microwave a breakfast sandwich during the week and count that as breakfast, but what I crave is going somewhere with the perfect omelet, bagel with lox and whitefish, and a good cup of coffee. Doesn’t that sound amazing?

• 3 comments

The ping of my iPhone is what wakes me up every morning. I reach out to my nightstand blindly and knock down the TV remote and my reading glasses before I find my phone.

“The word is ALERT.” I read her text.

I smile because, ironically, she has chosen a word that is the complete opposite of what I am feeling at the moment. And then, I put the phone down and immediately fall back to sleep.

A few minutes later – another ping and next to me, my husband growls, “Tell her to stop texting so early in the morning or put your phone on silent mode at night.”

I get up because our poodle, Chloe, is wide awake and patiently waiting for me to take her outside. We both head downstairs in complete darkness, but for the flashlight on my phone. I let her out in the backyard to do her business. She takes no more than 30 seconds to run out the door and find her spot to get the job done.

Meanwhile, the phone pings again. “You up?”

I text back. “Coffee first.” I feel a set of eyes staring up at me. It’s Chloe’s way of asking me for a treat. I oblige and then proceed to make myself a cup of coffee from the Keurig before opening up the NYT Wordle to type in ALERT. I hope I can add another win to my 122-day streak.

The coffee starts to kick in, so I text back. “Okay, I’m ready.”

This is how my sister, Karen, and I start our day. She picks the word we start with, and we see how many guesses it takes us to arrive at the answer. We text each other as we play.

• Is it a Spanish word?
• “Do I know this word?”
• Did you get it yet?”
• “I hate it when there are too many options.”
• “I can’t get it, and I have four yellow letters.”
• “I have no clue what this word is.”
• “Do you want a hint?” (The answer is always – “ABSOLUTELY NOT!)
• “I need more coffee.”
• “What the fuck is guano?!”

One time, the winning word was duvet – which turned into a 30-minute conversation on why we hate them and how she introduced two people who loved duvets, and it turned out to be a match made in heaven.

Anyway…this has been our morning ritual for over a year. For me, it goes Chloe – Coffee – Wordle. Sometimes it’s Chloe – Wordle – Coffee, but I tend to break my winning streak on those days.

Spending quality time together in the early hours of the morning – even if it is over the phone – is our way of showing how much we care. We take the time out of our busy schedules to spend 10-15 minutes Wordle-ing and texting each other. And Karen and I share more than similar word choices in our daily matchup. We have the same sense of humor, taste in 80s movies, and political leanings – and a love of word games.

If I don’t answer her or she doesn’t answer me, we immediately think something is wrong and demand proof of life. I really do worry if she doesn’t answer me back right away. It’s silly, But to prove my point – for Hanukkah, she bought me a Wordle-themed coffee mug that reads, “If you don’t get my Wordle text, call the hospitals.” I almost bought her the same mug.

I know, we are weird. But, wherever we are in the world, I don’t think we could start our days any other way.

Happy Siblings Day, little sis.

XO,

Elisa

• 9 comments

“What are you doing today?” I asked my husband this morning.

“Probably going to Costco at some point,” he replied.

“It’s Easter. Costco is closed.” I said.

“You sure?” he asked.

I was right, but it’s a damn shame because how great would it be to find the perfect parking spot on a Sunday at Costco? It would be an Easter miracle! (Is there such a thing?)

I see myself pushing my cart through the aisles without a care in the world or another cart to bump into. I would pick up my fill of fruit, granola bars, some new sweatpants, and toilet paper and then check out in less than 15 minutes. No Costco trip is like that, ever! A girl can dream, though.

Our local Giant supermarket and the mall are closed today, as are Barnes and Noble, Bed, Bath, and Beyond, and Home Goods. All stores where I could easily get lost and do some damage in also known as retail therapy. Oh well, their loss.

But not everything is closed today, and this is where I get confused. Easter is a major holiday, right? So, why are the Phillies playing at Citizens Bank Park? And why is my nail salon open today? I wish I had known that sooner because I had nothing else to do today.

It’s hard to know what’s open and closed on Easter. I know EVERYTHING closes on Christmas, but for some reason, this holiday has no absolutes to it. The only thing I know for sure is that many of my friends are busy observing and celebrating while I’m at home, cleaning up after my second Passover seder, and watching endless episodes of Law & Order.

Damn! Target was open today too. Next year, I’ll make a list and plan ahead. 🙂

Happy Easter to all those who celebrate!

• 7 comments