Things Clara Taught Me

A whole year has passed since my mom, Clara Caren Rimon, died. At the time, I was at a loss for words. I wrote something in this blog – then closed the door and shifted my attention elsewhere, where it was needed.

Now, on her yahrzeit, I pulled out a big basket of photos and a load of video cassettes. The video cassettes are much more fun: I watched Clara singing, dancing and acting. By a quirky coincidence, Israel TV's Channel 2 today aired an old Israeli musical -- Hamesh Hamesh -- in which Clara had a part! She even appears on the movie's poster.

And I got to thinking of all the things – theoretical and practical, emotional and logical – that I learnt and absorbed from her during my life, whether directly and explicitly -- because she told me so -- or implicitly – through her actions, attitude, personal example.

Here's a very random, partial list, of things I learnt:

• To recite nursery rhymes to my kids ("There was an old lady who lived in a shoe…")
• To sing lullabies to my kids ("Rock a by baby, in the tree top…")
•  To read to them at bedtime, and other times, from A.A. Milne, Dr. Seuss, "I Wish that I Had Duck Feet…"
• Always wear an apron when working in the kitchen
• When boiling potatoes, add salt if you intend to mash them; don't add salt if you want them whole.
• When peeling boiled potatoes-in-their-jackets, use a sharp knife and dip it often in ice water.
• Don't waste food. Use leftovers imaginatively.
• Invite people over for dinner often. Especially people who have no family in the country.
•  Keep a shopping list on the fridge door. Add items during the week, as the need arises. Don't let yourself run out of staples. "What?? We're all out of sugar??" – Not in my house!
• Label things before putting them in the freezer. In fact, label everything.
•  Remember to take the shopping list with you when you go shopping.
•  The first-aid items that are the answer to nearly everything: Aspirin; Vaseline; Band-Aids; iodine/Mercurochrome/Gentian Violet; salt water (for gargling); hot water bottle.
• Touch-typing is an invaluable skill.
• Save scratch paper – use the reverse side of typed material; re-use envelopes; recycle greeting cards.
• How to hem a dress or a pair of pants
• How to knit.
• Make Purim costumes
• It's impolite to ask personal questions or make personal comments.
• Always say Please and Thank you.
• Danny Kaye
• Allan Sherman; Tom Lehrer
• Charlie Chaplin
• Fred Astaire, Gene Kelly, Cyd Charisse, Ginger Rogers, Leslie Caron
• Science Fiction; Isaac Asimov – his fiction and nonfiction
• Keep pens & pencils everywhere; also elastic bands; scotch tape; scissors; gummed labels.
• Take an afternoon nap. Do not call people between 2-4 p.m.
• Never marry a man who drinks [to excess] or gambles
• Keep track of everyone's birthdays and anniversaries; send cards; if you can't afford to buy them, make your own.
• Stand up straight. Don't slouch. Shoulders back. Hold your tummy in. Get your hair out of your eyes.
• Look after your back. Bend from the knees, not from the waist.
• Dance, dance, dance. Ballet, modern dance, folk dancing.
• Appreciate classical music.
• If you have a talent, use it.
• Don't sit at home and expect the world to come to you. Go out and introduce yourself.
• Smile.

… and so it goes. I'm sure my kids can add plenty. And by the time I post this, I will have remembered a dozen other things. Isn't that wonderful?