Thanks so much to all of you for taking the time to read this, and for all the lovely comments. There's nothing better than a great community of oldsters, for real.
First thing I read this morning. Erika Simonian's wonderful essay about a magazine subscription as her mother's ongoing gift, and her piano playing as a final gift to her mother, is heart-expanding. Thank you.
I love The New Yorker and I love Oldster! I've discovered so many writers, artists, and other cool people that interest and inspire me and I really can't stop talking about it.
OMG I love this so much. What a great Mom, so delightful. I love The New Yorker and have ever since my high school English teacher spoke about her admiration for the magazine. Everything about it is wonderful. I once bought a huge book of the New Yorker cartoons for a boyfriend who delighted in their humor as much as I did. And I enjoyed reading about the piano playing...just great. To be heartbroken over a breakup and to have your dear Mom suggest a subscription to the New Yorker is priceless, brilliant, made me weep with joy. I love your Mom! Thank you, Erika.
Oh I loved this. All of it. The through thread so beautifully done. The poignant images. The wonderful picture of your mom in 1985. She was so present and vibrant. Thank you.
I loved this essay. I am also a writer and singer-songwriter, now living in Texas after leaving for 43 years and living in New York (20 years) and Connecticut (20 years.) I also have a long-term love affair with The New Yorker. My subscription moved with me to Texas when I reluctantly moved back. It sat on the left side of my glass coffee table, along with The Atlantic, The Economist, and Vanity Fair. On the right side were Texas Monthly, Texas Highways, and Garden and Gun (ironically, a beautiful, extremely well edited magazine.) Contemplating the coffee table one day I realized that both stacks represented my new life in Texas and I wrote one of my first songs - "I Go Both Ways." They still don't quite know what to make of me down here. Thanks for the beautiful, heartfelt, writing.
Wonderful piece! My mother gifted me Readers Digest. While that subscription ended many years ago, she is still here. Reading this article is a reminder to book a flight to see her sooner than later. Thank you!!
Thanks so much to all of you for taking the time to read this, and for all the lovely comments. There's nothing better than a great community of oldsters, for real.
<3
Thank you for this sad, funny, poignant, and oh, so real story. Absolutely exquisite.
First thing I read this morning. Erika Simonian's wonderful essay about a magazine subscription as her mother's ongoing gift, and her piano playing as a final gift to her mother, is heart-expanding. Thank you.
<3
In the autumn of 2013 my Mom asked what I wanted for Christmas, and I said a subscription to the New Yorker.
She died in early December of that year, and the first issue of my gift subscription arrived shortly after.
I've been a subscriber ever since.
My condolences for your loss.
Wonderful. Thank you, Erika, for writing this piece. Thank you, Sari, for publishing it.
<3
I love The New Yorker and I love Oldster! I've discovered so many writers, artists, and other cool people that interest and inspire me and I really can't stop talking about it.
Me too!
Oh, this is so nice to read!!! Thank you. <3
I love this so much. I started buying this magazine at the Waldenbooks in the mall in Knoxville, Tenn., when I was 14.
OMG I love this so much. What a great Mom, so delightful. I love The New Yorker and have ever since my high school English teacher spoke about her admiration for the magazine. Everything about it is wonderful. I once bought a huge book of the New Yorker cartoons for a boyfriend who delighted in their humor as much as I did. And I enjoyed reading about the piano playing...just great. To be heartbroken over a breakup and to have your dear Mom suggest a subscription to the New Yorker is priceless, brilliant, made me weep with joy. I love your Mom! Thank you, Erika.
so right, it is a perfect and hilarious antidote, and i love her mom (and her!) too. :)
Yes. Just yes. To all of it.
Oh I loved this. All of it. The through thread so beautifully done. The poignant images. The wonderful picture of your mom in 1985. She was so present and vibrant. Thank you.
Beautiful! Just sent this to a bunch of friends...
I loved this essay. I am also a writer and singer-songwriter, now living in Texas after leaving for 43 years and living in New York (20 years) and Connecticut (20 years.) I also have a long-term love affair with The New Yorker. My subscription moved with me to Texas when I reluctantly moved back. It sat on the left side of my glass coffee table, along with The Atlantic, The Economist, and Vanity Fair. On the right side were Texas Monthly, Texas Highways, and Garden and Gun (ironically, a beautiful, extremely well edited magazine.) Contemplating the coffee table one day I realized that both stacks represented my new life in Texas and I wrote one of my first songs - "I Go Both Ways." They still don't quite know what to make of me down here. Thanks for the beautiful, heartfelt, writing.
My kind of mother-daughter essay: poignant, relatable, funny. The kind I’ll take the time to read again.
<3
Wonderful piece! My mother gifted me Readers Digest. While that subscription ended many years ago, she is still here. Reading this article is a reminder to book a flight to see her sooner than later. Thank you!!
I so enjoyed this tender piece of writing. Thank You Erika!
Beautiful essay, I’m a caretaker slash the family’s in house death doula and this so resonated.