Very thoughtful and enlightening responses. Sari, thank you for doing these interviews. Some people may think, as I did at first, that asking the same questions every time would be kind of a straitjacket, but I eventually came to see the brilliance of it. The questions, with the many different people you have interviewed, take off in hundreds of directions, almost always profitable ones for the reader.
Thank you for your kind words, Richard! Yes, I'm thinking of the questionnaire as a standard template like The Proust Questionnaire in Vanity Fair. I'm so glad you enjoy these!
I feel the Jewish passions ♥️. My grandparents were also Holocaust survivors. Would also love for this series to delve into money and aging more. Like how did she afford four degrees and life as a single woman now. Is it ancestor money? Alimony? A different job she didn’t discuss? Credit card debt? I’m really curious how people manage to survive financially in this crazy world.
Good questions, Charlotte. I paid for my bachelors degree mostly with waitressing money. I was married during my masters and most of my PhD. But I received scholarships for both. When I went to Columbia for an MFA, I took out a loan. I now have 100K in student debt, which I regret terribly.
Love these juicy details. I want to get a PhD myself, but I’m like how.... also love glitter and big earrings and INFJs and never giving up leopard print! Thanks for sharing your life with us!
You can usually get a scholarship for your Ph.D. which is usually accompanied by teaching, which can help pay your bills. Look into it more if you're interested. Many Ph.D.s offer stipends for teaching.
Yes I think I need to get my daughter through school then I can do one, cause right now I have two businesses and an autistic high school student, and I support us financially, her dad is a dead beat, so it’s just a lot.
Yes, of course. That makes sense. You can get a Ph.D. at anytime in your life. No timelines. I'm sorry to hear her dad is a dead beat. I can imagine you're balancing a lot. Much love!
Likely you are not going down that road, from what you've said. But I do think you might be able to do just a thing or two to help keep your skin healthy (sunscreen #1). Your presence will keep you gorgeous! xo
These answers packed a PUNCH Tamara. I loved reading this. I also turned 50 this year. I'm fascinated by your varied experiences and how you're navigating this new stage.
What an amazing life Dr. Tamara has lived and continues to live. I feel inspired by her.
Tamara, may I encourage you to contact the US Holocaust Memorial Museum? They will preserve your beloved bubbe's story and photos, sharing them (or not) with the public. Your written record of your bubbe's life story, transcribed right before she died, would also be hugely important to the museum. And, it's a way of sharing your writing that would benefit us all. Here's a link:
Thank you so much for your message, Bette! I have not been in touch with the Memorial Museum. Steven Spielberg interviewed my grandmother, so her story is preserved in that way. But do you suggest adding to the archive with additional material? I've more or less interviewed my grandmother the majority of my life. She was always open with her stories, and I devoured each one. Do you work at the Museum? Do you know someone I should contact?
Very thoughtful and enlightening responses. Sari, thank you for doing these interviews. Some people may think, as I did at first, that asking the same questions every time would be kind of a straitjacket, but I eventually came to see the brilliance of it. The questions, with the many different people you have interviewed, take off in hundreds of directions, almost always profitable ones for the reader.
Thank you for your kind words, Richard! Yes, I'm thinking of the questionnaire as a standard template like The Proust Questionnaire in Vanity Fair. I'm so glad you enjoy these!
Thank you for taking the time to read my essay, Richard. Yes, I love reading everyone's interview. Each is enlightening in its own way.
I feel the Jewish passions ♥️. My grandparents were also Holocaust survivors. Would also love for this series to delve into money and aging more. Like how did she afford four degrees and life as a single woman now. Is it ancestor money? Alimony? A different job she didn’t discuss? Credit card debt? I’m really curious how people manage to survive financially in this crazy world.
Good questions, Charlotte. I paid for my bachelors degree mostly with waitressing money. I was married during my masters and most of my PhD. But I received scholarships for both. When I went to Columbia for an MFA, I took out a loan. I now have 100K in student debt, which I regret terribly.
Love these juicy details. I want to get a PhD myself, but I’m like how.... also love glitter and big earrings and INFJs and never giving up leopard print! Thanks for sharing your life with us!
You can usually get a scholarship for your Ph.D. which is usually accompanied by teaching, which can help pay your bills. Look into it more if you're interested. Many Ph.D.s offer stipends for teaching.
Yes I think I need to get my daughter through school then I can do one, cause right now I have two businesses and an autistic high school student, and I support us financially, her dad is a dead beat, so it’s just a lot.
Yes, of course. That makes sense. You can get a Ph.D. at anytime in your life. No timelines. I'm sorry to hear her dad is a dead beat. I can imagine you're balancing a lot. Much love!
Thank you! Yep. It happens to far too many of us women!
Love this one. Even the skincare resistance!
Thanks, Valerie! I'm intrigued by your newsletter. Look forward to reading. Maybe I'm going down the road of "how to f*ck up my face."
Likely you are not going down that road, from what you've said. But I do think you might be able to do just a thing or two to help keep your skin healthy (sunscreen #1). Your presence will keep you gorgeous! xo
Awww, I do wear sunscreen, but I'm from Tucson, AZ where the sun is out 360 days/year! So I don't have a choice.
Good work!
Congratulations— time is by far our richest commodity as writers on a path less traveled—look no further than Ursula K.Le Guin
So true, Catherine. Time is our richest commodity. 💓 Thank you for taking the time to read my essay!
Fascinating life and engaging read. LOVE Bubbe Mina!!! Definitely -publish more!!!!
Oh, thank you, Roberta! I wrote a whole book about Bubbe! 💓
Thanks for sharing Tamara - I loved reading this
Thank you so much for taking the time to read my essay, Loz. I’m truly appreciative.
These answers packed a PUNCH Tamara. I loved reading this. I also turned 50 this year. I'm fascinated by your varied experiences and how you're navigating this new stage.
Thank you, Jocelyn! 💓 Awww, we're 50 sisters! I'd love to learn more about how you're navigating your experiences. :)
What an amazing life Dr. Tamara has lived and continues to live. I feel inspired by her.
Tamara, may I encourage you to contact the US Holocaust Memorial Museum? They will preserve your beloved bubbe's story and photos, sharing them (or not) with the public. Your written record of your bubbe's life story, transcribed right before she died, would also be hugely important to the museum. And, it's a way of sharing your writing that would benefit us all. Here's a link:
https://www.ushmm.org/
Thank you so much for your message, Bette! I have not been in touch with the Memorial Museum. Steven Spielberg interviewed my grandmother, so her story is preserved in that way. But do you suggest adding to the archive with additional material? I've more or less interviewed my grandmother the majority of my life. She was always open with her stories, and I devoured each one. Do you work at the Museum? Do you know someone I should contact?
Love your essay. Thanks for writing this. I'll get on the Vitamix now!
Aren't they the BEST? I love my smoothies in my Vitamix.