Profile

Feb 4 2007

Profile of the Hairballer

I was born at a very early age to eccentric, wonderful parents in rural Pennsylvania.

As an only child, I was both only daughter to Mother and only son to Dad. Learned how to dress, do makeup, use silverware and throw a baseball. My little league team won the pennant with me playing first base—Yessssss.

My Father was Peter Pan, my Mother, not so much.

From my Mother, I inherited a love of books and classical music. Remember the Firestone Opera Hour? Maybe not. Anyway, I saw Jussi Bjorling standing like a stone column signing to a silhouette of a woman through a fake window. Sadly, I had no idea I was hearing greatness.

From my Father, my love of hockey and baseball, the New York Times, Teamsters and people.

We were a political family (ward healers) and many mornings I’d step over passed out drunks on my way to the kitchen where I shared coffee and toast with Dad before school.

School was bumpy and I was bored but I got through it and college(s) too, studying business, which was not my forte at all.

I wanted to be Dorothy Parker. In some ways, perhaps.

Early on, I moved to Washington DC to continue my education and work. Must have been the right mix because I stayed until the summer of 2001. After 20 years at The New York Times Washington Bureau—I was the adult—an early age stroke hit me because of the stress and I decamped to Florida. I do now and always will consider Washington my hometown. Feel about that city the way George M. Cohan felt about New York.

I write, I paint. To what end? So far, it is only part of the journey.

Have tried the burbs in Florida, three times, with returns to DC. Now I’m living in St. Pete and hope the urbanity will help me stay put.

Politically, I’m fairly liberal but not knee-jerk or bleeding heart. I believe in unions, the environment, the first amendment and human rights and refuse to patronize businesses that violate them. Humorless people leave me wondering why they are cluttering up my planet.

My motto is, “It is to Laugh,” a quote from Daffy Duck, who is my alter ego.