Most Minneapolitans planning a trip to the Big Apple prepare their list of museums and shows. Meryll and I set out on our trip to NYC this week to survive two minutes – two minutes to present three and a half years of work. Sitting with 49 other nervous authors flipping through notes, we faced an audience of 200 representatives searching for the authors who would attract crowds to their Jewish book fairs. At the Jewish Book Network, more than 200 authors presented over three days.
What was I thinking during this event?
1. I’m glad I married Harry Adler. Speeches were in alphabetical order, so after the first few minutes, we could sit back and enjoy the show.
2. Being a Jewish author is not so special. Lots of Jews write books.
3. There are a lot of great books by Jewish authors.
4. What am I doing here?
What was Meryll thinking? I asked her, and my notes are in brackets.
1. I’m glad I’m here with Leslie. I know if one of us falters, the other will pick up the pieces and go on with the show. [so task-oriented]
2. Why did the JBN goof on our blurb and label our book “fiction?” Will the listeners hear the correction and correct? [ditto from above]
3.Wow! There are a lot of authors I’d like to hear! I can’t believe David Laskin is sitting across from me. [Believe it, because you just charmed him for the last half hour]
4. Where will we have dinner? [See what a planner Meryll is!]
In my imagination, I am a very adventurous person. I can downhill ski, surf, be on stage with Bruce Springsteen. In reality, not so much. I do consider myself queen of the bunny hill. I don’t like salt water, and I blew the chance to go on stage during a Springsteen concert.
Yet, I’m supposedly the free spirit sister here. What I’ve learned this week is that my big sister is gutsy and I had better watch out or she’s going to throw me into a shark tank. My sister knows no barriers. Several of my friends have mentioned they are surprised that we are still pursuing this marketing business of Jewish Luck. Me, too, considering my short attention span. But not Meryll. We have now travelled to six states to promote our book (mostly Meryll) and she has now gotten us on the Canadian website, “Bookclub in a Box.”
I thought I was the extroverted one. My shy sister has chatted up people on the subway, at the airport and in elevators to share with them the gospel of Jewish Luck as I look on in amazement.
I was sure I was more flexible and experimental. But it was Meryll who suggested airbnb in Greenwich Village where we practiced our speech in front of felines, Sparkles and Spot, and our human host, Rich. We felt like we had a home base rather than a sterile hotel room.
So I’m sure you’re wondering: what did with do with our free time over these four days besides eat?
During most of our leisure time we strolled through parks: Washington Square, Central Park, and the Botanical Garden in the Bronx. Our friend, journalist, editor, and cheerleader wrapped up in one - Michele Alperin - helped us walk off our jitters and polish up our talk.
Thursday’s theme was to reunite with college friends we had not seen for forty years. Would we recognize each other? Would we have anything in common? We did and we do.
I met with my Russian classmate, Anna Graube, from Wellesley and University of Michigan. Anna is now Dovanna, a model photographed by Robert Mapplethorpe and Richard Avedon. Daughter of Latvian refugees, Anna returned with her parents to reclaim her grandfather’s home outside of Riga and has now made it her dacha (summer home). She is also a real estate agent par excellence. My spellbinding, story-telling friend and I have lots in common, even if it’s not couture.
On to a Broadway coffee shop so Meryll could reunite with Lawrie, a friend from freshman year at Yale. Lawrie’s life has been New York City-centered and a series of “firsts” following the shared “first” of entering Yale as freshman women in 1969. Lawrie proved to be a superb chronicler and recounted the life stories of the three shared roommates.
I am learning that siblings can challenge each other to move past their comfort zone throughout life. For us, the sibling dynamic is fluid and surprising. That is the larger story we have to tell. Maybe I can ski down a bigger hill now, but I’ll need Meryll to dare me.