Roto-Beam fan, circa 1940-1950, made in Chicago

Nothing says summer like the steady hum of a fan motor as it creates a breeze, even on the most breezeless of days.

I am sure I can thank (or, in my husband's case, blame) my parents for creating this association, most likely from my infancy. It seemed there was always the soothing presence of a Roto-Beam fan on top of the dresser in my room. We had several of these fans-which are the fans to which I compare all others even a half century later. My great-aunt and her husband owned the fan factory in Chicago. The factory closed in the late 1950s or early 1960s, but the leftover fans circulated around our family for decades. I even brought a floor model into my marriage. Over the years, that fan helped us survive our pre-air-conditioned summers, dried numerous rooms of paint and lulled me to sleep night after night.

I wish we still had it.

The fan had five black, Bakelite plastic blades that were smooth and cool to the touch--when the fan wasn't running, of course. The blades came together at a center point. For reasons I can't explain, my sisters and I liked to put one finger on the point when the fan was running. Yes, we occasionally went too far and bruised our fingers. We remained undeterred. It was worth risking life, limb and finger for the tactile thrill.  

Even more fun was talking or singing into the spinning fan. The blades chopped our voices as they chopped the air, creating a crazy vibrato and forcing the sound back toward our giggling selves. We sometimes tied streamers to the cage surrounding the blades to watch them flap in the breeze during our afternoon "naps."

I distinctly remember that fan being a lifesaver the summer I started a chickenpox epidemic in our neighborhood. I was 10 years old, itchy, hot, miserable and incredibly irritated that I couldn't be around anyone for two weeks. My mom parked the fan in front of my bed and its ever-steady hum helped me relax and stop scratching long enough to sleep.

I don't know what happened to the fan. It may have finally given up-although I doubt it. I found some working models on eBay, but am not yet willing to trade $200 for a fan that is far older than I am.

Other fans have come and gone. They moved the air with an adequate hum-but ultimately, none of them measure up.

Were Roto-Beams the best fans ever? In my mind, yes, but that's nostalgia talking. On the other hand, they seem to generate interest on fan collectors' websites. Who knew people collected fans? Would that make them fans of fans?

I know I am.

I've been scanning gardening books and catalogs since they arrived the day after New Year's, dreaming of colorful English gardens, bushels of sweet, ruby red tomatoes and brown bags loaded with renegade zucchini. Each time we were pummeled with ice and snow, I took refuge in my gardening memories.

It seemed that white stuff would never go away. Yet with the exception of a few stubborn specimens, the omnipresent snirt* piles in my neighborhood dissolved last week, giving way to sunshine and somewhat warmer temperatures.

My husband and I took advantage of the weekend's spring weather to begin work on our weather beaten yard. My perennial garden looked especially forlorn.

My perennials and I are the oldest of friends. We visit all summer and regretfully head our separate ways as the north wind signals autumn's return. The winter is long, cold and silent, and I can't wait to reunite with my garden. To see green rather than 50 shades of gray and watch buds open to reveal bright orange, yellow, purple and pink. To sit nearby and listen to the breeze rustle through the grasses and the bees' symphonic hum as they gather pollen. To carry the sweet scent of dianthus in my hair, and smell the warm earth in my clothes.

Donning purple work gloves, I commenced the spring reunion ritual. Cutting hollow lily stems that resembled abstract sculptures and pruning multiple tiers of tattered brown foliage- from tall grasses and overgrown catmint to nearly petrified remnants of black-eyed Susans, my knees and hindquarters alternately sank into the soft ground. Absorbed in clearing and piling the dead stuff, I nearly missed the treasures hidden below.

Tiny green leaves emerged from the soggy soil, looking for a bit of sunshine and warmth. Several crocuses joyfully lifted their lemon-colored faces to the sky, welcoming spring with open arms. I had forgotten how lovely the crocuses are, dotting the landscape with their cheery presence and paving the way for daffodils, tulips and other harbingers of spring.

Gardening is good for the soul. It reminds us that beautiful things come from humble beginnings and connects us to the earth and The Creator. Gardening pulls us out of ourselves as we gently tend to our floral (or vegetable!) friends through sunshine and shadow, rain and drought, winter and summer. Gardening grounds us in the present and gives us hope for the future.

*Snow + Dirt = Snirt

No one could have predicted it. Why would they? My daughter and son-in-law have two beautiful children. During her pregnancies – as well as before and after – Kate was a model of health, eating well, sleeping well and running every day, even within days of delivery. Her daughter and son were born healthy and active, too.

Nothing could have prepared any of us for her third pregnancy – a stillbirth. Even after a year, the loss lingers, wrapping itself around my motherly heart.

Nothing could have prepared me for the phone call I received that morning, just after Kate saw the obstetrician for what should have been a routine checkup. At first, I couldn’t understand her words through the sobs.

Silently, without warning, the baby’s heart has stopped beating. Her little son, our grandson, was dead.

What could I say to my broken-hearted daughter, knowing she would go through the birth process – but when there should be joy, there will only be sorrow?

What could I say to my son-in-law, Cody, a highly trained military officer who manages crises and fixes problems as a career – knowing he would stand helplessly at her side, trying to offer her comfort despite his own crushing loss?

I am so very, very sorry, was all I said. Do you want us to come and be with you? No, she said. Wait. She would be OK.

Kate asked about a baby I lost more than 25 years earlier. I was only eight or 10 weeks along, but in my mother’s heart, I believe the baby was a boy. I didn’t want to think of him forever as “the miscarriage” or “the baby I lost,” so I named him David. I suggested they might want to name their baby, too.

Later that night, the doctor induced labor. My husband and I barely slept, waiting to hear news that she came through all right. When I did sleep, I woke gasping with fear from distressing dreams of losing my daughter.

Nothing happened until late the next morning. Kate was fine, physically anyway. They named the baby Wyatt.

Neither Kate nor Cody really wanted to talk. Truthfully, I didn’t want to talk, either. In the haze of my nightmares, I connected to Kate’s pain. Yet nothing I said or did would make her feel better. I didn’t see any immediate resolution to my own emotional rollercoaster of anger, sadness and emptiness, either. 

I turned to what I know: research. I made some phone calls. I wondered what traditions and support systems were in place to help parents whose children are miscarried or stillborn. I learned that often, these parents in particular suffer from disenfranchised grief – their losses go unrecognized by faith or social customs. However, as medical and psychological specialists realize the profound impact this loss has on a family, this lack of recognition is changing in the Jewish community and in general society.

Ron Wolfson, PhD, Fingerhut Professor of Education at American Jewish University, discusses the Jewish response to stillbirth and neonatal death in a blog on Kveller, based on his book, A Time to Mourn, A Time to Comfort. He writes, “The family whose newborn dies should not be denied its community. It is also extremely important, especially for the father, to allow permission to do nothing else but mourn during the shiva period.

“Both parents will react different to the loss, (but) it is particularly important for the father to recognize his loss, for it is no less real than the mother’s. When the father is treated as a mourner, he is relieved of the burden of ‘being strong’ for his wife. He has a specific set of ritual tasks to do that encourage him to confront the magnitude of his loss in all its dimensions.”

Rituals are critical for helping us through the pain of loss and grief, to help us know we’re not alone in the darkness. Without a funeral or memorial service, my family just pushed through life without fully acknowledging what had happened, or how we each felt about it. I wanted to be strong for my daughter and son in law, to wrap my arms around them and “make it better.” This was new territory and I didn’t have a map, leaving many emotions unexpressed – unusual for me and for our family, too.

I started writing this blog – then left it unfinished. The words were inadequate. The timing wasn’t right. The wounds were too raw. My notes gathered dust in a file folder.

Last week, I felt sad for no particular reason. My husband was feeling inexplicably gloomy, too. I talked to my daughter, who was also feeling out of sorts – and then she realized it had been a year almost to the day of Wyatt’s death. Our brains may not have remembered, but our hearts knew.

I searched my files to find two shadowy images, the sole evidence of my third grandchild’s existence. I strained my eyes, looking for features that just aren’t visible in the ultrasound, made less than a week before he died. What color were his eyes? Did he look like his sister and brother? What would his talents have been? I believe in heaven, so I imagine him there and hope he and his uncle found each other through the miracle of a spiritual family connection.

Maybe it will be better next year. I marked Wyatt’s birthday – for lack of a better description – on my calendar, to honor his memory each year. More important, I want to let my daughter and son-in-law know that I remember, so they know that Grammy loved Wyatt as much as they did.

I was captivated last week by a blog post about photographer Mark Nixon's book, "Much Loved," which features photos and stories about well-worn and still treasured stuffed animals - many of them Teddy bears.

Later, at home, I went immediately to one of my bins-of-treasures stacked against the basement wall and pulled out my dear friend, Abraham.

He was my Christmas gift when I was 17. I asked my mom for a bear that year - perhaps it was a way to embody the spirit of my childhood, from which I was rapidly departing. I remember opening the package and squealing with delight at my bear's furry, slightly protruding belly and sweet, soulful eyes. I named him Abraham. It suited him.

A few weeks later, he was at my side when I was in the hospital for a thyroid condition. I parked him on the pillow next to me during the day and snuggled him close at night. I had better things to do than sit in a hospital bed for two weeks. Things like hanging out with my friends, editing the school paper and celebrating the final semester of my senior year of high school.   

The thing is, if the two of us hadn't been in the hospital - Abraham never would have introduced me to the Charming Young Guy who eventually became my husband.

One night, the Charming Young Guy - a nursing assistant - came into my room to check my blood pressure and temperature. He spotted my brown friend peering from beneath the starchy white sheet that covered us both. 

"What's your bear's name?" he asked.

I told him. 

"Well, why isn't his name Ted?"

"It didn't suit him," I said. "He's just an Abraham." 

 "My name is Tedd," Charming Young Guy laughed.

Fortunately for me, Charming Young Guy had a sense of humor. And, after we were married, Abraham kept watch from a pillow perch on our bed all day, and - painful as it is to admit - slept on the floor at night. He eventually went to live on a shelf, and then in a bin with some of the bear siblings who came to live with us over the years. It's a challenge to leave any of these beloved bears out in the open - their lives would be endangered by the whirling dervishes (our dogs) whose instincts cause them to shred every stuffed animal they meet.

I wonder - do you keep some beloved vestiges of childhood stashed away? Whether you had a bear, a bun-bun, a blankie or doll, what stories come to mind? As evidenced by the Nixon's book, it doesn't seem to matter how old you are. The memories of that special object can bring comfort to your heart. 

Who knew?

Teddy bears have Jewish roots!

Teddy bears are the stuff of American folklore - but did you know the first one was created by Brooklyn shopkeepers Rose and Morris Michtom? According to an article by Gilbert King in Smithsonian Magazine online (Dec. 21, 2012), Jewish couple heard about a hunting trip during which President Theodore Roosevelt refused to shoot a bear that was tied up, stating that it would be unsportsmanlike to do so. Rose, a seamstress, stitched a bear from velvet, which Morris placed in the shop window with a sign that said, "Teddy's bear." Many people asked to purchase the bear; the Michtoms, thinking they needed permission to use the name, sent a bear to the White House with their request. Roosevelt gave permission - and the Michtoms eventually formed the Ideal Novelty and Toy Company.

This gray Monday morning has faded into a grayer early afternoon. There is much to say, but the words drift into view and then disappear before I can discern their shapes or meanings. Loss is like that. Perhaps that's the reason for tears - they fill the void when words fail.

My friend, Bonnie, died a couple of days ago. Cancer was the culprit. It took the life of this feisty woman and left those who knew her shaking their heads in sorrow and their fists in exasperation - though we would not wish for her suffering to continue, either.

Bonnie and I worked together for a little more than six years - I as a newspaper editor and she, a graphic designer. She intimidated me the first time we met as she barked orders and loudly expressed dissatisfaction when copy and photos were late, or weren't formatted correctly. I can hear her vociferous voice punctuating a vibrant vocabulary, her words most often flung like bullets toward the computer that thwarted her efforts, especially on deadline.

Over time, as we worked together, I learned her outwardly peevish attitude was hiding a gentle heart. She was proof that you should never trust a first impression. I don't remember what broke the ice. It might have been my asking about her daughter, whom she adored. Maybe it a long conversation about the benefits of living with a cat - or rather, being allowed to live with a cat.

It might have been when we bonded over Sudoku - me as the student and she as the teacher. She played Sudoku and did a crossword puzzle (the hard kind!) every day. "It's supposed to be good for your brain," she told me. Her puzzle skills were far beyond mine. I was honestly impressed, and told her so.

Bonnie had a great laugh and a smile that spread across her whole face. Her heart beat passionately on the edge of her sleeve. There was rarely any doubt as to how she felt at a given moment. She worked hard, expecting other people to put forth the same amount effort. Her determination fueled my own.

I think we carry little bits of every person we touch. They may have left this world, but their memories bless and comfort us, sometimes even guiding our paths. I am thankful for Bonnie's memory. We tested our teamwork and developed mutual respect for each other. My favorite memories, though, will forever be her gravelly giggle and fiery spirit.

Photo credit: Sony Pictures

My son and I saw the latest film rendition of Steven King's "Carrie" Sunday afternoon. It was our post-brunch bonding time. I'm not exactly a horror movie fan. In fact, I almost never watch horror flicks. However, I saw the first version of "Carrie" in 1976 with a bunch of my screaming girlfriends and I wanted to see whether it would change substantially this many years later.

The story was the same. However, rather than inducing screams of horror the way the original "Carrie" did when I was a teenager, this version caused a different reaction.

Overwhelming sadness. Pain from wounds I thought healed long ago.

For the uninitiated, the story focuses on a quiet, socially misfit teenage girl named Carrie White. Carrie's mother is deeply disturbed and the implication is that Carrie has been abused since birth. Neighborhood kids and classmates harass her endlessly. Carrie does her best to be invisible so people leave her alone.

A few minutes into the movie, my heart ached for the kids like Carrie - quiet, and often for that reason alone, they become targets for the bullies surrounding them. Powerful people prey on the meek. Our culture is deeply competitive and prone to worshipping those who are physically and verbally formidable - even if they are jerks. We've managed to pass this value to the youngest generations.

At 50 years old, I still remember the torture of team-picking time in junior high gym class. I wasn't very athletic, and was among the last of those chosen. I was humiliated and it colored my attitude toward sports for a lifetime.

Worse, I remember one particular kid who called me creative variations of "fat" starting in fifth grade. I avoided him in the hallways because I never knew whether he would whisper it under his breath as he passed - the lesser of two evils - or whether he would shout it for everyone to hear. I have no idea why he chose to pick on me - and he kept it up through high school. I imagine what I would say to him today if I met him on the street and think, I would rather not waste the energy.

Then again, maybe I would.

I have mixed feelings about what happens to Carrie's tormenters at the end of the movie, because I did not feel sorry for them. Actually, I cheered a bit inside, although that's not the kind of person I want to be.

My son had a similar reaction to the film. He experienced his share of bullying in school. We knew it was going on and as parents, did what we could to help him through it. There are no easy answers, though. When a kid is pushed to her emotional limit, do we blame him for lashing out? What happens when she has nowhere to go, no one to trust? Certainly, "Carrie" was at that point. The fallout was enormous - an entire community suffered the consequences for the behavior of one or two.

Who knew this horror film would be a social commentary?

My son and I talked about whether bullying is worse today than it was years ago. Throughout history, powerful people have bullied those with less power. That doesn't make it easier to deal with. I was bullied. He was bullied. My 7-year-old granddaughter experienced bullying as a kindergartener. It not only breaks my heart - it angers me.

I think bullying is worse today. At least I could get away from the jerk that harassed me when I went home for the day. Now, kids are constantly connected through technology. Painful, embarrassing situations are photographed or filmed, then instantly uploaded to be shared with the not only classmates, but the entire world. Where can a kid escape from malicious messages when they are transmitted anonymously by text or email?

Moreover, how do you teach kids to combat persistent, hateful behavior? How do you help them heal from the spiteful words and cruel actions of others? How can caring adults prevent this pandemic of bad behavior in the first place?

This horror movie remake left me with more questions than answers - not about plot or characterization - but about life and culture and coping with pain. I think working through pain helped create my empathy toward others. It drives me to help those who suffer, or who are harassed or neglected by society.

It motivates me look for hopeful solutions to what seem like hopeless situations.

Life cycle events lend themselves to cultural and religious ceremony. Formal customs acknowledge and move us through undulating emotions associated with birth, graduation and weddings, to the deepest pain and sorrow of death. Rituals provide a road map that tells us to first do this, and then do that, during times when our minds and souls are too exhausted to tend to these details.

Many of us think of "rituals" in reference to these kinds of events - loss, gain, a beginning, an end. However, we each create an intricate framework of rituals for ourselves, often without really thinking about it. Repetition creates a familiarity and comfort, so our rituals ground us and, I believe, provide a sense of peace.

I've been mulling over this idea since I read the late Roger Ebert's memoir, "Life Itself," last month. In one chapter, he described the rituals that gave him a sense of continuity during his travels. Walking in London. Waking before the sun to have breakfast at an outdoor café in Cannes. Eating a burger at Steak & Shake in Urbana. Ebert was, as his wife, Chaz called it, "touching the bases."

We all have our own ways of touching the bases. Think of the way you manage morning. My morning begins the night before, as the whirring grinder releases the warm, rich scent of roasted beans into the kitchen air. I fill the coffee maker with water and ground beans, and then set the timer to 4:30 a.m. Once I turn the knob and the little green light blinks on, I am ready for sleep.

I am like the people on the commercials who wake to the scent of coffee brewing - if you don't count the cheerful smile, fully made-up face and freshly coiffed hair. Once the pot beeps that coffee is ready, I pour the same amount (count one-two-three) of sugar-free hazelnut creamer into each travel mug - my husband's is red and mine is green. I fill his mug with coffee, but I don't fill mine until 40 or so minutes later, when I am heading out the door. I drink it during my drive to the train station.

My rituals extend to laundry. I like to stay home on Sunday afternoons, methodically washing, drying and folding so the week begins with clean clothes. Yes, it's an exciting life. I try to be flexible, of course. If we have plans for Sunday, I do laundry on Saturday. However, somehow, it throws me off a bit.

We have family vacation rituals, too. Living in Minnesota, we skied with our kids on weekends. Our ritual involved stopping at a gas station halfway to the hills for coffee, hot chocolate and breakfast pizza. For lunch and snacks, I packed sandwiches, fruit, granola bars and red licorice whips. The day I forgot the red licorice whips was a terrible day indeed. The kids complained. My husband complained. Who knew that string-shaped candy would be a key to familial peace?

For years, we met my sister and her family in the Wisconsin Dells to spend two glorious days at a big water park, staying at the same hotel, eating breakfast and lunch in our rooms and then having dinner out, usually at the same restaurant. It was easy to enjoy ourselves, because we knew what to expect. We had been there before and would return the following year. These rituals provided checkpoints in time and a rhythm to our lives. Then one year, our kids were grown and out of the house. My sister's kids were in high school and too busy with jobs and friends to make the trip. My husband and I felt lost that first year of Dell-lessness - and though we've created new rituals since then, summer has never been quite the same.

When I was young, I flexed my individuality muscles by refusing to follow rituals. I suspect the rituals existed anyway; I was simply ignoring them. Now, I embrace my quirky rituals that frame my life, and celebrate the way others "touch their bases" as well.

Be sure to embrace your rituals, too.