Books
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Doctoral Dissertation: Irena Klepfisz: A Life in Print - The Early Years, 1975 to 1992, University of Washington, 1994 (available through UMI Dissertation Services, Ann Arbor, Michigan, 1-800-521-0600)
Masters Thesis: Alice Paul and the National Woman's Party, 1900-1921, Western Washington University, 1981
Biography
Douglass W. Orr, Father of Seattle Psychoanalysis,"HistoryLink.Org: the free online encyclopedia of Washington state history, , March 2013
"Pioneers of Child Psychoanalysis: Edith Buxbaum, 1902 - 1982," ACP TODAY: Association for Child Psychoanalysis Newsletter, Winter 2003, pp. 8-9
"The Psychiatrist as Poet: A Review Essay," The Psychoanalytic Psychotherapy Review, Vol. 5, no.4., 1994
"The Psychoanalytic Experience: Analysands Speak - Editor's Report," The Drunken Boat, Fall 2001, Vol.2, Issue III
"I Don't Remember Why I Hated Him," Transference.EU & Beyond, Summer 2001
"Diary of An Analysis: Hermeneutically Yours - Musings on the Dyad as Text,"The Psychoanalytic Psychotherapy Review, Vol. 3, No. 3, Winter 1992
"Eating Pavlova by D.M. Thomas: A Book Review," The American Psychoanalyst, Vol. 30, No. 4., 1996
"The Psychoanalyst as Mentor," Upstream: A Magazine for Northwest Readers and Writers, Winter 1992
Alzheimer's
Poems & Essays in Eric Pfeiffer, M.D.’s Mastering Caregiving in Alzheimer’s Disease and other Dementias (Yale University Press, 2015).
"Witnessing Alzheimer’s through Diary and Poem - Dear Alzheimer’s: Why Did You Pick Our Sheltered Lives to Visit?" Journal of Poetry Therapy, Winter 2009
"Engaging Poetry and Jewish history: An Interview with Pesha Joyce Gertler," DRASH: Northwest Mosaic, 2008
"Writing and the Alzheimer's Caregiver," Centrifugal Eye, Summer 2006
"There's Tenderness in Bananas: Reflections on A New Year," JT News, September 30, 2005
Essays and Such
Teaching Crysta Casey," Raven Chronicles, 2011
"Irena Klepfisz, Loss and the Poetry of Exile," The Journal of Poetry Therapy, Sept 2005
Review of "Inside the Halo and Beyond: The Anatomy of a Recovery by Maxine Kumin," The Journal of Poetry Therapy, Sept 2005
Review of "Don't Turn Away: Poems About Breast Cancer," by Patricia Wellingham-Jones, All Things Girl, Jan 2005; Museletter: Newsletter of the National Association of Poetry Therapy, 2005
"Journal Entry: Spring 1992," Moondance:Celebrating Creative Women, Autumn 2001
"If All of Seattle Read the Same Book," in Y.I.P.E. Washington Poet's Association Newsletter, Spring, 2001; re-printed in Seattle Stories, March 2001
"Still (Quaking) in Seattle," Seattle Stories, March 2001
"Dreaming Out Loud: Creative Writing for Kids at Hugo House," ReWrite: A Quarterly Publication of Richard Hugo House, Vol. 3, No. 1, Spring 2000
"Jewish Feminism and Identity Politics," Off Our Backs: A Women's News Journal, May 1990
"Lovesong: Becoming a Jew, by Julius Lester, "Religious Studies Review, April 1990
"Beth Shalom's Encounter with the Woman Question," Conservative Judaism, Spring 1986
"On Writing," Introduction to Life Cycles: Stories and Poems by Seniors, Adult Education Program Writers North Seattle Community College (editor), North Seattle Community College, 1990
Introduction, Uphill Battle: From Autobiography to Poetry, Hale S.P.I.C.E. Writers (Seattle Program in Service for the Elderly), October 1988
"After the Conference; The Struggles between Us,"(co-authored with Pat Hurshell) Genesis 2: An Independent Voice for Jewish Renewal, Autumn 1988
"Judaism is Unique: Needs No Christian Symbols," Seattle Times, December 1984
Poems
"Death Penalty," in Strange Fruit: Poems on the Death Penalty, Sarah Zale and Terry Persun, editors, Wildflower Press, 2019.
"Mother Wears A Shroud of Pure Linen," DRASH: Northwest Mosaic, 2008
"Line Endings," Quill & Parchment, April 2008
"from An Alzheimer Marriage," Northwest Prime Time, Alzheimer issue, Nov 2007
"Age Eleven, On the Way to the Mail Box," DRASH, May 2007; West Coast Women's Jewish Poetry Anthology
"Resiliency," All Things Girl, Looking Glass Issue, Jan-Feb 2007; reprinted in Layers of Possibility:
Healing Poetry from Members of the National Association of Poetry Therapy, Margot Van Sluytman, ed. Palabras Press, Calgary, Alberta, 2007
"Alzheimer Couple," Northwest Prime Time, Alzheimer issue, Nov. 2006
"My Sister's Death: Brother," Pontoon 9, Sept. 2006; reprinted Pontoon 10, Retrospective Issue, June 2008
"Anna's Last January, " in In Pieces: An Anthology of Fragmentary Writing edited by Olivia Dresher, Impassio Press, 2006
"No Pits," Centrifugal Eye, Summer 2006
"Leash Law," Centrifugal Eye, Summer 2006
"Voice of the Child: I Want to Be Someone," All Things Girl, Mirror Mirror issue, July 2006
"Sam's Garden," Forum: Newsletter of the Northwest Alliance for Psychoanalytic Study, Winter 2005
"Spring," Tree Walk Book, Summer 2005
"The Old Pathologist," Chrysanthemum, 2006
"Laboratory Visit," Chrysanthemum, 2006
"Iser, 1899-1994," Maggid: A Journal of Jewish Literature, vol. 2 (2005)
"Ellen's Good Day," Real Change: Seattle's Progressive Weekly Community Newspaper, 2005
"At the Back of the Laundromat," Real Change: Seattle's Progressive Weekly Community Newspaper, Dec. 16, 2004; forthcoming in Anthology of Laundromat Literature, Wilda Morris and Cathy Conger, eds.
"Ellen: When Schizophrenia Visits," Real Change: Seattle's Progressive Weekly Community Newspaper, July 8, 2004
"The Daughters of Dementia," Poetry Bay, Summer 2004; re-printed in Museletter: Newsletter of the National Association of Poetry Therapy , Fall 2004
"Face Food Hunger Color Skin;" in Under a Silver Sky, Vol. 1, The Evergreen State College, 2003
"A Poem," Kota Press Poetry Journal, November 2001
"Transference, Or My Analyst Has Curly Brown Hair;" Transference.EU and Beyond, Summer 2001
"Dream," Dakota House Journal, Issue #2, Roots, May-June 2001; reprinted in The Writer's Block, Summer 2001
"Third Wife," KotaPress Poetry Journal, Vol. 1, Issue 4, Summer 2000; reprinted inThe Writer's Haven, Fall 2001
"My Analyst Has Curly Brown Hair;" Chrysanthemum, Vol. IV, No. 3, Summer 2000
"Father's Skull," Chrysanthemum, Vol. IV, No. 3, Summer 2000; reprinted in 9 11 01 (Winter 2002); authorsden.com, May 2001; Transference.EU and Beyond, Summer 2001; The Dakota House Journal Issue #3, Fall 2001
"The Old Woman," Mentress Moon: A Quarterly Online Journal of Writing and Art by Women, April 2000; reprinted in Poets for Peace Anthology, Seattle, 2001
"Erev Yom Kipper, 1999," Chrysanthemum, Vol. IV, No. 2, Winter 1999-2000
"Mouth," KotaPress Poetry Journal, Vol.1, Issue 3, Spring 1999
"Bring Me the Sunset in a Cup," KotaPress Poetry Journal, Vol.1, Issue 2, Winter 1999
"Sister;" PoetsWest Literary Journal, vol. II, No. 1, Spring 1999; reprinted in Mentress Moon: A Quarterly Online Journal of Writing and Art by Women, April 2000; Clariti Magazine, 2000; The Dakota House Journal Issue #3, Fall 2001; Under a Silver Sky, Vol. 1, The Evergreen State College, 2003
"Che," PoetsWest Literary Journal, vol. II, No. 1, Spring 1999; reprinted in Mentress Moon: A Quarterly Online Journal of Writing and Art by Women, April 2000; authorsden.com, May 2001; The Dakota House Journal Issue #3, Fall 2001; Under a Silver Sky, Vol. 1, The Evergreen State College, 2003
"Voice Mail" in Writing Personal Poetry: How to Write Strong Poetry from Personal Experience (Sheila Bender, ed. Writers Digest Books, 1998); reprinted in Day Old Love, 1998
"The Starlings," in Writing Personal Poetry: How to Write Strong Poetry from Personal Experience (Sheila Bender, ed. Writers Digest Books, 1998)
At the Hospital, Psychoanalytic Psychotherapy Review (Vancouver Psychoanalytic Psychotherapy Society), vol 4, no 1, winter 1993
"Driving Home from Mother's House," originally published in The Psychoanalytic Psychotherapy Review Vol. 4, no.3, 1993 (Vancouver Psychoanalytic Psychotherapy Society, Vancouver, BC, Katalina Bartok, editor); re-printed in Switched-on-Gutenberg: A Global Poetry Journal, Vol. 1, No.2, (March 1996); KotaPress Poetry Journal, Vol.1, Issue 2, Winter 1999; PoetsWest Literary Journal, vol. II, No. 1, Spring 1999; Identity Theory, Fall 2001
"Guarding Mother," Spindrift, 1996; reprinted in KotaPress Poetry Journal, Vol.1, Issue 2, Winter 1999; amomslove.com, May 2001; The Writer's Haven, Fall 2001
"Miriam," Genesis 2: An Independent Voice for Jewish Renewal, Spring 1988
"Dear Pat," Midway Review 5, 1984; reprinted in She Speaks: Publication of the Seattle Women's Caucus for Art, Autumn 1996; amomslove.com, May 2001
"When I Am Old," Midway Review, No.3, 1982; reprinted in Poetry Seattle, Pacific Magazine, Seattle Times/Post-Intelligencer, 12/7/86; The Psychoanalytic Psychotherapy Review, Vol. 5, No. 2-3, 1994
Selected Readings
Elliott Bay Book Co., Poems on the Death Penalty, 2019
Elliott Bay Book Co., It's About Time presents So, Dear Writer... An It's About Time Writers' Reading Series Anthology, 2019
Word Chase at Ravenna Third Place Books, with Ann Teplick, August 21, 2019
It's About Time Writers Reading Series #337, with Ann Batchelor Hursey, Loreen L. Lee, Trish McKenny Honig, Ballard library, October 12, 2017, 6 - 7:45 pm
In Celebration of Crysta Casey, Couth Buzzard Books, July 28, 2017
Book launch In Memory of Crysta Casey, Open Books, June 10, 2017
In Joan Swift Memorial reading and Celebration, Open Books, May 16, 2017
Revolution Books,with Don Kentop. Frozen By Fire: A Documentary in Verse of the Triangle Factory Fire, 1911. Sun. July 17, 2016, 3 pm
Poets Against Hate @ Poets in the Park, Redmond, WA. June 25, 2016
It's About Time #318- An Interview in Verse with Esther & Mitra Lofti Shemirani: Poets Against Hate, Seattle Public Library, Ballard Branch, 6:45 pm, April 18, 2016
Listening to Mozart Concert, Haller Lake United Methodist Church Music Series, March 6, 2016, 2 pm
Poets Against Hate, Feb 13, 2016, 2-5 pm, Seattle Public Library Central Branch
Jan 8, 2016
The Art of Alzheimer's: The Artist Within Reading, Seattle City Hall, Jan. 20, 2016 noon
Ravenna Third Place Books "Into the Storm: Journey with Alzheimer's" reading, with Collin Tong & others, May 1, 2014, 7 pm
Elliott Bay Book Co, "Into the Storm: Journeys with Alzheimer's" LAUNCH, March 16, 2014, 3 pm
Frye Art Museum, with Tess Gallagher, Holly Hughes, & Ann Hedreen, Thurs Feb 27, 6:30 p.m.
Ravenna Third Place Books, Sun Nov 17, 2013, 4 pm
Merrill Gardens at the University, Tues Nov 12, 2013, 2 pm
Greenwood Senior Center/Phinney Ridge Community, Fri Oct. 18, 2013, 3 pm
Elliott Bay Book Co, Dear Alzheimer's Book Launch, Sept 8, 2013
It's About Time Writers #286, Ballard Library with Laura Lucas, Loreen L Lee, Theo Nester, Aug 8, 2013
Soul Food Poetry Books with Joan Swift, June 20, 2013
Abe Keller Peace Education Fundraiser with Diane Westergaard, Jule Tripp Weaver, Georgia Stewart McDade, Katleen Flennikin, Nov 27, 2012
Poetry Against Hunger with Arleen Williams, Douglass P. Johnson, Pamela Carter, Denise Calvetti Michaels, Katy E. Ellis, T'Latte Coffee & Tea House, May 26, 2011
Redmond Association of the Spoken Word with Ann Teplick, Old Redmond Schoolhouse, Jan 28, 2011
Seattle Public Library, Final 2010 Jack Straw Reading Nov 13, 2010
SAM WORD with Jack Straw Poets, Seattle Art Museum, October 21, 2010
Elliott Bay Book Company with Jack Straw Poets Bill Carty, Tara Roth, Brian Barr, Nov 7, 2010
Jack Straw Studios with Martha Clarkson, Michael Dylan Welch, Marjorie Manwaring, May 14, 2010
Ravenna Third Place Books, with DRASH contributors, May 31, 2009
Frye Art Museum, with Beyond Forgetting contributors, May 3, 2009
Irene Drennan Memorial with Diane Westergaard & Denise Calvetti Michaels, Richard Hugo House, March 1, 2009
Jack Straw Production Studios with Pontoon10 contributors, 2008
Seattle Public Library, Nov. 2007
Prose West at Epilogue Books, August 9, 2006
Poet's West at Epilogue Books, July 2006
Elliott Bay Book Company with Olivia Dresher and Friends, reading from In Pieces: Anthology of Fragmentary Writing, June 17, 2006, 4:30 pm
Older Women's League (OWL) with Irene Drennan & Diane Westergaard, University House,
Sat. Sept 11, 2004
Ravenna Third Place Books, with Diane Westergaard, Irene Drennan, Pesha Gertler & Denise
Calvetti Michaels, Sunday, May 2, 2004
Barnes & Noble's Lynnwood, with Gloria Burgess, Michael Dylan Welch & Irene Drennan
Friday April 23, 2004
Poets in the Park, Sun. April 4, 2004
Temple Beth Am, January 10, 2004
Lottie Motts, Oct 24, 2003
Ravenna Third Place Books, Aug 21, 2003
Ravenna Third Place Books, , Feb. 25, 2003
Learning Through the Arts: Holocaust Experience Shared, North Seattle Community College, April 18, 2000
Richard Hugo House Faculty Reading, Elliot Bay Book Store, April 8, 2000
Elliott Bay Chamber of Commerce with Irene Drennan, 2000
After Long Silence Reading Series for Women Poets and Writers, 11/19/99
Hospice of Seattle: A Celebration of Remembrance, Frye Art Museum, Spring 1999
Poets West, Barnes and Noble, Issaquah, Fall 1999
Poets West, Frye Museum, Spring 1999
Wit's End Book Store, Nov. 13, 1999
Seattle Love of Life Poets, Barnes and Noble, U. Village, 1996-1998
"Ernesto Cardinal," Silenced at the Borders: Banned Books Week, Seattle Public Library, Sept. 25, 1997
"Readings on Themes of Freedom and Light," Tree of Life Judaica & Books, Dec. 3, 1997
Seattle Public Library, Banned Books Reading for Poetry Month, April 1998
Castalia Reading Series, University of Washington, various readings, 1982 - 1990
Papers, Talks, and Panels
"Dr. Edith Buxbaum and the Development of Seattle Psychoanalytic History," University of Washington, "History of Psychology" class, May 19, 2011
Panel Moderator: "Writing Women's Biography" with Dorothy Cordova, Mildred Andrews, Susan Starbuck - PEN Washington, Seattle chapter of PEN International Richard Hugo House, Seattle, Tues. November 16, 2004
"Writing Edith Buxbaum" ProseWest Reading Series, Wit's End Bookstore, Seattle Wed. May 19, 2004
Poetry Panel: "Process and Product" Redmond Association of Spokenword, "Poets in the Park" Weekend, Clise Mansion in Marymoor Park, Redmond, WA., Sun. April 4, 2004
"Dr. Edith Buxbaum and the Application of Psychoanalytic Pedagogy in Post-World War II Seattle" Pacific Northwest Historian's Guild Museum of History and Industry, Seattle, Sat, Mar. 6, 2004
Writing "The Homeless One: A Poem in Many Voices," Abnormal Psychology class,
Cascadia Community College, November 3, 2003
Northwest Bookfest, Spoken Word Panel, October 18, 2003
Reading Shirley Kaufman with Linda Clifton, Emily Warn, Ken Shiovitz
& Pesha Gertler, Temple Beth Am, June 15, 2003
Censorship and the Development of A Writing Self, Censorship and the Right to Dissent Panel, PEN Washington, April 15, 2003
Red-Diaper Baby, The Writer and Politics Panel, PEN Washington, Aug. 20, 2002
The Poet's Words. Dialogue Among Civilizations Through Poetry Peace
Reading Seattle Public Library, March 2002
Irena Klepfisz and the Poetry of Exile. North Seattle Community College, 1999
Edith Buxbaum, Women's Biography and the Writing Process, University of Washington, Independent Women's Scholar's Group, 1995
Edith Buxbaum, Ph.D., Child Psychoanalyst - The Seattle Years: 1947 - 1982, Oral History Workshop #41: Women in the Early History of American Psychoanalysis, American Psychoanalytic Association, 12/94
Irena Klepfisz's Keeper of Accounts and Cynthia Ozik's `The Shawl,' University of Washington, Women's Studies, 1993
Themes of Home, Exile, Self and Other in Irena Klepfisz's Early 1970's poem, `Death Camp,' University of Washington, Women's Studies, Oct. 1992
Irene Kelpfisz, Jewish Feminism and the Construction of a Social Self: A Psychoanalytic-Feminist Perspective, Judaism, Feminism and Psychology Conference: Creating a Shelter in the Wilderness, Nov. 1, 1992.
Jewish Feminism and Identity Politics, National Women's Studies Association, Towson University, Towson, Md., Nov. 1989
Women and Creativity, Panel on Women's Creativity, Women's Studies, University of Washington, 1989
"Midrash on Ruth and Naomi," Torah and Blintzes: Tikun Lail Shavuot Study Vigil, Congregation Beth Shalom, June 8, 1989
Jewish Women's Spirituality, Edmonds Community College, 1980s
Women's Clubs, YWCA, 1980s
National Council of Jewish Women, Seattle Section, Women's History Conference, University of Washington, 1980s
Jewish Women's Spirituality, Conference on Women's Spirituality, Antioch University, Seattle, 1981
Origins of the Seattle Council of Jewish Women: 1900-1910, Early Seattle Panel, Seattle Women's History Week, University of Washington, March 12, 1981
Women's Role at Congregation Beth Shalom, Seattle, Museum of History and Industry, Washington State Women's History Panel, 1980
National Women's Party and the Equal Rights Amendment, Western Washington University, 1972
Women and Judaism Newspaper Column
The Road to Judaism: A Convert Speaks Out, Washington Jewish Week, 3/19/87
The Baalat Teshuva, Baltimore Jewish Times, 11/87
The Meaning of the Mikvah, Baltimore Jewish Times, 1/26/87
Rosh Hodesh - The New Moon, 1/30/87
Invoking Female as Well as Male Images of God, New York Jewish Week, 1/2/87
Women in Judaism: God as`She', Baltimore Jewish Times, 2/2/87
Women in Judaism: God as a Female Image, Syracuse Jewish Observer, 1/2/87
The Mikvah's Mystery, Syracuse Jewish Observer, 12/86
God as `She', Washington Jewish Week, 12/3/86
Ima on the Bima: A Refreshing Children's Story, Seattle Jewish Transcript, 11/20/86
The Rebbetzin as Role Model, Baltimore Jewish Times, 9/5/86
My `Gottseelige' Bubbe, Syracuse Jewish Observer, 7/86
Educating Women, Baltimore Jewish Times, 5/2/86
Marta Kosaly, Syracuse Jewish Observer, 4/86
This Purim, Watch Out, Reader!, Seattle Jewish Transcript, 3/20/86
Women in Judaism: Education, Syracuse Jewish Observer, 3/7/86
A Purim Phantasmagoria, Syracuse Jewish Observer, 3/86
Feminist Finds Mikvah Spritually Rewarding, The Arizona Post, 2/14/86
The Mikvah, Detroit News, 1986
Educating Women, London Jewish Chronicle, 1986
Women in Judaism: Ima on the Bima, Syracuse Jewish Observer, 1986
God As a Female Image, Syracuse Jewish Observer, 1986
Tapping the Wellsprings of Purity, London Jewish Chronicle, 1/86
Women in Judaism: Education, Seattle Jewish Transcript, 1/86
Women in Judaism: The Rebbetzin, Syracuse Jewish Observer, 11/29/85
The Rebbetzin, Seattle Jewish Transcript, 9/85
A Few Earlier Articles
Budget Cuts: A Plea for Chore Services, Elder Affairs, 3/81
Fremont Chore Services Needs Help, The Source, 2/81
The Journal's the Thing, Fremont Forum, 1/81
In Their Nineties: Couple Helps Each Other Day By Day, Ballard News-Tribune, 11/80
What I Am witnessing is an Interaction Between Friends, Fremont Forum, 9/80
At Home With Chaos, Fremont Forum, 8/80
What Does Spanking Teach Children?, Fremont Forum, 6/79
Peck's Bad Boy or Teacher's Bad Day?, Fremont Forum, 5/79
Gwinyai Tells A Tale: Rabbit Absconds with Child, Seattle Sun, 5/79
Fremont Community Council Urges Citizen Input, Fremont Forum, 4/79
Janice Painter: Murderess or Martyr, Seattle Sun, 3/14/79
Feminist Art: Blatantly Sexual Even With Flab, Seattle Sun, 2/29/79
Factionalization and Feminism: Flappers to `Freedom', Northwest Passage, June 1971
Oral History Television Interviews: Exploring Jewish Feminism, Jewish Studies Program,
Jackson School of International Studies, Cable Learn Channel 27, University of Washington, 1988 - 1992
Blu Greenberg, author, 2/11/88
Rabbi Vicki Hollander, 4/88
Cantor Mailyn Ladin, 5/9/88
Rabbi Marna Sapsowitz, 9/16/88
Pat Cullen Hurshell, Holocaust Scholar, 6/2/88
Rabbi Ira Stone, 6/14/88
Blu Greenberg and Rabbi Irving Greenberg, 6/20/88
Dr. Kayla Weiner, Feminist Therapist, 7/6/88
Gail Simon, Lesbian Feminist Activist, 9/1/88
Cantor Celia Gartenberg, 10/4/88
Rabbi Dov Gartenberg, 12/15/88
Pesha Gertler, poet, & Esther Little Dove, peace activist, 2/10/89
Rabbi Lynn Gottlieb, 8/13/89
Irena Klepfisz, Holocaust Poet, lesbian feminist activist, 11/16/90
Paula Hyman, Historian, Yale University, 1992
Dear Edith:
"... You write: "Girls' organization around games such as jacks and jump rope give their aggression form in the same way that football and war games contribute to the organization of male aggression.
"..., this exercise in a biographer's defensiveness and antagonism toward her subject brings me to one of my writerly pastimes: Imagining you, Edith Buxbaum, as a child. For the life of me, I can't imagine you playing jacks [for instance]. I played jacks all the time, not just during latency from 6 10 but into my early teens. In summer I could play all day: in the morning between Canasta, Mr. Rochester and Jane Eyre, in the afternoon, between lunch, hopscotch and the mad woman in the attic and in the evening between the library stacks, Alan Kaplan's telescope, and Wuthering Heights.
"I played jacks on the cement outside our apartment. I played with my sister on our scratchy bedroom floor, and with my girlfriends' on their front porches. It was my mother who, as soon as she saw my hands were big enough, around four or five years old, taught me how to play. We sat on the cracked linoleum floor, and between pinning up this rich woman's dress or that, she taught me how to play Frontsies and Backsies, Cherries in the Basket and Strawberries in A Cup, Twosies and Threezies and Pancakes in A Frying Pan.
"I can't imagine you playing jacks, Edith, not with your mother, nor your friends. To me you are always old and haughty, and your mother is even haughtier. You are European, cultured and stuck up. I'm one of three children my Russian immigrant father calls his American children. I can't imagine you as child because I don't have information about you then. You're all psychoanalysis and theory. Perhaps I can't imagine you as a child because I can't imagine my father as a child. I can't even imagine you playing jacks with the children you analyzed in your office. But maybe I can see you playing jacks with the children. Yes, I can see you being kind to them, and warm and easy and wanting them to learn and to heal. The fact is, I'm jealous of you, Edith Buxbaum. I come up short when I view myself in your light. I feel lack, less than.
" I want to know if you sat on the floor and played jacks with your mother. You had no siblings, but lots of friends and extended family. Did you play jacks with your maternal first cousin, Bruno Bettelheim? He was one of your best childhood friends, growing up in early-1900s Vienna... and you ran back and forth from each other's apartments. Bruno had an older sister, Margarite (who in old age committed suicide, as Bruno would in 1990. But you weren't living then. You didn't know of their suicides. You died of ovarian cancer years before.) Did Margarite run back and forth with you and Bruno? Did she play jacks with you? Somehow I doubt it, but why is this important? Why do I focus on jacks?" ..
