Introducing…
The other day, I had lunch with my editor. We do this from time to time because, honestly, we really enjoy each other’s company. And, unlike other places that I have written for, even if we don’t always agree on certain issues, we are respectful of each other’s beliefs and feelings. And, she is so teeny, tiny, and adorable, I can fit her in my pocket. That was actually my first impression of her. Over the almost eight years I have been writing for this paper, I have benefitted from her wisdom, sensitivity, and compassion, and I feel very fortunate to consider her a friend and mentor.
We cover a broad range of topics, but at this particular lunch, she brought up an issue that others have also brought to my attention. Why I have given only Strudel and Danish names? Why have I not taken the time to give pastry names to my other miracles? Do I not love them as much? What happens when they get older and are able to read and see that Babka hasn’t given them special names? Will they think that I love them less?
Truth is, I know and you know that I can be a little annoying. Though I am not always sure what annoys people about me, I can imagine that giving each of my grandchildren “code names” might be irritating and insensitive to those people who have not yet been blessed with grandchildren and who find me irritating. Though I would imagine that the people who find me irritating probably don’t read my column. But who knows. Let’s be honest, people are nuts, and nothing anyone does surprises me.
So, in this column, I will be naming my other precious little girls. How exciting! Strudel’s sister, Sister #2, will now be referred to as Marshmallow. Originally I was thinking of calling her Kichel, because she is named after my grandmother, who introduced to me to the sugar kichel at the kiddish at the Fifth Avenue Synagogue. But this little girl is a sweet little Marshmallow, and Kichel doesn’t do her justice. So even though Marshmallow is not a pastry, this will be her name. Unless one of you knows of a marshmallow dessert and you have a better name. Feel free to email me.
Strudel and Marshmallow have a very sweet baby sister. Her name is now Snickerdoodle. Why? Because snickerdoodles are delicious. And there you go. Annoying, right? Just wait until I incorporate all of these desserts into a column — that’s going to be really fun!
And now, on to the Israelis.
Danish got her name because she was born after my dad passed away and he loved danish and would have really loved this Danish. Danish’s sister was born around Shavuot, the holiday of dairy. And because of that, we will be calling her Cheesecake. Though she is even more delicious than actual cheesecake, we are still going with that. So there you go. I feel like I have just gained 10 pounds…
Again, if you have any comments or suggestions, these names are not set in stone. Please feel free to email me about the names, or any other issues you have, like why you find me irritating and so on and so forth and what have you. Relatives are not allowed to comment (unless you really want to, but I am not sure how many relatives actually read this). My DILs can change the names to whatever they want, because, as I hope I have demonstrated, I will do anything to make them happy.
If only I could solve all the world’s problems like I just took care of that one — now that would be something. Though in honor of Chanukah, I had to address another problem. I realized that you cannot see our menorahs well from the front of the house. What to do? Well, I got a hold of my pruning shears and I went out, in the snow, and cut out a nice little square making the area more visible for when the menorahs are lit.
I was very proud of myself. Why didn’t Husband #1 do this, you ask? The thought of sending him outside with a pair of pruning shears and all of the things that could possibly go wrong with that picture wasn’t worth it. And that is okay!
Banji Ganchrow of Teaneck is looking forward to having Strudel, Marsh-mallow and Snickerdoodle over for the festival of lights. Thank you Hashem.
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