How does it feel for you as you straddle the line of comedy and tragedy in real life and real time? I deeply admire that you use your particular viewpoint(s) on the world, in tandem. You're able to use your sharp and broad sense of humor like a scalpel to do surgery on some of the very most infected and diseased parts of our world. Does doing this help you feel more regulated? Do you know how excellent at it you are at it and how helpful it is? This is a real question and also an excuse to say well done and thank you and keep going.
How do you think about the relationship between your serious writing and your comedic writing right now? I've really enjoyed reading both, and I'm just curious how you've been approaching that range of tone and subject matter recently.
How are you staying encouraged and positive when you have two young kids and the world is so horrible right now? I have a two year old and I cry sometimes. He doesn’t understand all the details, I’ve explained but he’s two 😞but he knows something is wrong.
This is my question, too. How do you not give in to despair? Other than, I guess, we have no choice...hope is a practice...we owe it to the children we brought into this world... all the children everywhere are ours. But how do I look into my son’s little face (he had an older sister who died at birth -- he’s my only living child) and not bundle him up and go live in the woods foraging for berries and cultivating small scale agriculture forever?
If we really knew you, what would you want us to always keep in mind when we read what you write, when you seem to disclose from your deepest heart, when we think of you as a person with dreams in this life.
I love your stuff!! I especially admire your output and consistency, since I know you're busy with so many things (and even without kids, I struggle to finish and publish comedy stuff). Two questions for you:
1. Any tips for getting more pieces, sketches, random writings out in the world on a regular basis?
What message, if any, would you want to be hearing right now from your child's school as violence continues in Gaza and hate in many forms increases across the world, our country, and close to home?
For the days that followed 10/7, your writing was of great comfort to me and to those who I shared it with. It resonated with my combination of devastation, horror, and fear for myself, my children and Jews everywhere and my heartache over what was sure to follow for innocent civilians in Gaza. I was not surprised at your ability to strike the perfect balance between grief and levity because Nobody Will Tell You This But Me is one of my favorite books partially for that reason. But your claim that the expression From the River....is not antisemitic was shocking to me and I am having a hard time reconnecting again with your unique and lovely and familiar voice. Have you had any further reflections on that statement? Thank you for offering to respond to your subscribers.
How does it feel for you as you straddle the line of comedy and tragedy in real life and real time? I deeply admire that you use your particular viewpoint(s) on the world, in tandem. You're able to use your sharp and broad sense of humor like a scalpel to do surgery on some of the very most infected and diseased parts of our world. Does doing this help you feel more regulated? Do you know how excellent at it you are at it and how helpful it is? This is a real question and also an excuse to say well done and thank you and keep going.
How do you think about the relationship between your serious writing and your comedic writing right now? I've really enjoyed reading both, and I'm just curious how you've been approaching that range of tone and subject matter recently.
Sounds like Garth and I are buddies in our questions!
How are you staying encouraged and positive when you have two young kids and the world is so horrible right now? I have a two year old and I cry sometimes. He doesn’t understand all the details, I’ve explained but he’s two 😞but he knows something is wrong.
This is my question, too. How do you not give in to despair? Other than, I guess, we have no choice...hope is a practice...we owe it to the children we brought into this world... all the children everywhere are ours. But how do I look into my son’s little face (he had an older sister who died at birth -- he’s my only living child) and not bundle him up and go live in the woods foraging for berries and cultivating small scale agriculture forever?
If we really knew you, what would you want us to always keep in mind when we read what you write, when you seem to disclose from your deepest heart, when we think of you as a person with dreams in this life.
Thank you, Ruth! I'll try to give you a satisfying answer! Can I use your name or would you prefer I say "Ruth H." or completely anonymous?
I'm Ruth Ann Harnisch, proud to be your supporter and happy for you to identify me as such.
I love your stuff!! I especially admire your output and consistency, since I know you're busy with so many things (and even without kids, I struggle to finish and publish comedy stuff). Two questions for you:
1. Any tips for getting more pieces, sketches, random writings out in the world on a regular basis?
2. What's your self-editing process, if any?
Oh I love this and will answer both in Tuesday's newsletter. OK to use your name or would you like me to keep it anonymous when it goes out?
Using my name is totally fine! Yay, can't wait to read your answers :)
What message, if any, would you want to be hearing right now from your child's school as violence continues in Gaza and hate in many forms increases across the world, our country, and close to home?
Love you and your family! What was that delicious-looking orange-red soup?
A non serious serious question: what kind of pants are you looking for these days?
For the days that followed 10/7, your writing was of great comfort to me and to those who I shared it with. It resonated with my combination of devastation, horror, and fear for myself, my children and Jews everywhere and my heartache over what was sure to follow for innocent civilians in Gaza. I was not surprised at your ability to strike the perfect balance between grief and levity because Nobody Will Tell You This But Me is one of my favorite books partially for that reason. But your claim that the expression From the River....is not antisemitic was shocking to me and I am having a hard time reconnecting again with your unique and lovely and familiar voice. Have you had any further reflections on that statement? Thank you for offering to respond to your subscribers.
I struggled with that, too. I don’t think there’s any way to say that without an antisemitic implication
Big fan of your work here! Just a quick Q: Beatles or Stones?
I’m happy to be
Ruth Ann H
Also ok to use my full name anytime