“Go ahead,” said my mother. “Look.” And there it was: written verification of the Death Rule. It was December 24th, 1990. I was sitting in mom’s kitchen, drinking a Gibley’s gin and tonic as mom wrapped tin foil over the pierogie plates. The Death Rule was plain as day—albeit flecked with grease and decades-old flour—in that red and white checkered cookbook
Amazing… it’s Xmas Day and this Jewboy’s heart is going 120 bpm right now. You’re Connelly with heart, Pelecanos with a sense of humor, Lehane with depth. Jonesing for pierogies now….
This is gripping from start to finish. Great use of first person POV to drive a short narrative through a long history - the asides and peripheral characters all popped.
Hi Duane - Finally had a chance to read this in full, still within the Christmas season, so I think I’m ok. Loved it, what a great piece of cultural and family tradition, wrapped in a grim and fatalistic seasonal wrapping. Well done!
Fuck man. You can write. Scared the piss out of me with a Christmas story. I'm calling mom right now to make sure she knows I'm coming to dinner.
Not the Wigilia tradition I was used to. It does show you the importance of showing up.
Amazing… it’s Xmas Day and this Jewboy’s heart is going 120 bpm right now. You’re Connelly with heart, Pelecanos with a sense of humor, Lehane with depth. Jonesing for pierogies now….
This is gripping from start to finish. Great use of first person POV to drive a short narrative through a long history - the asides and peripheral characters all popped.
Damn.... finally got a chance to read that.
Thanks for sharing it! Hope you had a Merry Christmas!
Hi Duane - Finally had a chance to read this in full, still within the Christmas season, so I think I’m ok. Loved it, what a great piece of cultural and family tradition, wrapped in a grim and fatalistic seasonal wrapping. Well done!