Episode 11 - “I Can’t Do it All”

Episode 11 “I Can’t Do it All”, recorded on Oct 19, 2023. Due to unforeseen and unexpected events -good and not so good - getting in the way, our recording sessions and the ability to publish episodes have been delayed. These included Elana having a stint in the hospital (but all ok now), us traveling to Florida to be with her, a college graduation, more travel (work and personal), and various other life events that took more time, energy and attention than usual. But we are now back on track with Episode 11! Recorded back in October 2023, our conversation starts off with Elana’s take on Jewish humor and moves into her innate desire to want to help others, to be their “guru”, even when it may not be feasible. We discuss how age and other factors can impact always being there for others, for better or worse, and we discuss how it’s important for her to make sure she’s also taking care of herself. She also shares how much her kids and grandkids mean to her- how they’re her best friends and how proud she is of them- and how she cherishes that. Elana discusses writers she admires and is inspired by, how she wishes she could emulate them, and how she continues to keep writing poems in an effort to write what’s real and inspiring. One particularly meaningful poem she wrote at the time, one in which capturing his essence was so important to her, was about our beloved Milo Kessler, which she shares here. She admits that she often has the realization that she’s 91 years old and although she may feel it at times, she really just wants to live her life and be there for her friends, her kids and grandkids. That’s the most important thing to her, but she also realizes that she has to take care of herself and that she “can’t do it all”. Stay for Larry's song, “Gentlefolk”, at the end. Instagram @allaboutmymotherinlaw