Eat, Read, and Be Mommy

I can easily see a heartwarming movie version of Erica S. Perl’s When Life Gives You O.J. with Judd Hirsch as Ace, only I guess I’d want the Judd Hirsch of ten or fifteen years ago (91 feels a little old for the role). Ace, however, is the quintessential unapologetically Jewish grandfather, and it feels like there’s a shortage of qualified actors for that sort of role. The relationship between him and Zelly–his 10-year-old granddaughter–is a complicated one, and yet it’s the key to Perl’s story; Zelly desperately wants a dog, and Ace gives her a practice dog made out of an orange juice jug to help her convince her parents that she’s ready for one. Zelly is not impressed–I imagine we can all appreciate her dread of being ridiculed under the circumstances?–but Ace badgers her into it; it becomes, therefore, a complicated summer. A new (also Jewish) kid moves into the neighborhood, Zelly’s best friend is away at camp and experiments with a new version of her name when she comes back, and Zelly’s bully doesn’t make life easier. She and Ace both are still mourning Bubbles, his wife and her grandmother, and since her death precipitated Zelly’s family’s move from Brooklyn to Vermont (and Ace’s move into their new house with them), well–there’s a lot to work through. The process, however, is both entertaining and poignant, and it made for a great read-aloud with my youngest.

In other news, my youngest had her piano recital on Saturday, and I hope all the dads out there had a happy Father’s Day. Stay cool this week!