© 2008 Brooke Allen brooke@brookeallen.com http://www.BrookeAllen.com Originally published in International Family Magazine As I detailed in the story How Grandmother Won Granddad in a Beauty Contest my grandparents met on a blind date in New York City in the 1920’s and decided to marry within a week. Granddad Tom was sent to Havana to openContinue reading “Great Grandfather, Great Grandmother, Great Depression”
Author Archives: Brooke Allen
What to Think About How to Think
When discussing “math phobia” our neighbor, a psychotherapist, said, “I can’t think mathematically.” My son said, “Then you can’t think.” She was taken aback. “Of course I can think. I just can’t think mathematically.” My son said, “See, you’re not thinking.” The conversation ended there. Do you see? My son understands logic, which is aContinue reading “What to Think About How to Think”
My Good Name
© 2008 Brooke Allen brooke@brookeallen.com http://www.BrookeAllen.com Originally published in International Family Magazine Republished in Folks Magazine on 8/22/09. “Hello” “Is Brooke Allen there?” “Speaking.” “I’m sorry, I have the wrong number.” Click. When I first moved to New York City a well-meaning friend gave me a book about surviving in the city. It served noContinue reading “My Good Name”
Of Parks and People
© 2008 Brooke Allen brooke@brookeallen.com http://www.BrookeAllen.comOriginally published in International Family Magazine For this month’s Father’s Stories column I wrote a brief item about an incident in a park in Tokyo. I had wanted just one photograph of Arisugawa Park to illustrate my story but I could not find any. So, I thought I’d write forContinue reading “Of Parks and People”
Love is a Mother
© 2007 Brooke Allen brooke@brookeallen.com http://www.BrookeAllen.comOriginally published in International Family Magazine After we decided to move to Tokyo but before we all did, I went by myself to find us a home. I started by looking at playgrounds and parks. Arisugawa Park is a lovely place, named for a Japanese prince. It has a flowingContinue reading “Love is a Mother”
Party Time
© 2007 Brooke Allen brooke@brookeallen.com http://www.BrookeAllen.com Originally published in International Family Magazine Have you ever held a party and had your first guest show up 45 minutes late? Did you have feelings of rejection and doubt? Perhaps nobody would come? Perhaps nobody likes you? Perhaps nobody ever did and they just got tired of beingContinue reading “Party Time”
Mourning a Best Friend
© 2007 Brooke Allen brooke@brookeallen.com http://www.BrookeAllen.com Originally published in International Family Magazine The first time I saw my dad cry was when Tallulah died. She was named after Tallulah Bankhead, the actress, because of their similarity of voice and propensity to drink from inappropriate vessels.[1] Just as the best therapy following a miscarriage or stillbirthContinue reading “Mourning a Best Friend”
Fire Was No Stranger to Tokyo
© 2007 Brooke Allen brooke@brookeallen.com http://www.BrookeAllen.com Just before noon on September 1st, 1923, an earthquake struck Tokyo. Since so many people were using fire to cook their lunch, nearly the entire city was set ablaze. High winds (there was a typhoon just off the coast) spread the fires rapidly. More than half a million homesContinue reading “Fire Was No Stranger to Tokyo”
Mr. Rieur
© 2007 Brooke Allen brooke@brookeallen.com http://www.BrookeAllen.com Originally published in International Family Magazine You most want to be like the person you most admire. That is why, ever since 1963 when I had Mr. Rieur for the sixth grade I have wanted to be a teacher. His classroom was unlike any other I’d seen before; acrossContinue reading “Mr. Rieur”
Sally Would be Proud of Me
© 2007 Brooke Allen brooke@brookeallen.com http://www.BrookeAllen.com Originally published in International Family Magazine In 1993 I lost a job in Tokyo and returned to the States with a wife and two young children but no work. Most of my contacts were no longer at the phone numbers in my book and many were unemployed. It appearedContinue reading “Sally Would be Proud of Me”
Brooke Allen 