Searching for Becca Fisher

When I read about the untimely death of champion chess player Bobby Fisher, I really didn't think much about it.  I vaguely remember the movie I saw about him being a chess-playing phenom as a kid, but other than that, the news of his passing didn't make that much of an impression.  That is, until this morning.

As we prepared to spend a day running errands or figuring out what to do with our kids, my daughter came running into the den waving a form in my face. "Mommy, my chess teacher said I need to be in this tournament and it's today."  Nothing like a little advanced warning.

After re-reading the sheet about five times, I reached the fine print section and noticed that after I forked over $50, my daughter could enter the chess match and compete.  Lucky for us, one of her best friends was selected by the teacher to play too, so our friend drove them over in time to register and we decided to meet her there - thinking we'd spend about 1-2 hours watching her play a few rounds.  

When we arrived, the hallways were teaming with kids of all ages - from kindergarteners to fifth graders - who knew that chess was so popular? While kids played chess in carefully guarded classrooms, parents were instructed to stay far away from the door so that we didn't screw up their concentration or shout out pointers.  If only my dad weren't allowed to watch my tennis matches when I was a kid - I probably would have won a few more games.  But back to Becca... 

After spending four hours at the school - doing whatever we could to entertain our son (thank you Nintendo), Becca emerged exhausted and victorious.  She won the first round, lost the second, tied the third and won the last round - which meant she qualified for a medal! Even better, after all the points were tallied, her school came in first place out of seven other schools - earning them the championship trophy.  The parents couldn't have been prouder and the kids were thrilled - for a moment I felt like I was in that "Akeelah and the Bee Movie."   As other kids trotted around with private school jerseys and t-shirts promoting their chess club, my happy go lucky kid who attends public school won a medal at her very first chess match.  Today the school championship, tomorrow the state!

And just think, I started my day thinking we'd be buying bananas and luncheon meat. Sure I don't have groceries, but I do have a chess-playing daughter who can also crochet, ice skate and is pretty damn good at gymnastics too.  My Becca never ceases to amaze me.  And that's the ultimate joy of being a parent - watching our kids try their best and pursue the things they love.   Gotta bolt...Becca is giving me my very first chess lesson!   

The Uninvited Guest

I officially had the grossest experience to date in my ongoing quest to be a free wheeling Manhattan entrepreneur.  While lunching at Maggie's in midtown with a former colleague, I placed my bag on the floor and didn't think much about that decision as we caught up on lost time.  After lunch, I grabbed my bag, slipped it on my shoulder and walked over to my new office near Grand Central Station.   While I checked in at security, I looked down into my bag and saw IT peering up at me.  

It must have been the size of my hand - okay - it wasn't that huge but all I knew was it was big, brown, with tentacles flaring and it was taking up residence in my monster purse.  I'm convinced it was a cockroach, water bug, cricket or some other humongous creature that had pranced into my bag and was creeping on top of my folders, Jenny Craig snacks and my laptop case, searching for something to nibble on.  

As the security guard attempted to take my photo so he could print out my temporary ID card, I could hardly speak.  I then started wriggling around, trying to figure out how to get rid of the roach. I finally managed to ask the guard for a napkin and he still couldn't understand why I was freaking out until he came around the bend to inspect my bag and saw the creepy crawler ducking for cover.  He then handed me a towel and I crushed the thing, like a bug.  Wait not like a bug, I actually crushed the bug and handed the towel back to the guard.  I then smiled and posed for my picture.  

As Cindy Adams says, "Only in New York kids, Only in New York."