a love note to Nora

I was in my narrative journalism class my sophomore year of college. We were given a sheet of paper, and were told we had to do a project on a famous journalist, not just any journalist but one related to narrative journalism. That told stories, that were factual, fictional and anything in between, the list had people such as Hunter S. Thompson, Julia Powell and a name I was not yet familiar with, but was to soon fall in love with, and that was one, Nora Ephron. As people had their names called in the class, they responded back with which writer they wanted. I really had no idea who to choose, and of course, all the big flashy names were chosen first. My name was called, and I just went with it, "Nora Ephron," I called out.

I don't remember the assignment to a T, but I know we had to write some sort of paper on this person, and do a powerpoint presentation for the class on their life and highlight their major works. As I began my research, I was pleasantly surprised to find she had written such cult classics like When Harry Met Sally and wrote and directed Sleepless in Seattle, Julie&Julia, among so many others. This was also upon countless essays & articles she also had to her name. Who was this woman and why have I not discovered her before now? I kept thinking to myself. She was also, by the way, hilarious, and so truthfully hilarious. And she did it in such a way that made you feel like she's been your best friend your whole life, like someone who really knows you. That, is a sign of a fantastic writer. 

Needless to say, I became a huge fan of her after this project, so I was saddened to hear of her death only a few days ago. The writing world, had really lost an icon, and women especially had lost a pioneer. She not only broadened my idea of what a writer could be, but she truly inspired me, and brought me back to my high school self, that came alive in my first journalism class at the idea that I could write, report and do it for a living. Relate and connect to all kinds of people with the simple power of words. That is something I will forever be grateful to Nora Ephron for.

I leave you with some of my favorite quotes from her:

“I don't think any day is worth living without thinking about what you're going to eat next at all times.” 

“Whatever you choose, however many roads you travel, I hope that you choose not to be a lady. I hope you will find some way to break the rules and make a little trouble out there. And I also hope that you will choose to make some of that trouble on behalf of women.”

“So much of what I see reminds me of something I read in a book, when shouldn't it be the other way around?” 

"I try to write parts for women that are as interesting and complicated as women actually are."

the power of words.

On my train ride back in March from Virginia back to school in New York I sat down eagerly delving into the April issue of Vogue. As I flipped through the ads I came across their "Up Front" section and began to skim through the first paragraph to see if it was worth me reading the whole way through. Little did I know that this article would do much more for me than kill time on a 4 hour train ride, it was going to stay with me for a long time (one month and counting) and give me a reality check on where I want to go in life.

The piece was entitled, "Keeping the Faith" and was written by 32-year-old journalist Marisa Mazria Katz. Here was a woman who was truly making a difference in people's lives via journalism. It was about Katz's journey to the slums of Casablanca, Morocco and as one woman, Boubker Mazoz, took her around and showed Katz first hand all of the political injustice, rough living conditions and all around poor quality of life plaguing the city, Katz knew that she needed to do something to help the women there. She then created Idmaj which is an association to give power to women, give them a voice. She also conducted a month long journalism course in which she helped women of all ages write personal accounts of what they were experiencing in Casablanca, what they wanted, what they hated or were frustrated with. For the first time in their lives these women felt they had some sort of control and it was Katz who helped them to get there and eventually led to the creation of Words for Change. As I have said time and time again, I'm a graduating senior and don't really know what direction to take my life after May 21st. But this article was a bit of an epiphany for me; it brought me back to my original passion. Writing. Journalism. That's what I love to do. Talk to people, find out things from them, hear someone else's story, impact people with my words. That's what I want to do. How will I get there? I don't really know but I truly aspire to do as Katz has done and be able to travel, write, and help even just one person find their voice.

talk baby to me.

No, I am not talking about actual baby talk. The talk that comes from cute, babbling and drooling toddlers, which would be acceptable. I'm talking about the baby talk that comes from grown women, whether they are saying it to their significant other or a friend or whomever; I simply cannot stand it. A perfect example would be Khloe Kardashian. Yes if you are wondering I do shamelessly watch the Kardashian clan and numerous shows that have taken over the E! Network but my skin crawls when Khole is on screen with her husband, Lamar Odom and she reverts into her "baby voice." I even know a girl who would just spontaneously break out in baby talk. For instance when her dad came to visit, she came in the room and announced "Da-Da here!" My friend Amanda and I stared blankly at here and Amanda simply said: What? And the girl repeated herself: "Da-Da here!" Excuse me, but are you trying to say "My Dad is here?" The hilarious and on-point show 'How I Met Your Mother' even had an episode dedicated to it:

Glamour also had a bit piece about this particular topic, showcasing one reader who was 31 at the time and said things like "Do you wuv me?" to her boyfriend; from scanning the comments from other readers it seemed that people were either all for it or totally against it like myself. I understand saying sweet things to your man but can't you say it in your grown-up voice? I just can't seem to wrap my head around this concept. If you are an intelligent, well-rounded and confident woman then talk like it! No matter who you are talking to or what you are saying. Thoughts on this?