I am so sad. I didn’t even know she was sick. And she was so young, only 71.
Why do I feel so bad about the passing of someone who I never even met?
Because she had a way of making me feel like I knew her well. She shared so many intimacies and made fun of them – made the best out of them.
I first “met” Nora in Heartburn. I remembering reading the book in the 80s and thinking how clever that she intertwined recipes throughout – what a neat idea. I took note of that for the future. And here I am now, a visual artist, writing a blog and writing recipes! In the movie, when she has her second son and her husband gives her a beautiful sapphire ring after she just delivered the baby, (course he was guilty as hell, having an affair), I thought wow, as I was pregnant with our second child. I wonder if my husband will give me a fancy piece of jewelry. Ha! No jewelry and he thought I could get home from Lenox Hill by myself in a taxi with the baby and 20 flower arrangements. But my husband wasn’t having an affair. (At least I don’t think so.)
This is the thing, with Nora, you felt like you had so much in common. (I actually met Meryl Streep at our local organic farm store upstate last summer. Until we watched Heartburn that night, I had forgotten that Meryl was in the movie, playing the real life Nora!)
She was raised Jewish. I was raised Catholic. She wrote Love Loss and What I Wore. I would write Love, Loss and What I Ate!
When I moved back to NYC in 2007, I remember hearing about her book, I Feel Bad About my Neck: And Other Thoughts on Being a Woman. Since that came out, I have been religious about putting on neck cream every single day, and she’s right about having to shave your legs less as you get older. I think about that in the shower every morning. And she doesn’t even know how much she’s influenced me! How many others like me are out there?
Recently, I read an interview with Nora in the NY Times Magazine and she said that she was so glad that she no longer had to worry about financial things – that she was thankful that was out of the way. I hope to get to that place soon too.
Rest in peace Nora. We will all miss your wit and insights.
For Nora – our Rhodie bush in the country
Lunch with Nora
How do you cook?
Jenkins Jellies Guava Brava & Hell Fire Jellies
The fettuccine recipe
Flounder Fillets with Garam Masala, Avocado & Mayo
Mary, I’m so glad you wrote this since I felt the same way and haven’t yet had time to talk to my “girl friends” about the loss of Nora.
In her writings she was able to seize on our unspoken feelings and fears and normalize them. You never felt alone when you were reading her insightful comments.
I too will forever appraise my neck and think of Nora Ephron. There must be immortality in that somewhere… I hope so
Susan – It’s so nice to hear that you felt the same way. I wonder how many of us there are? She touched so many! A true loss.Thank you for the message.
I just read I Feel Bad ABout My Neck a few months ago and loved it. She captures both our vanity and our wisdom, our frivolousness and our great love for family and friends all inthe funniest way.She will be missed.Good topic.
Lucinda – I actually have never read the book but it needs to be on my list! Thank you for the message.
Hi Mary
Beautifully written from the heart! I have the same sentiments.
xxoo Marie
She is a true loss. :((