Hello from Connecticut!

Preconceived Notions

Even though I’ve been to a good number of U.S. states, especially those on the east coast, this is the first time I’ve ever set foot in Connecticut. I have some preconceived notions about this place, culled largely from three sources:

1. Friends from Connecticut, all of whom went to prep schools and good universities

2. Episodes of Gilmore Girls (the Ginger Ninja watches them religiously and has most of the DVDs)

3. A staple of 80’s teenage reading: Lisa Birnbach’s The Official Preppy Handbook.

The Official Preppy Handbook

The Official Preppy Handbook is sort of like the old campy Batman TV series — how you looked at it depended on how old you were:

• At a certain age, people interpreted it as a “how-to” guide. For a while, my sister and her friends and classmates at Havergal College did just this, treating it as an instruction manual.

• Once a little bit older, they then dismiss the book as junk.

• Finally, they appreciate the book for what it is: a tongue-in-cheek “it’s funny because it’s mostly true” self-deprecating lampoon of the life of people who wore uniforms in high school, took tennis lessons and had alligators on a fair number of their clothes (I’m guilty of all three).

I should go see if the ol’ Preppy Handbook is still kickin’ around Mom’s place.

What am I Doing Here?

I’m here as a guest, groomsman and accordion player at the wedding of my brother-in-law Andy Ramoniac and his fiancee Sue. I get to do double accordion duty at this wedding, joining Andy’s balalaika group to do some Russian and Jewish tunes as well as his Ramones tribute band, The Ramoniacs. It’s going to be a party, and rest assured I’ll post pictures.