Classic Domino’s offering

School is back in session; life lessons begin

BY AMY FENSTER BROWN

The majority of St. Louis area students are back at school. That routine brings a good amount of order back into families’ lives. While most kids don’t love mornings getting ready and evenings doing homework, structure is actually really helpful to them.

School time means our kids have a whole lot more book learning crammed into their schedules versus the life learning they had during summer break. For those of us who haven’t been students in many (or very many) years, we’re still learning all the time.

One big lesson I’ve learned as an adult is that when someone begins a sentence with “no offense,” it’s usually offensive. “Nothing personal” almost always means it’s going to be personal, like: “Nothing personal, but your deodorant didn’t do the job this morning.” Another gem is: “With all due respect.” The comment that follows? Disrespectful.

Two of my best school subjects were writing and theater. My knowledge in these areas helped me realize something valuable not too long ago. “The Facts of Life,” “Living Single,” “Sex and the City,” and “The Golden Girls” are all the same TV show. Mind blowing. You’ve got four women with very distinct personality types portrayed almost to excess. Often, you have the smart one, the ditzy one, the funny one and the anxious one. Maybe they have the superhot one, the regular-hot one, the less-hot one and the nothot-at-all one, who is usually also the funny one. Sometimes, it’s the cynic, the glamour queen, the ingénue and the one who seems to have it all together.

Closer examination shows that we, the viewers, are a combination of these four women. While I’m mostly a Natalie, I’ve got a healthy dose of Tootie, a chunk of Jo and a smidge of Blair all mixed in. You might be heavy on Sophia with a bit of Dorothy, a touch of Rose and a heaping helping of Blanche, you saucy little devil.

We each are all of the characters combined, but in different formulas. No matter the show, we all seem to identify the most with the one who seems to have it all together. That’s how Hollywood tricks us.

Looking back (way back) on my time as an actual student (I’m talking back in the 1900s), I certainly have some highlights.

One of the best things that ever happened to me in school was meeting my lifelong best friend Nancy. We met at the Lollipop Tree in Mrs. Kettler’s second grade class at Craig Elementary School. One of us said to the other, “Want to be best friends?” and that was it. Seven-yearolds are brilliant creatures. Besties ever since. We’ve had one fight in the past 45 years. It happened in sixth grade, lasted six months, and neither one of us has any idea what it was about.

Nancy and I both have had additional best friends along the way. You can have more than just one. We have always been each other’s nucleus while having our own other groups of friends, too. This method of our friendship came about naturally and is the key to our success. We’ve never been jealous of, or competitive with, each other’s friends. Our friendship is like an underwire bra: We provide each other tremendous support and stability even when separated.

I’m going to buy one of those BFF necklaces with the charm that’s split into two, but I’m going to give Nancy both halves because she is so much better of a friend than me.

That brings me to a terrific life lesson. Surround yourself with people who have qualities you admire, who bring you up, who like you as you are, who are not jealous but instead applaud you and the things that bring you joy.

Class dismissed.

Amy Fenster Brown (left) writes, “My BFF Nancy isn’t actually taller than me, I just put her on a pedestal.”

Join Women’s Philanthropy for L’Chaim! THURSDAY, OCTOBER 27, 2022 The Ritz-Carlton, St. Louis • 100 Carondelet Plaza, 63105 An evening of celebration, community and giving, featuring Juju Chang, Emmy Award-winning co-anchor of ABC News Nightline and one of the most prominent Asian Americans in broadcast news. VIP Pre-Party • 5:15-6:30 PM Tickets: $180, Includes a ticket to the Main Event Main Event 6:15 PM Cocktail Reception 7:00 PM Dinner and Program Tickets: $75 Virtual Program • 7:30 PM Tickets: $36

Dietary laws observed. Complimentary self and valet parking available. SPACE IS LIMITED. Please RSVP online at www.JFedSTL.org/LChaim2022 or by calling Randi Smith at 314-442-3843 by October 18.

Attendees will have the opportunity at the event to make a gift to Jewish Federation of St. Louis’ Unrestricted 2022 Annual Campaign.

Sponsors

Marilyn Fox & Lenore Pepper Sheri Schechter Memorial Fund

Beth Hamedrosh Hagodol Cemetery

THE LUEKEN GROUP

John B. Holds, M.D. Adam G. Buchanan, M.D. Sara N. Reggie, M.D.

Columnist Amy Fenster Brown is married to Jeff and has two teenage sons, Davis and Leo. She volunteers for several Jewish not-for-profit groups. Fenster Brown is an Emmy Award-winning TV news writer and counts time with family and friends, talking and eating peanut butter among her hobbies.