Never were there two parents more grateful to public school systems' mandatory health classes than my mom and dad.

Except for my parents. My Talk consisted of "so, you've covered everything in health class? Yes? Good. Just make sure you date Jewish."

My mother's version of the Talk was, "You've read enough to know....." I quickly agreed.

I grew up with Talk. I think my parents had some sort of parents guide to the Talk hidden in their closet somewhere when I was growing up because they seemed to following some sort of schedule of events. I just thank the stars that my Mom was the diligent one. As funny as it would be to watch my Dad attempt the Talk, that would soon grow old and be weird for the both of us. Although once I reached juniour high they had my older cousin (a sex ed teacher) give us the lowdpwn about all the "other" stuff. "Us" being my cousins and I who were all around the same age. I guess our parents didn't have too much faith in what they would teach us in public school.

I got the "where did I come from?" book when I was four, and my little sister was born. And then in junior high, got the joyful fun of going to...Catholic Sex Ed. No, seriously. I only remember bits of it--there were "celebrities" (some football player I'd never heard of) talking about how it was really important to not have sex until marriage. And a young married couple trying to be cool. (Which would've been less amusing if they hadn't gotten divorced a couple years later...so Catholic)

Am reading the memories of the Talk with fascinated dread, since the Blue Eyed Boy is getting to the age where he really oughta be told the basics. Strangely enough, he never asked any questions while I was pregnant - he seemed content just to know there was a baby inside and how it was going to come out (I gave him lots of detail on that since I've heard young kids can picture Aliens -type scenarios otherwise).

Guess I should go look for Where Did I Come From? at the library.

Rare interview with Madeleine L'Engle. She says of the movie of A Wrinkle in Time to be shown Monday, "I expected it to be bad, and it is."

I liked the interview with L'Engle. I loved all the wrinkle in time books. I also read "Severed Wasp" by her and really enjoyed it. You know a writer is good when a twenty-something reader fully identifies with a senior citizen character who is looking back on her life, and reflecting on all the painful memories as well as the good.

I love L'Engle. She's (I think) unfairly classified as a children's writer, but a lot of her stuff speaks to people of all ages.

Madeleine L'Engle is one of my top 5 (possibly top 3) favorite authors. I've read almost everything she's written, from children's books to adult fiction to autobiography to devotional works. She blows me away.

I unfortunately read the New Yorker's recent profile of L'Engle and wish I hadn't. I loved and love her writing - though not so much that I am completely uncritical of it. But I have this thing, such that knowing stuff about writers (or any artists) that is unflattering makes enjoying their work forever after difficult. I should really just make a point of knowing NO biographical information about artists whose work I like.