Question: How did your loved ones react when they first read the stories?

All of them—with surprise and approval.
And at the same time, each in their own characteristic way:

— My daughter, a professional writer and English-language poet, responded with great delicacy.
— My mother—with admiration. After all, for every mother, her Neanderthal is still her beloved Neanderthal.
— My wife—with endless patience and unwavering support.
— My sister—stoically accepted yet another one of my whims, as any younger sister properly should.

As for those who are no longer with us—I’ll find out their reaction later, when we meet again (see the ending of “My Yiddish”).