A Letter from Ruth Priwer Smith

     I'm living in Canada, have been since 1977, and that partly to run away from St.Louis to follow a career in theatre.(And partly to follow a man.) And oddly enough, I feel much more at home here. I'm living in a small country town, very Christian in outlook, which makes me feel even more Jewish. I'm the mother of two lovely girls, Sarah and Becky, 19 and 20 respectively, by another man, not the one I followed. I have a little housecleaning business that keeps me busy, and frees up my brain for reflection. I have done a number of things since high school, a B.A. in Theatre Arts for one, and that was after I decided that I was not suited for a dance career. But what a lovely time, studying with some of the best in the field, including a wonderful woman, Margret Dietz, one of the founders of modern dance in Germany. I had a short professional acting career, which fizzled out, mainly because I couldn't be slotted into a "type" - not pretty enough for ingenue roles, not old enough for character roles. I'm still very active in theatre, the community type now, and act and direct with fervor. Lots of fun, and they say I'm quite good! And lots of character roles now for me, as I age I've lost that fear that holds actors back, and will try anything now. Directors love me! I'm a rabid gardener, every expanding my shrub borders, and dreaming of more. We live on a big farm propery in rural Ontario, which takes me back to my roots in Florissant.

I was never happy in High School, really, but mostly because I suffered from depression, and had a terrible time concentrating. In fact, had there been more knowledge of ADD then, I believe it would have been helpful. I remember that the toughest time was when the bell rang, and I had to quit daydreaming long enough to find my way to the next class. Still have nightmares about that! I do have lovely fond memories of Taberna, (thank you Karen,) Folk dancing at the community centre(oh the joy!)and my close friends - Ricky Mink, Ricky Rosen, my own Bob Abrams, (all guys? Come on now!) And a few others. I always envied those
who seemed to know who they were even then, because I never did. But that's not uncommon, I have since learned. So what now for all of us? I suppose we all move toward our senior years, there will be more senior moments, more compassion for those not as fortunate as we, and, I hope, lots more joyful times as we watch the geese sweep over us on their way to their southern homes, and wonder if I will ever be a "snowbird", as we call ourselves when we live in the southern climes half the year to keep our old joints warm!

Ruth Priwer Smith