On Mondays, the many talented artists of our community meet at Gem Suslovich's home for a unique opportunity to create and support each other in all kinds of artistic endeavors.

In an open art salon, people of all ages, all talents and all types attend to enhance their creativity and allow it to flow. They work in oils, water colors and collage, and some in pastels or pen and ink.

Recently, Gem invited noted author, Ruchama King Feuerman, author of Seven Blessings and Everyone's Got A Story, for a writing workshop. She encouraged the artists to use their creative talents to create “word heirlooms,” to evoke special times or people in their past.

Using specific words to describe these events and people, the women shared stories and created their own word heirlooms to keep precious memories alive.

First Ruchama asked them to compare praying and cooking, noting how one nourishes the body and the other nourishes the soul. She noted that creative people often see links between things and use them in their writing. She advised the artists to write in haste, getting their feelings, emotions and descriptions down as quickly as possible, and then to revise later.

“Around Gem’s lovely table, I threw down the gauntlet,” said Ruchama. “I asked: ‘Where are the stories of your community? We need to hear your voices, because if you don’t write the stories of your world, who will?’”

“The women responded with warmth, wit and lyricism—an abundant and generous outpouring. Some wrote about their mothers who were raving beauties. One writer painted a picture (with words) of slaughtered chickens, feathers flying through the backyard, pot holders and soup pots, potato drippings and sugar cookies. Others wrote about Radio City, tall women walking graciously through life, a father climbing the stairs while holding a TV, a grandfather who called his granddaughters Barbara 1, 2 and 3, women praying humbly and gabbing, and hands, so many hands, dipping into pots, knitting tiny roses into afghans, stroking a mohair couch—my head was literally swimming with images and phrases from their gorgeous world. Thank you for allowing me entry,” concluded Ruchama.

Some say that writing is a lost art form, but a letter to a loved one can have a powerful impact that is just not the same as a phone call or email. Permitting ourselves to keep the memories alive and passing them down to loved ones, in the written form, can be a gift for future generations. Ask yourself, “What do I remember?” and you'll see how much you have to share.