Comments on: Chutzpah Speaks Loudly to Me

By: Winston

Winston — Mon, 26 Oct 2009 16:26:57 +0000

Ruth, I see you alighting from the rear seat of a silver 1959 Chutzpah– white walls, of course– at the entrance to Central Park. You stroll a few yards into the park. Your long leopard-print silk gown flutters about yourankles in perfect mimicry of a heart in love. You stop, whisper, “If you please, I thank you all.” Then you bow, open armed, to the pigeons. The ends of your posh boa kiss the grass.

By: Musa Mayer

Musa Mayer — Mon, 21 Sep 2009 15:35:46 +0000

Funny and true observations. I grew up in “The City” as us New Yawkers modestly term our town, but spent 17 years in a small town in Ohio (I never got used to the fact that I couldn’t walk into the local grocery without meeting people I knew). When we returned to New York, I found, to my great dismay, that I’d lost my chutzpah. Whenever someone pushed ahead in line, or grabbed “my” taxi, I’d get flustered and upset. I even waited for traffic lights, just like the tourists. Took me quite a while to reclaim my birthright, but now I jaywalk with the best of them.

By: Donna Hull

Donna Hull — Fri, 28 Aug 2009 13:28:02 +0000

Ruth, what a fun post. Being raised Methodist and totally lacking in chutzpah, I can relate. I actually laughed out loud at the end. Good start to my day – thanks.

By: Meredith Resnick

Meredith Resnick — Thu, 27 Aug 2009 23:34:08 +0000

Interestingly enough, I’ve learned that chutzpah, at its purest, means courage. Take that up a few notches, tweek it and, well, I think you described it perfectly!

By: Jennifer Margulis

Jennifer Margulis — Thu, 27 Aug 2009 20:54:04 +0000

I’m from Boston (and Jewish) and we drivers are the NY pedestrians, I think. I completely change my driving technique and get way too much chutzpah when I go back East…

By: debbie

debbie — Thu, 27 Aug 2009 17:22:22 +0000

Great post! As a Jewish New Yorker, I plead guilty to everything. The hardest part about it now that I’m a mom: Teaching junior NOT to run out into the street until the light turns. It’s forcing me to slow down, and I don’t like it. No, I don’t like it one bit.

By: Rachel Dickinson

Rachel Dickinson — Thu, 27 Aug 2009 16:18:05 +0000

As a life-long resident of a tiny village in Upstate New York I lack chutzpah on the street, whether walking or behind the wheel of a car. In fact, I don’t think we even recognize chutpah when it laughs in our face

By: Kate

Kate — Wed, 26 Aug 2009 23:29:56 +0000

You are so right about how pedestrians own the road in New York City. I’m a former Texan so I know that in the lone star state, METAL is King and pedestrians do not play around with cars or trucks. It’s all where you live. Interesting, isn’t it?

By: Almost Slowfood

Almost Slowfood — Wed, 26 Aug 2009 14:50:45 +0000

LOL! What a great post! I’m a guilty Catholic married to a mensch and of course I pronounced challah with a ‘ch’ in front of his family no less!! Now, I’ve got it down and proudly call myself a shiksa:)
Don’t you love walking in NYC? It doesn’t matter if you’re pushing a stroller, a walker or just taking a stroll, you know you’re not from NY if you wait for the light to turn red:)

By: Julie

Julie — Wed, 26 Aug 2009 14:49:39 +0000

This cracks me up! Every time I go to NYC, I am reminded of how little chutzpah I have when it comes to crossing the street. I’ve seen people driving on sidewalks, too. So I just hang onto my daughter’s coat tail and close my eyes:)