I met with my aunt yesterday and I learned, or rather, relearned, yesterday that I have two amazing great great aunts named Ruth and Helen Hoffman. I am sure that I heard a tidbit here and there about them in my youth but the facts did not stick and I hadnt heard about them since.

Boy was I missing out!. These two fierce, intelligent, and adventurous women travelled and lived around the globe for years. They were artists, writers, and adventurers. They studied in Paris. They painted beautiful art. I was lucky enough to get one of their works from my aunt yesterday and it is now hanging in my office. It is of a beautiful middle eastern woman breastfeeding her child. Apparently my aunt did not notice this detail but I saw it right away. She let me have it and I was so grateful that I hung it immediately.

They hung out with famous artists, composers and the like all of the world. They ate with sheiks at the men’s table and lived in their own separate tent in the desert. They were not technically a part of an official harem, but the sheikh found them so fascinating he interacted with them regularly and engaged in meaningful conversation.

They designed a great deal of postcards, greeting cards and advertisements. They produced a great deal of art and used to have their own showings at Macy’s. My aunt and I sifted through hundreds of their cards and artwork. It was amazing the variety of color and detail and the continued shifting themes.

Then, we got to my favorite part! Their books. Yes, that’s right. They were authors and illustrators as well. They wrote three books with their own illustrations within. One was titled We Married An Englishman. One was titled Our Arabian Nights. The final book was titled We Lead A Double Life. I was even able to see the prelude letter to Our Arabian nights to their then publisher notifying them that something even better was coming after their first book. I am hoping to get a copy of that letter as well.

The bottom line is, that I feel a kindred spirit tie to these women. We share a love of life, love, art, literature, and adventure. I feel honored to even know about their presence and I can’t wait to read those books! I will let you know how they turn out!

Dr. Katz