I am the BocaYente.  [A yente is a gossip, for the Yiddish-impaired.] My friends call me Phyllis, so please call me Phyllis.  I have written "The BocaYente’s Slice of Life," a series of 85 humorous essays.

The BocaYente came into being in January, 1998, my parents being a computer and a sense of humor. While my eyesight may be failing, my observations and wit are as sharp as ever.

I am the wife of a retired periodontist, the mother of two sons and a grandmother to three. A vibrant Floridian, I play tennis, have blonde hair (only my hairdresser knows for sure); and, I do not look for "early bird specials."  I was a featured columnist for several years in the North Shore Jewish Journal of Salem, Massachusetts.  Now during my winter residency in the Sunshine State, I am a frequent guest speaker at women’s organizations and Jewish congregations throughout the United States.

"The BocaYente’s Slice of Life" discusses the pros (golf) and cons (hurricanes) of living in the Jewish Homeland of Florida, women’s issues, the joys and woes of motherhood and "grand parenting."  Some stories were sent to my northern friends as e-mails when I first moved to Florida. I signed these e-mails "With love from the BocaYente."  Friends began forwarding these e-mails and soon I received requests from hundreds of recipients to be included on the mailing list. These e-mails described the trials and tribulations of everyday activities, of moving from New England to southern Florida, first as a "snowbird, "then as a "rounder" (year-round resident) and depicted other human interest situations..

While my dear husband loves retirement, fishing and working on his computer, I'm ready to hit the road to share my mixed emotions about selling my northern house full of "stuff," to proudly kvell about the joys of becoming a grandmother, and to kvetch about a hot flash or two. This BocaYente is not yet ready for assisted living; I’m ready to assist those who want to go on living…with a smile on their face.