When mom lived in Ohio she used to call me
several times a day. Then she moved to The
Heritage, the beautiful retirement community
in Southfield. Now I have to call her and
schedule time to see her.

editor who is of a very different
temperament from me. He refers to
himself as a pathological optimist.
If I wasn't making a case, he
would tell me and send me back to
do better. He really pushed me and
wasn't satisfied with easy answers."

History Consultant
Shenk, who enjoyed writing while
still in high school, chose a com-
bined major in history and litera-
ture while at Harvard. He wrote for
the college newspaper and became
an editor.
After graduation, he landed an
internship with the New Republic
and moved on to writing pieces
for magazines such as the New
Yorker, the Economist and Atlantic
Monthly.
Now single and settled into New
York, where he teaches at the New
School University, he has become a
2005-06 fellow in nonfiction litera-
ture at the New York Foundation
for the Arts. Honors include a fel-
- lowship in mental health journal-
ism at the Carter Center, a Frank
Whiting scholarship at the Bread
Loaf Writer's Conference and resi-
dencies at centers focused on writ-
ing. •
The author's professional pur-
suits seem to fall in line with the
creative interests of his brothers.
David Shenk is a freelance maga-
zinelvriter and author, while
Jonathan Shenk is a filmmaker and
cinematographer.
Lincoln's Melancholy has gained
the attention of history scholars
and helped place the author on the
Advisory Council of the Abraham
Lincoln Bicenntenial Commission.
(the bicentennial of Lincoln's birth
falls on Feb. 12, 2009.) The author's
work also made him a consultant
on Time's Making of America series
and the History Channel's film The
Other Side of Abraham Lincoln.
The next major project for
Shenk islikely to be a book on reli-
gion and contemporary life.
"I'm Jewish and very interested
in Jewish traditions:' says the free-
lancer, who is on the board of his
synagogue, the Shul of New York. "I
would love to find a story that
would let me draw deeper into
that.
"My grandfather was a rabbi,
and his memory is very dear to
me. I've toyed with going to rab-
binical school myself, but I'm dug
into my life as a writer, and the
idea is probably not practical."

Isn't that great?!!

Independent & Assisted Living

Housekeeping services • Spacious apartments

One affordable monthly fee • Transportation

Full-service dining • Fabulous events daily

24-hour concierge • And much more!

WELCOME ABOARD THE TITANIC!

We invite you to come and dine with the captain

BROOKDALE

and take a wonderful tour of the Heritage of

THE HERITAGE

Southfield as it transforms into the Titanic.
This is an adventure you will never forget!

Exceptional Senior Living

of SOUTHFIELD

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 23, 2006 AT 1:00 P.M.

25800 W. Eleven Mile Road • Southfield, MI 48034

www.theheritage-southfield.com

Please RSVP to 248-727-2008

FISHER THEATRE • FEB. 14—MARCH 5

Tickets on sale at the Fisher Theatre box office & all ticketmaster outlets inc. Marshall Field's
ticketmaster.com • charge-by-phone 248-645-6666 • Into 313-872-1000
LaSalle Bank

NederlanderDetroit.com • Groups (12 or more): call weekdays 313-871-1132

ABN AMR°

1078320

February 9 • 2006

49