Christine Lavin

Sally Fingerett  "Jewish Kid Born On Christmas Day Talkin' Blues"

Sally is one of the original and still touring members of The Four Bitchin' Babes, doing over 50 shows a year.  She has five solo CDs and has participated in all eight Bitchin' Babes projects, and more than 20 compilation CDs. Her song "Home Is Where The Heart Is" has been recorded by Holly Near, Ronnie Gilbert, and folk legends, Peter, Paul, and Mary. As a studio musician she has worked on countless Radio/TV Jingles such as Butterfinger, Hallmark, and Sears.  Sally has been seen with the National Touring Company of the Vagina Monologues, onstage with Putamayo’s Songwriter Festival at New York City's Carnegie Hall, as a featured musical guest on Michael Feldman’s "Whad'Ya Know?" NPR’s "Mountain Stage," CNN's "Sonya Live,"
PBS "Lifelines with Peter, Paul and Mary," and "CBS New Sunday Morning."  

Her humorous essays have been published in Columbus Monthly and Random House's Life's A Stitch, a collection of contemporary women's humor including Erma Bombeck, Gloria Steinem, and more.  Sally is currently at work on a collection of short stories and essays titled The Mental Yentl Review along with its' companion CD, The Mental Yentl Revue. Sally continues to write music for the theatre and is busy at work composing for Hersteria . . . A Musical Noir for the Winnipeg Studio Theatre in Canada. Sally’s latest CD A Woman's Gotta Do Her Thing
includes a moving duet with pal Janis Ian.

Sally and her husband Michael celebrate their empty nest in Columbus Ohio,
with three kids off at college!

"Jewish Kid Born On Christmas Day Talkin' Blues"

"As an adult, I have discovered that "Christmas People" are surprised to hear that "Hanukah People" don't have that visceral celebratory memory of the Christmas morning experience. It's just not in our childhood foundation blueprint.  No trees, cookies, candy, and certainly no thrilling screams of joy from that great gift being left by a magical Santa figure.  The best I could hope for was that my scary, strict and very Russian grandmother would be nice to me on my Christmas/birthday when the family got together.  On my fifth birthday, this grandmother gave me a $5 dollar bill as my present. This was a life altering moment!  The next day on Dec. 26, my mother and I went to EJ Korvettes for the After Christmas Toy Sale.  This store was the K Mart of our day owned by Eight Jewish Korean Veterans . . . get it? Through the aisles we walked, until I stopped in front of a doll called "Blabby Baby" made by the Uneeda Doll company.  
She was made of soft plastic and when you squeezed her tummy,
her mouth opened and closed and she squeaked.

Fast forward 50 years, I still have her. Not to boast, but she didn't fare as well as me with regard to aging.  Growing up, I did not have Barbies, and I didn't learn to ride a bike till I was 18, so this doll was my whole childhood and one might say she was loved to death. But she holds my history, and her presence in whatever house I live in is a given.

For my birthday 2007, my husband surprised me by finding a 1962 mint condition IN THE BOX Blabby Baby on eBay.  For a grown man to celebrate his wife's childhood, was the gift that allowed me that moment of surprise, complete with the thrilling screams of joy that I always imagined was the Christmas morning experience.  It's never too late. Ever.