Pat Taub
#NotDying4WallStreet
This is a new popular hash tag, which sprung up after Trump suggested that the country’s social isolation end by Easter, noting that if some people (us older adults) have to die, it may be worth it to get the economy rolling again. Jeffrey St. Clair, writing in Counterpunch, referred to Trump’s sacrificial plan as “a wack granny economy.” I’m a granny who refuses to die for Wall Street! Time to don our “Raging Granny” buttons and corresponding attitudes.
An Unexpected Treat
The other night my daughter-in-law Face-timed me with the message that my grandson, Max would serenade me with a cello performance. It was a lovely surprise, especially since at 14 Max is becoming a proficient cellist. Nothing quite spreads love like music.
A Good Read
Like many of you right now I’m reading more than I usually do. Yesterday I finished the novel, Where the Crawdads Sing by Delia Owens. The protagonist’s story was captivating though not entirely plausible. I was skeptical that a 6 year-old, left alone in a shack on the North Carolina coast, could not only survive, but thrive and develop into a best-selling nature writer. That said, Owens mastered the regional voices and setting, transporting me to another world, making for perfect escapist reading.
Deeper Connections
When life hangs in the balance I feel a deeper connection not just to family and friends but to my community. Walking home the other day, lugging my curbside order from a neighborhood market, I noticed a very frail old man in tattered clothing, whom I assumed to be homeless. I kept the recommended 6 feet distance to address him, asking if I could share some of my groceries. He nodded affirmatively. I reached inside my grocery bag and handed him a scone and an orange. I walked away teary, recognizing how hard his life is compared to my privileged existence. I was reminded of the importance of kindness in these uncharted times.
