While I’m an elder, I hadn’t given a lot of thought to dying, that is until my brother, who’s 20 months younger, announced in...
Thinking About Death
While I’m an elder, I hadn’t given a lot of thought to dying, that is until my brother, who’s 20 months younger, announced in a recent late-night phone call that he had been diagnosed with Alzheimer’s. (To preserve my brother’s [...]
Pat Taub
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“I Hate Getting Old”
I recently received an email from a WOW reader, who confessed to being angry about aging: “I hate getting old. I hate the wrinkles, sleep problems and bouts of loneliness . . . I hate having aged out of the dating scene.” The reader’s complaints carry a universal ring in our ageist and sexist culture, which presents a formidable [...]
Pat Taub
Sexism at the Olympics, “Pose,” “Roadrunner”, & More!
Sexism at the Olympics What year are we living in? Apparently the Tokyo Olympic Committee thinks we’re still in the Dark Ages as they went about punishing an athlete for wanting to breast feed; another because she is blind and deaf and in need of a guide; or fining Norway’s women’s beach handball players for wearing shorts rather [...]
Pat Taub
Summer Reads For Every Mood
This year’s list of summer reads are books that I got so lost in that I stayed up well past my usual bedtime, or overlooked social gatherings with friends. I’ve compiled a wide range of books to fit a variety of moods, transporting you to 17th century Boston, the worlds of magic realism, psychological thrillers, and important social thinkers. [...]
Pat Taub
The Wisdom Path
The writer, Lily Iona MacKenzie admits that she finds aging hard, but when asked if there are advantages to being an older woman, Lily offers a big smile, followed by the response, “I get to celebrate my wisdom.” But what if one is having trouble accessing her wisdom? For help in getting on the wisdom path, I’ve compiled responses [...]
Pat Taub
A Visit from the Grands, Writing My Family History, 2 Films & More!
Grands Visit Last week, my two grands, Jane, 17 and her brother Max, almost 16, flew from Chicago to Portland to visit me. It was our first time together since Christmas, 2019. Since then Max has grown to 6 feet. Jane’s funky-thrift shop look is now off the charts. We had fun even though the cold and rain pre-empted beach time. [...]
Pat Taub
Summer Heat, Climate Fears
GUEST POST by JANET WEIL Last week I was in the grip of a climate anxiety attack, stronger than anything I have felt thus far. After looking online at heat maps of the Pacific Northwest, where the temperature was predicted to rocket to well over 100 degrees F, I felt like screaming. I sat shuddering on my bed. Needing support, I called the [...]
Pat Taub