The cartoonist, Lynda Barry, contends that most adults suffer from “play amnesia.” Living in these dark times, many overlook play...
Short Takes
A Different July 4th, Antiracism, Spiritual Confusion & More!
What 4thof July? I don’t think any of us could have imagined a 4thof July like the one we are celebrating, or not celebrating, this year. No family gatherings, picnics or fireworks except for those who are ignoring social distancing. For Blacks the 4th is not a holiday to be celebrated, since, unlike the early white settlers who rejoiced [...]
Pat Taub
Country Tranquility, COVID Insight, A Good Zoom & More
Country Tranquility This weekend I’m opening my country retreat, a little over an hour’s drive from Portland, Maine. My soul comes alive here. It can breathe here. I feel very fortunate to have this space. No car noises, only chirping birds and the wind whispering through the trees. Here’s an image of my garden coming to life. [...]
Pat Taub
May Day, Tara Reade, Coping with Humor & More!
May Day, 2020 May Day is traditionally the holiday for Beltane, which celebrates earth’s fertility as trees and plants awaken from their winter slumber while farmers and gardeners plant new seedlings. Numerous rituals honor the Divine Mother with outdoor dances and prayers—although sadly this year most Beltane rituals will be online [...]
Pat Taub
Hibernation Crazies, Zoom, A Good Read & More!
Hibernation Update I’m now in week 5 of my isolation. I thought I had it down, but yesterday I hit a wall when it dawned on me that I could be facing months of isolation. Depression was looming. The Hibernation Crazies had come for me! Suddenly I realized I hadn’t taken a daily walk for two days. In spite of the overcast sky [...]
Pat Taub
Coping with Laughter, A Recommended Film, Supporting Nurses & More
Laughter as a Coping Method While COVID is no laughing matter, especially as the deaths soar, and our medical workers are woefully ill equipped with protective gear, laughing can help to discharge our frustrations. Here’s a link to a very funny Instagram short video of a woman cooking and dancing at the same time. Her exuberance is catching [...]
Pat Taub
#Not Dying4Wall Street, A Surprise, A Good Read & More!
#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 [...]
Pat Taub
Spring Arrives, A COVID-19 Plus, Hibernating Choices
First Day of Spring With COVID-19 grabbing all the headlines, the first day of spring arrived without the usual fanfare. But if we take time to welcome spring with fresh flowers from the market or thanking the sun for its presence, our virus obsession becomes a little less crazy-making. Here’s a photo of boastful tulips gracing a table [...]
Pat Taub
Primaries Trauma, Street Art, A Good Read & International Women’s Day
Primaries Trauma As a Bernie supporter, I’m in the doldrums after Biden’s Super Tuesday’s sweep. I had such high hopes for a real progressive leader that would address climate change, unfair wages, racial inequalities, the need for universal medical care and more. I realize the primaries aren’t over, but worry that the establishment’s [...]
Pat Taub
Florida Return, Granddaughter Jane, Elizabeth Warren & More!
Back in Florida About ten days ago I returned to Florida, this time to Lake Worth, a sleepy community near Palm Beach. Lake Worth has an unhurried vibe with a sweeping beach, a funky movie house and lots of outdoor eateries. My oldest son visited for a few days when we visited the nearby Morikami Gardens, six gardens, built around a lake, [...]
Pat Taub
Key West Memories, “The Cave,” Joy in Dark Times
Key West Memories Sharing some photos from my recent trip to Key West. The first is from a women’s art exhibit depicting Rachel Carson, a pioneer in the environmental movement, with the new leadership under Greta Thunberg, the young climate activist. The following image is of a painting I bought by Michael Palmer, a Key West artist. [...]
Pat Taub