I’ve chosen trailblazers in literature, music, painting, political activism and medicine. Many communities lost their own notable...
Tár: Older Woman Musician as Monster
GUEST POST by JANET WEIL When I saw the trailer for “Tár” starring Cate Blanchett as classical conductor/composer Lydia Tár, I was thrilled. Women conductors remain a rare breed in that most male-dominated of all musical genres, where Western Masterpieces meet Big Money, and I had never seen a portrayal of a woman conductor on the big [...]
Pat Taub
Debunking “Successful Aging”
I rankle whenever I hear the term, “successful aging,” which has become the Boomers’ mantra. I take issue because it implies there is a right and wrong way to age. Successful aging is defined in terms of a self-centered wellness regime as opposed to a compassionate focus on the elder’s wisdom years, where giving back to society [...]
Pat Taub
Home Alone For the Holidays
The holiday season is upon us. Thanksgiving is next week, soon to be followed by Christmas and Hanukkah where images of happy extended families are portrayed in TV commercials and Hallmark specials. But if you’re among all those older women and men who live alone, who don’t have a family to celebrate with, or who recently lost a partner, [...]
Pat Taub
Making Dying Less Scary
When I mentioned to a friend that I was reading Katy Butler’s new book, The Art of Dying Well, her response was: “That sounds grim.” Another friend was similarly put-off, saying, “I never think about death. It’s too depressing.” After finishing Butler’s book, I felt anything but depressed. I felt empowered, realizing I have [...]
Pat Taub
Fall Reads that WOW
Fall is my favorite time of the year for reading. During the summer, my love of reading is often interrupted by getaways to the beach, dinners with friends and family visits. Come fall my life slows down, allowing me to read for long periods of time without interruptions. I can linger over beautifully crafted sentences or meditate over poetry [...]
Pat Taub
Play Ball!
GUEST POST By BARBARA BENGELS I have to make sure that the Mets aren’t playing whenever I call my dear friend Anna Lea. She’s 92 and a late comer to baseball, has only been obsessed for the past thirty years. Some of my college students are equally engrossed, even asking if they could miss an occasional class which “interfered” with [...]
Pat Taub
Our Missing Hearts
This past weekend I devoured Celeste Ng’s dystopian, suspense novel, “Our Missing Hearts.” When I finished the book, I sat quietly, reflecting, arriving at the troubling conclusion that the dark world Ng describes is at our door. In Ng’s story, Asian Americans are scapegoated. As our government’s verbal attacks on China increase, [...]
Pat Taub
Women in Iran, Ukraine War, Grandson Max, A Country Retreat & More!
Girls and Women in Iran The female led protest in Iran that was sparked by the death in police custody of 22-year-old Mahsa Amini is now in its fourth week. Amini was arrested for having some of her hair showing from her under her hijab. The protest has gained momentum, with men joining. The protest has widened to include economic inequalities [...]
Pat Taub
Endearing Siblings
GUEST POST by JACOB WATSON When we enter our family as a newborn the rules are already in place. As we grow up in our families of origin, we observe the spirit of the family. When older, and hopefully wiser, we create our own family, with its own spirit. This is what endures over generations. It is spirit because it is not limited by space [...]
Pat Taub
Kindness is Essential
It is a bit embarrassing to have been concerned with the human problem all one’s life and find at the end that one has no more to offer by way of advice than ‘try to be a little kinder.’ –Aldous Huxley Huxley isn’t alone. The Buddhist tradition emphasizes kindness and compassion as central to a meaningful life. [...]
Pat Taub