The cartoonist, Lynda Barry, contends that most adults suffer from “play amnesia.” Living in these dark times, many overlook play...
My Imperfect Role Models
In interviews to promote her new biography, Becoming, Michelle Obama lavishly praises the strong role models offered by her mother, grandmother and aunt. They seem perfect. When I reflect on the women in my family who came before me I have mixed feelings. My paternal grandmother had a shrill tongue; Aunt Anne was a heavy drinker; Aunt [...]
Pat Taub
Snow, Ranked Choice Voting Triumphs, Facing Death & More!
SNOW! Portland, Maine had its first snowfall of the season last night. It continues to snow lightly and blow fiercely. We’re on track to get about 5.” Tomorrow the temps will climb into the ‘40’s which will enhance melting—a boon to those who have Thanksgiving errands to run. This isn’t a particularly picturesque snow, just [...]
Pat Taub
Handling Politics at the Thanksgiving Dinner Table
GUEST POST BY JANET WEIL On a visit with relatives in rural Oregon in September, I sat at the dining table with my female relative – let’s call her Tricia – while our husbands went to the auto parts store. Instead of the offer of a beverage and a look at the latest photos of her grandchildren I was expecting, Tricia started in on a near-rant [...]
Pat Taub
Hope Sightings to Raise Your Spirits
Many of us, including yours truly, are a bundle of nerves as we await the results of the midterm elections. Trump’s hate-filled rhetoric has spilled over to state campaigns, where Republicans running for office mimic Trump in their racist speeches. The Trump-inspired armed militias are moving to the border to halt the migrant caravan. [...]
Pat Taub
A National Tragedy, Nov. Novel Writing Challenge, Midterms & More!
National Mourning The Tree of Life synagogue massacre continues to haunt my soul. I was heartened by the large number of Portlanders who came out for a vigil in honor of the Tree of Life Victims. I wasn’t able to go because of my fractured foot, but reports from those who attended give me hope. I was told that the overflow crowd radiated [...]
Pat Taub
Where Do We Go From Here?
Many of us are struggling with this question as we try to process last week’s heinous hate crimes where a Trump disciple mailed pipe bombs to many of Trump’s sworn enemies; where a white racist killed two elderly African Americans in cold blood in a Kentucky market; where 11 mostly elderly men and women were murdered at Pittsburgh’s [...]
Pat Taub
Bomb Scares, Spiritual Tools, Being a Bad Patient & More!
The Craziness Mounts Egads, what a scary week: pipe bombs delivered to Trump’s major targets while he responds by blaming “fake news” rather than recognizing his hate speech is the real impetus for the growing hate in our country—but what else is new? It will be interesting to see if the bomb scares create a midterm backlash [...]
Pat Taub
A Self-Care Skeptic
I had a lousy week. I fractured my foot. I was freaked out by the more-depressing-than-usual headlines of amped-up hate speech, of an American journalist being brutally murdered by the Saudis, of rampant voter suppression and on and on. There seemed to be no end to bad news. To lift my spirits I tried the familiar self-care suggestions. [...]
Pat Taub
Having My Sanity Tested, Compassion, A Woman with Spirit & More!
Trying to Stay Sane! The accelerating racist and hate speech spewing from the White House and the Congressional races is making it harder and harder for me to stay sane. Recently addressing his base, Trump singled-out Greg Gianforte, the Congress member from Montana, praising him for violently attacking a Guardian reporter, saying that someone [...]
Pat Taub
Struggling to Help Someone Who’s Grieving
I wish I could say that the many deaths I’ve experienced have left me with the skills and confidence to comfort the newly grief-stricken. But that’s not the case. Every time a close friend or relative is hit with a death, I reach out with my condolences and offers of support, but no matter how many times I’ve done this, it feels awkward. [...]
Pat Taub