I’ve chosen trailblazers in literature, music, painting, political activism and medicine. Many communities lost their own notable...
“No Time to Spare:” A Book Review
With my birthdays piling up I ordered Ursula LeGuin’s* new collection of essays, No Time to Spare, seeking enlightenment for my own aging journey. The book’s title was inspired by a Radcliffe alumni survey sent to LeGuin, class of 1951. She was dumbfounded by the question that asked how she spent her spare time. Her response: “What is [...]
Pat Taub
New Year’s, Family Visit, “The Crown,” & the Las Vegas March
A New Year! I’m glad to turn the page on 2017, but there’s no assurance that 2018 will be any better unless we organize a massive protest movement. The Orange Monster’s unraveling is reaching new heights as he fumes over Michael Wolff’s to-be-released-today book about Trump. Will it bring him down and will he take us with him as he [...]
Pat Taub
New Year’s Resolutions for Soulful Living
Many of us toasted 2018 with resolutions for improving our everyday lives, focusing on losing weight, eating healthier, and strengthening our close relationships. But what if we departed from the standard pledges and instead made New Year’s resolutions that cater to the soul? Think about it, if we all made just one soulful promise and kept [...]
Pat Taub
Family, COLD Weather, Cuba Travel, Gratitude & More
Upcoming Family Visit As I write I’m awaiting the visit of my oldest son, David, wife, Mel and kids, Jane (13) and Max (12) en route to Portland from Chicago to spend the New Year’s weekend with me. The bitter cold will limit our outdoor activities. I dug up a jigsaw puzzle and a checker game. Can I persuade the iPhone-addicted grandkids [...]
Pat Taub
Honoring WOW Guest Bloggers of 2017
As horrific as 2017 was, it offered a silver lining: successful women-led movements from the year’s opening DC Women’s March to the year’s end #metoo campaign bolster hope for 2018. A new emboldened sisterhood is emerging. Older women are part of this sisterhood, raising their voices to rail against ageism and sexism and to claim their [...]
Pat Taub
Boos for Collins, Holiday Memories & Record Poverty in the US
Boos for Senator Collins I was very proud of Mainers for the way they birddogged Senator Collins, urging her to change her vote on the cruel tax bill. In the end she voted for it, insisting that her amendment to restore health benefits would be added in 1918. This weak promise did not go down well with Mainers. Move.On is issuing yard signs [...]
Pat Taub
Women of Achievement in 2017
2017 was not a good year for racial justice, abortion rights, economic equality, the environment and peace, causing many to feel discouraged about the future. But if we adjust our lens, positive indicators for life getting better can be found among this year’s strong women-led efforts. Progressive women’s actions were on the ascendent [...]
Pat Taub
Political Madness, My Granddaughter, #metoo, Xmas & Ai Weiwei
Political Ups and Downs I’m proud of Mainers for not letting up on Collins, visiting her offices across the state and jamming her phone lines to insist that she vote against the Draconian tax bill. I’m proud of Alabama’s African American women, of whom 98% voted for Jones to establish his win against the pedophile Moore. But the repeal [...]
Pat Taub
I Hate Asking for Help!
Guest Post by Walker Thornton I hate asking for help. There is no one specific reason—a mix of not wanting to seem weak or vulnerable, and fearing I’ll be turned down. I was raised in the South, by a very traditional mother who wanted a pretty, sweet daughter. I was taught boys didn’t like girls who were assertive or too talkative. I [...]
Pat Taub
Mean-Spirited Politics, Broadchurch, A Portland Artist & Christmas
Mean-Spirited Politics Take Center Stage What a week for repressive politics! The horrid tax bill passes and then Trump trumps himself by proclaiming that US embassy in Israel will be moved to Jerusalem! Al Franken resigns while child molester Moore gains traction in Alabama! The silver lining in all this seems to be a renewed progressive [...]
Pat Taub