Pat Taub
Thinking of My Sister-in-Law
I have great respect for Phyllis, my sister-in-law, who has been a lifelong activist for peace and justice. In the past three years she has suffered three hard deaths: her husband, her beloved brother, and her ex-husband, the father of her two children. I will hold Phyllis in the light this weekend as she marks the second anniversary of her husband’s sudden death. The photo is from 2011 when Phyllis and I attended an anti-war conference in Charlottesville, Va.
Queen of Hats
Portland’s Queen of Hats boutique has every variety of hat you could imagine: sweeping Kentucky Derby numbers, copies of ‘20’s cloches and even high-topped hats for men. When I popped in this week to look around, I persuaded Dorinda, the owner to let me take her picture as she was fitting a hat for her client, Barbara. It took a little coaxing because both women were apologetic about their aging faces. I run into this all the time, and do my best to reassure older women they are beautiful.
Street Scenes
On another Portland walk I took this photo of a woman who had just purchased strawberries from the farmer’s market, which, along with a take-out coffee, were her al fresco lunch. She urged me to buy some strawberries for myself, explaining they were “the last of the season.”
On the same walk I explored the Portland Art Museum’s new public park. It has an open entrance on High Street, making it very welcoming. I found the art a little overpowering for the small space, but it’s still a charming addition to the city. This photo is from the park. I failed to jot down the title. To me it resembles a giant Lego construction.
Off to San Francisco and Iceland
This morning I fly to San Francisco to spend a few days with two women friends to explore a possible collaborative book project. From San Francisco I fly to Chicago to meet my grandkids. The three of us are going to Iceland on a National Geographic Family Expedition. Look for Iceland updates on the WOW Facebook page.
