During Women’s History Month, the tendency is to celebrate famous women in the arts and politics, often ignoring those less famous women who have made an indelible impression on our lives. This year I’m celebrating Women’s [...]
Pat Taub
“The great challenge . . . is to keep awake the part of you that knows . . . what it means to be alive.” The Marginalian, February, 22, 2026 Trump’s devastating takeover of the federal government has awakened many here and abroad to the perils the U S faces. Authoritarianism merges with fascism at home. Injustice and inequality grow. [...]
Pat Taub
GUEST POST by MICHAEL STEINMAN I am 73. My white hair, tentative gait, and blue cane say so to others even when I don’t. No one snarls, “Hey, Gramps! Move it!” but even well-meant acts can be ungentle reminders. On New Year’s Eve morning I visited my local supermarket, paid for my groceries, and began to lift a heavy [...]
Pat Taub
In my wildest dreams I never imagined my elder years would be spent in a Fascist state where our basic rights are disappearing at lightening speed. Feeling depressed and at a loss for overcoming my despair, I remembered, when feeling out of sorts as a girl, my father would affectionately suggest, “Think positively.” Since I’d [...]
Pat Taub
GUEST POST by TONI KIEF I’m a writer. During the pandemic, I learned what writer’s block truly meant. So out of frustration, I took an online class, and David Sedaris said I should walk. I found that silly, but then I took another class where Dan Brown told us to walk. So, I started walking. I live in a growing small town, where [...]
Pat Taub
Count me among the countless fans and admirers of Diane Keaton who were shocked and saddened by her sudden death on October 11th. Her wide-ranging movie roles—from Woody Allen’s comedic sidekick to the tormented protagonist of “Mr. Goodbar” to the fiery journalist, Louise Bryant in “Reds”–along with her off screen life [...]
Pat Taub
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 where successful aging is defined in terms of a self-centered wellness regime. I find it even more irritating when successful aging becomes a competitive sport with a tendency [...]
Pat Taub
If you’re looking for inspiration in tackling a new artistic venture or reviving a project, then The Painted Ladies of Portland, Maine is your ticket. Recently I sat down with the five remarkable artists who make up The Painted Ladies, curious to learn how they came together and how they support one another in their artmaking. For them, [...]
Pat Taub
GUEST POST by MARY LOU MACKIN Before I retired my life was safe and predictable. I couldn’t imagine what it would mean not to work. I was responsible for a large publishing team, two demanding authors, and a product line that delivered the lion’s share of company revenues year after year. I was an adept problem solver. I flew under [...]
Pat Taub
One of the positives of aging is living an unhurried life with ample down time, offering opportunities for reflection. These moments have led me to conceive of aging in a spiritual context, giving my life new meaning. What do I mean by spiritual aging? It’s reframing ordinary moments as sacred, casting a gratitude perspective on relationships [...]
Pat Taub
In our increasingly unsettled times, I treasure my close female friends who offer support and solace for navigating the road ahead. When I told a friend I was blogging about women’s friendships, she good-naturedly commented, “If grown women had pajama parties, they wouldn’t need therapists.” She was referring to the close connections [...]
Pat Taub