Pat Taub
The Magic of Women’s Friendships
As I age I increasingly value my close female friendships. It’s comforting to grow old with women who can resonate with the challenges of aging and the settling in that accompanies it. I was reminded of the vitality of women’s friendships when I spotted these two old friends in animated discussion over lunch at a local restaurant. I asked to take their photo. They seemed delighted to oblige.
The Movie, Beatriz at Dinner
I saw this film last weekend. I had hoped for more than it delivered. The premise is that a Hispanic immigrant Beatriz (Selma Hyak), a massage therapist, drives to a gated community to massage the wife of the owner of a lavish oceanfront home. When Beariz goes to leave her car won’t start so she is invited to stay for their dinner party. One of the guests, a Trump-style billionaire, Doug Strutt (John Lithow) boasts of his hotels in undeveloped countries. Beatriz’s memory is jarred, recounting poor Mexicans Strutt unfeelingly displaced to build a hotel. She becomes unglued and takes him on. The class warfare has a dramatic pitch but lacks nuance and feels stock. I suspect we’ll continue to see more caricatures of Trump in popular entertainment.
Flower Lady at Market
This dear soul with her lovely roses is a fixture at the Wednesday Portland Farmer’s Market. I love the proliferation of roses on her blouse and apron. She let me take her photo but I couldn’t coax a smile out of her.
The Young Internet Generation
My grandchildren, Jane, 13 and Max, almost 12, flew from Chicago to LA to spend the fourth with their Uncle Jonathan, my youngest son. When he asked them what they wanted to do they went online and produced a list of donut places, a new cat café (just as it sounds), a Japanese clothing store and a soccer store. I don’t think Jonathan expected to be confronted with specifics. I’d love to be a fly on the wall for this visit.
Avocado Toast
This is the new breakfast craze, which is not yet as popular in Maine as in New York and LA. When I last visited Manhattan I had avocado toast with a poached egg, which I now regularly make for my breakfast.
Matthew Fox
The celebrated defrocked Roman Catholic priest and longtime practitioner of liberation theology and activism as a spiritual pursuit will speak in Portland tonight. I bought a ticket and will brave the predicted thunder storms to hear him, curious as to how old age his influenced his views.
