Author: Iris Ruth Pastor

Four days ago, on January 1, we slid into home plate on the tails of the old year, 2023. In baseball lingo, I liken the first day of any new year to Opening Day of baseball season. No one would argue with the statement that 2023 was a challenging year and that those challenges will, Continue reading

To my dear sister, Lori, This week’s column is devoted to giving you advice to start off the New Year – which I am SURE you are so very anxious to hear. Being ten years younger, you’re probably quite sick of not only my advice, but gleaning wisdom from the host of experiences I have had Continue reading

How many times do we ask ourselves this question:Where did the time go? One of my sons sent me an early morning  text a few days ago asking that same question – prompted by the reality that that particular day his oldest child turned 17. I shared his disbelief. In our modern world, we have the Continue reading

I had an experience over Thanksgiving weekend that I’ve never had before. I had an opportunity to see a Broadway show before its official opening at the Belasco Theater in Manhattan.  The show was How To Dance In Ohio, a musical based on the Peabody Award-winning documentary of the same name that can, at present, be Continue reading

I crawled into bed at 4:21 AM – bleary eyed, exhausted and berating myself for staying up so late. Around 11:00 PM, I had been restlessly searching for something to binge watch. I came across The Golden Bachelor. I NEVER WATCH REALITY TV but something about the premise caught my attention: finding love for a golden-aged, widowed bachelor Continue reading

OkayOkayOkay I know I’m 76 years old.I also know that everyone in our day I notice more signs of aging on my body such as those “adorable” age spots popping up on my hands, neck and cheeks. The conundrum is how to dress fashionably funky without looking ridiculous at my advanced age. The first rule Continue reading

I can’t remember so many things:     When I last saw my sister-in-law JoAnn who lives in Israel     What I had for dinner two nights ago     What my husband and I did last New Year’s Eve I can’t remember:What I read about CBD and gummies to help the elderly cope with aging’s ills Continue reading

Oh, I get by with a little help from my friendsHmm, I get high with a little help from my friendsHmm, gonna try with a little help from my friends Paul McCartney and John Lennon finished this well- known ditty in mid-March, 1967 and it’s taken up residence in my mind ever since.  Getting by. Getting Continue reading

Thanksgiving comes early this year. Hence, this week’s column – dealing with getting in the right frame of mind and preparing ahead of time to ward off family issues. I don’t excel in the kitchen. No magnificently stuffed, basted and roasted turkey will ever emerge from my seldom-used oven to my gleaming Lenox serving platter – unless Continue reading

I am Jewish. I grew up in a very secular home, reluctantly went to Sunday School on Sunday and Hebrew School on Wednesday. I loved the sugary snacks served at break time and the boys in my class. The Hebrew, history and holiday lessons? I could take or leave. My mother knew no Hebrew, never Continue reading