Another mass shooting erupts. This one occurs on one of the most sacred days on the secular caledary: the 4th of July.  The next day, I receive the following text from a family member, who is passing this text on from a teacher who had the shooter as a student in grade school:  He was very Continue reading

I now realize that when I’m stressed, I organize.When I’m upset, I stuff myself with cookies.When I’ve got something to say, I write.When I need reassurance that my brain is still working, I attempt CryptoQuips.When I want to tune out the world, I read.When I want to calm myself, I knit.When I want to distract Continue reading

I don’t know whether it is commendable or pathetic that on the eve of my 75th birthday, I am still perusing like crazy books on self -improvement and self-empowerment. I am still actively engaged in finding rituals and practices to improve my life.  While browsing at the fabulous Rizzoli Bookstore in New York City, I found a Continue reading

Father’s Day memories are most poignant when specific. I love it when every year my research turns up new narratives on dads and kids. The Washington Post Style Plus section in 1993 captured and subsequently published some readers’ reminisces about their dads. Here’s a few:  Dad never knew quite what to say to us kids — particularly the girls. Continue reading

I’m just coming down from my high mood after a wonderful family get together with four out of my five sons and their families.  As I was leaving, a family member gave me a very flattering compliment – centered on the fact that I brought my “A” game to the weekend festivities. I think this person Continue reading

The bridge to happiness is peppered with spontaneity. I’m 74 years old – if not now, when? So one lazy Saturday afternoon my good buddy, Francine, calls me to tell me she found some old National Geographic Magazines for 25 cents apiece. I had just texted her that morning that I was looking for just that for Continue reading

Below is an email sent out to the congregation  my son and daughter-in-law belong to in New Jersey. I thank my DIL Julie for forwarding it to me. In the wake of the horrors, this message penned by Rabbi Matthew Gerwitz speaks to our souls.  Copyright © 2022 Iris Ruth Pastor, Writer and Speaker, All Continue reading

At age 55, here’s a few things I’ve learned about MYSELF:     There is wisdom in being brief     Being moody cancels out being charismatic     Being explosively unkind cancels out being one of those people who prides themselves on making things better     I’m a better healer of problems of which I am not Continue reading

It’s a funny thing about first cousins in later life… Since I had two siblings, lots of friends and an intact family, my first cousins always seemed to play a minor role in my life.  When visiting my Michigan cousins growing up, I noticed that artifacts of our family’s history adorned their walls and table tops – Continue reading

Sunday is Mother’s Day. What I have found is that monthly (weekly? daily? hour by hour? minute by minute?) I tend to need a little encouragement in the arena of parenting my adult sons.   So here are some musings on motherhood to give solace, provoke your funny bone and remind you, once again, that whatever you are Continue reading