Author: Iris Ruth Pastor

My first introduction to a pin was probably the ubiquitous  diaper pin, a necessity in the 1940’s for securing a cloth diaper in place on infants and roaming toddlers. I don’t remember mine, but my little brother’s diaper pins had powder blue plastic tops. Actually, the diaper pin was accidentally invented in 1849 by Walter Hunt. Apparently owing an Continue reading

We all look at the world differently – through our own little silo– impacted by past events and our present circumstances. This idea bopped me on the head as I listened to my Calm App one morning as Tamara Levitt related this tale:  Three blind men come across an elephant. Curious to learn just what an elephant Continue reading

The war in the Ukraine rages on. The photojournalist Heidi Levine is witness to the horrors in Bucha – a town of around 36,000 people, roughly 16 miles from Kyiv. Her photos report:     Bodies torn from bikes and then shot      Others, with arms tied behind their backs, mercilessly gunned down.      Civilians, living under bombardment Continue reading

The headlines scream:     Putin Exploits America’s Fear of Nuclear War     Russia’s Bombardment Grinds On     U.S. Sends Soviet Air Defenses to Ukraine      United States Will Welcome up to 100,000 Ukrainian Refugees     Putin is Targeting Civilians and It’s a War Crime My routine, however, continues uninterrupted:     8:40 AM:  I wake up. Roll Continue reading

Years after my mom passed away, I found her musings about ordinary days in her life. I thought I knew her well – now I’m not quite so sure. At age 88, she made a commercial aimed at securing funds for the Art Deco train station in Cincinnati and it passed resoundingly.    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CdPsYM8tl2Q She was the Continue reading

The desk is in my family room, I pass it at least 100 times a day.   And the green plastic folder was in plain sight.It was labeled “Beverly’s Writings” – thoughts my mother penned  through the years.     But, somehow, I never thought to explore its contentsuntil one rainy, cold Saturday afternoon.And I am very Continue reading

My sister and her husband just spent a week with my husband and me at our home. They left yesterday morning.  Due to her “influence,” my closet is fuller with more stuff that I have few occasions to wear.My checking account balance is lower due to buying more stuff I have few occasions to wear.And Continue reading

I was going to write about what is wrong with me.Why, at age 74, I’m not quite as motivated to go after new endeavors as I was just a decade ago – such as increasing the number of my Instagram followers and pursuing speaking opportunities now that COVID restrictions are eased.  I was going to write Continue reading

It’s all my best friend’s cousin’s faultShe came to visit my friend and insisted giving my friend lessons on her favorite new gadget: an Instant Pot. And my friend insisted I share in the experience. Part of me loves learning new things.The other part?  Totally resistant to venturing out of my comfort zone. Early one morning, in anticipation of Continue reading