What’s the first thing you do every morning? I used to stretch, touch my toes and listen to my Calm app. Now I instinctively reach for my I Phone to see what new disaster looms on the horizon.      The aftermath of Hurricane Ian…     The atrocities in Ukraine…     The January 6 Capital Hearings…    Continue reading

Poor me.  I live in Tampa and my husband and I were away celebrating our son’s 50th birthday in the New York area when Hurricane Ian barreled into Florida – headed straight for Tampa. Poor me. Lucky for us, Tampa was spared, but Ft. Myers and all neighboring locales took a massive hit.We couldn’t get a flight back Continue reading

My week was spent obsessively watching the news document Hurricane Ian’s progress as it barreled toward the West Coast of Florida.  We live in Tampa, but happened to be in New Jersey for my son’s 50thbirthday celebration. However, family and friends -who also reside in Tampa – WERE there.  The days leading up to and Continue reading

Years ago, I used to have a sidekick to my weekly “Incidentally, Iris” column called “Incidentals from Iris” – tidbits of information gleaned from a variety of sources.  I’ve never quite broken the habit of looking for the odd, the distinctive, the tantalizing and the interesting bits of news.  Here’s a few entries that have recently grabbed Continue reading

It was not what I expected.  It was surprising, gratifying and sobering. It was a reunion of sorts – my high school graduating classmates of ’65 celebrating turning 75 years of age. OUCH! The two evening get-togethers were greatly aided by the committee’s foresight in having our name tags not only sport our maiden names along with Continue reading

Some ABC’s of Being 75 A:Adult kids starting to parent ME B. BUYING LESS, savoring more C:Chair lift I put in for my elderly parents is now being used, not damned for its unsightliness  Compulsively cleaning closets – deciding what I will leave to whom Contemplating – just contemplating – getting a PYB tattoo and a Continue reading

September can be such a joyous month and, at the same time, such a cruel month. In nature, it marks the end of summer’s lushness and the beginning of fall’s crispness.  For me personally, it’s usually been a time of loss – so many family members I cherished and loved passed away in September.  September Continue reading

Where have all the children gone? Think of the song by Peter, Paul and Mary: Where Have All The Flowers Gone? The flowers went to graveyards. The children – our children and grandchildren – thank goodness – have not, but they are nowhere to be seen. I walk my neighborhood and see lots of garages filled Continue reading

46 Tidbits of Wisdom for Each Year I’ve Been Married My husband and I had a fairy tale beginning. We re-met at our 10th high school reunion over the 4th of July weekend, 47 years ago. The following year, we were wed. On Monday, August 15, we celebrated 46 years of wedded “bliss.” Here’s 46 Continue reading

I recently threw myself a 75th birthday party.  It took a little chutzpah – I’ll admit – but I quickly got over my misgivings at how giving myself a party appeared so self-absorbed and self-serving. And I had a great time planning it too: Venue. Table decorations. Menu. Party favors. Guest list. I started with neighborhood kids I Continue reading