My two-year-old grandson approaches a big slide he’s never been down before. Tentatively, he starts to climb each rung of the ladder leading to the very top of the slide. As his distance increases from the safety of the playground floor, he periodically checks behind himself to make sure his daddy is still there. Reaching Continue reading

Next year is my 55th high school reunion. My husband’s too. Special to us? You bet. It’s where we re-met 44 years ago at our 10th reunion and married the following year. Our class has an active website and notifications pop into my e mail account announcing classmates’ birthdays, weddings and career updates. The biggest Continue reading

A few weeks ago I had the opportunity to be interviewed by Carol-Ann Hamilton, host of The Conscious Caregiver Show. An elegant interviewer and formidable wordsmith, she reminded me that the definition of Preserving as in Preserving Your Bloom (PYB) is maintaining something in its original or existing state, protecting, safeguarding or looking after and caring for. Carol-Ann also pointed out the meaning of my first Continue reading

There is no gentle way to say this: My husband and I lost three special friends within a two-week period. Their ages: 83, 72 and 65. Two had health issues, but their deaths were nevertheless unexpected. Both died in front of their wives – wives who had stood by their sides for close to five decades. Continue reading

I went for a walk in my old neighborhood recently – the one where I raised my youngest three sons. –  the neighborhood we moved away from thirteen years ago. I walk by the park where my sons went sledding and G-d knows what else they did – bingeing on beer, sneaking a smoke, hanging Continue reading

Caregiving is an opportunity to give back to those people in our inner circle who have given so much love, attention and effort into making us the people we are today. But caregiving can also suck the oxygen out of our bodies, mental well-being and souls. Ever been a caregiver? Or know you will be someday soon? Or watched Continue reading

No one seems very impressed with the picture I painted in my daily mixed media art class during my week stay at Chautauqua – except me. At first the blank canvas terrified me – reminding me of my initial gaze at the dashboard options of my newly leased car after driving a stripped-down Volvo station Continue reading

So my friend Tawny and I decide to go to a place in western New York called Chautauqua. To me, it’s adult summer camp, but with air conditioning and private baths. First dilemma: How many pairs of shoes to bring? Six pairs of shoes for seven days is ridiculous. I pare down to four. Second Continue reading

What happens when you have a demon that prevents you from enjoying life to the fullest? I had one and I managed to eradicate it from my life. Double click on this link to see how you too can “Preserve Your Bloom.” Iris Ruth Pastor 

Ever pondered – as yet another birthday looms on your horizon – how to live more fully and joyfully? Last week, I had a radio interview with Shawn Perry from Senior Zone. And we tackled that topic. You can listen to the full radio clip HERE. Keep Preserving Your Bloom, Iris Ruth Pastor