In previous postings, I’ve written about the environmental problems created by our obsession with cheap, disposable fashion (It’s time to dump disposable fashion). We’re finally realizing that we can’t keep buying and indiscriminately disposing of clothing without giving consideration to what becomes of the millions of pieces of unwanted items in landfill. As I was reading an article in the morning paper about how a designer…
The history and politics of 20th century China revolved around the three exceptional Soong sisters
The history of China in the twentieth century has always fascinated me. Several years ago I read a wonderful non-fiction family saga titled Wild Swans, Three Daughters of China by Jung Chang. It was the true story of three generations of women who lived during China’s radical cultural shifts from 1900 to the end of the century. The grandmother was a concubine with bound feet….
High maintenance has taken on a new meaning for baby boomers
Baby boomers have finally reached that age and stage in life we’ve all dreaded —when a major topic of conversation has now become our various ailments. It’s sad but unavoidable. We’re wearing out, getting rusty, past our best-before date. Our maintenance costs have risen dramatically and we require more frequent tune-ups to keep the old girl running efficiently. In the olden days, a high maintenance…
Elizabeth Strout speaks through Olive Kitteridge in a voice familiar to baby boomers
After reading Olive Kitteridge by Elizabeth Strout, I’ve concluded that it is possible to really enjoy a well-written novel despite a depressing theme and a thoroughly unlikeable main character. Strout has now published the followup book titled Olive, Again (which is on my To Read list) and since I’d never read the original Olive Kitteridge, I thought I’d better get up to speed by reading it first….
Love takes many forms and has many faces
The approach of Valentine’s Day has caused me to reflect on the value of love in our lives. I’m no expert on love but during the ten years before I married husband #1 and the seventeen years I spent as a single person between husband #1 and husband #2, I’ve had a lot of time (27 years) to reflect on the pros and cons of…
A big round of applause for Ali Wong
Ali Wong, comedienne and author of Dear Girls, Intimate Tales, Untold Secrets & Advice for Living Your Best Life falls into the same category as the writing of many other smart women I admire. Like Amy Schumer, Chelsea Handler and Broad City’s Ilana Glazer, Wong is totally without fear and without filters. Is it a generational thing that these women are so comfortable expressing themselves…