Aging and major health issues can get a guy down, but it only takes small act of kindness to keep me bouncing back. Last summer, I spotted my wife, Tanya, framing six colorful drawings on our bedroom wall. They were drawings of six bird species, including the Japanese Waxwing, Indian Roller, and the Elegant Pitta. … Continue reading
Crashing website. Overwhelmed phone lines. Workforce cutbacks. Hostile work environment. Trump has long said that changes to Social Security are entirely off the table. But just look at what Elon Musk and his DOGE team are doing to undermine it. Make no mistake about it, but the huge staff reductions (reportedly 10,000+) and planned closing … Continue reading
Time flies when you’re having fun, but little did I ever think that we Cooper siblings would get so darn old! That thought hit me like a ton of bricks this year when my three sisters and I could all call ourselves septuagenarians. Seventy. Who among us was really marking time all that closely, what … Continue reading
I’m honored that my book, “Fran’s Song,” is part of this selection. If you’re a dementia caregiver, you will find comfort and strength in these memoirs. With dementia, Mother’s Day is every day of the year. Get your copy of the booklet here. Continue reading
I’ve been on lockdown for over five months, so I’m entitled to a little paranoia. In fact, paranoia has become the norm. Stay home, public health officials say. Your age and underlying health conditions put you at high risk of contracting the deadly virus. If you do go out, they say, avoid closed-in spaces with … Continue reading
Old lives matter if we cherish and protect them. But do we really cherish and protect them when there is a shortage of personal protective equipment and tests at nursing homes? Many have already died, but must even more die? Do old lives truly matter if our community doesn’t have a mask mandate or enforce … Continue reading
I pledge my unwavering devotion to your well-being. I will strive hard to keep you stress-free. I will try to convert chaos to calm on your worst days. I will help you find strength of purpose on your best days. I pledge patience as you express deep-seated fears. I will serve as your confidante and … Continue reading
I had just spent 24 minutes on the phone with my friend, a fellow baby boomer, when I saw the New York Times article on April 9. Americans are phoning in record numbers during this terrible pandemic. My friend had suffered numerous bouts with pneumonia and was cut off from her children and grandchildren to … Continue reading
Others have returned to work, and I’m still self-isolating during the coronavirus outbreak. No complaints, mind you, because I’ve found ways to stay sane and to stay connected with others. I have a seven-point action plan that has brought fresh purpose to my life, and maybe it will yours. Here goes: Lift others’ spirits. Call … Continue reading
I entered the small post office branch on a lazy Sunday afternoon in late March. It looked deserted. Lucky me, I thought, since I’m freaking out over the coronavirus. Maybe I could get in and out without getting infected. I wore gloves but no mask. (CDC advisory had not yet changed.) But I wasn’t alone … Continue reading
Ron Cooper 