About
I wish I could write one of those narrow, focused blogs that everybody always says is the way to go – finding your niche, that is, so you can quickly build an audience and fame and fortune. Or something like that.
Instead, the Fabulous Geezersisters’ weblog is about politics, feminism, families, friendships, aging, health (with an emphasis on breast cancer, which I had 13 years ago, and Alzheimer’s, which my father is in the late stages of). It’s also about what I find funny, what I find poignant, what’s currently pissing me off. In the past week, for example, I’ve written about nude beaches, the now-impeached governor of Illinois, grief, my dislike of a particularly icky breast-cancer campaign, and my little problem of smuggling diet drinks into movie theaters so I won’t have to pay the $4 for them.
I’ve looked, but I fail to find a niche there.
Anyway, my sister and I were going to write the blog together, but she became too busy in her new work teaching English. So, it’s mostly me – Ruth Pennebaker, a 59-year-old writer who’s been married 36 years to a guy she still finds fascinating, even if she does want to clobber him now and then. We live in Austin with our emotionally unstable cat, Lefty, and the still-uncleaned rooms of our now-grown daughter and son. I also write for radio, magazines and newspapers and am working on a novel. My only hobby is yoga, but I do read a lot.
{ 15 comments… read them below or add one }
I am amazed at the clarity of life about which you write. The humor in spite of all the heartbreak reminds me of me so I’ll claim some of the nuttiness too. I am so glad we are cousins and that we finally found each other even if the visits are way too brief.
Love,
Paula
Ruth,
I first discovered you on NPR and have loved your stories. I wanted to invite you (although I am sure you get many invitations) to join my non-profit for a simple lunch (although I am sure you get many lunches, but ours is free).
The luncheon is a chance to learn more about our organization: Austin Groups for the Elderly (ageofaustin.org).
The luncheon is every 2nd Tuesday from 11:30am-1:00pm (next one is August 12th) at 3710 Cedar Street Austin TX 78705 in our Founders Room. We have a historic building and some fantastic programs designed to help non-profits and seniors.
Please let me know if you are interested in coming down and learning more about us.
Thank you
Christopher Leto
Building and Administrative Services
Austin Groups for the Elderly
This is really quite a remarkable sisterhood! I have a lump in my throat and I am welling up with tears. I look forward to reading more from both of you ladies.
I love reading your brave stories on this blog. I wish you would write more about Poland. My family is from there, although I have never been there. I would love to hear more about the country, its people, and life there in general.
Ruth,
Wish I had your email address. Sorry to reach you through comments.
I met you at BlogHer ‘08. In an effort to continue the comraderie we discovered at the conference, I have created a community for us- the Seniors and Boomers Community. It’s a place where we can stay in touch, become acquainted with each other’s blogs, talk about what we’re reading and writing, and we’ll have a place to go when we have blog/techie problems.
Please come join the Seniors and Boomers Community–our Community. http://seniorsandboomers.ning.com/
Frances Ellen
http://storyofnadia.wordpress.com/
Hi Ruth, Just a “shout out” to let you know how much I enjoyed reading your item, “They’re Just Not That Into Us Anymore” in the recent “Texas Observer.” As a native Texan, living away, I share your thoughts. What a breath of fresh air.
Thank goodness for people like you and The T.O. to keep “expat” Texan like myself reminded that our home state hasn’t gone totally “red” and crazy (we’ll it’s always been a little crazy, all that heat, I guess) and that there is still a bit of that refreshing “blue” to be found.
Anyway, thanks and keep up the good work!
Michael in Falmouth, Maine
I just discovered your blog via a Boomer blog.
Not since the venerable Jean Kerr have I enjoyed the female observation of life so delightfully written!
The RSS feed is a must for me!
Thank you!
I recently came across your blog from another blogger. Can’t remember who. I found your title interesting and had a fun time reading your blogs when I clicked thru it. I’m now a follower and have subscribed to your RSS.
Mei — That’s great to hear. Thank you.
Msg from a friend who reads my blog but emails rather than comments:
Who’s Ruth Pennebaker who quotes E. A. Robinson entire? Sounds like my kind of woman.
I did tell him he ought to write that in the comment box. Meanwhile I have passed on your blog url.
Hi,
I’ve missed reading you since you left the Dallas area although I’d get a wiff of you different places. Great to find your blog!
Charlene
Ruth,
Nice to see you also survived being in the employ of a certain university system. Any plans to come out to the real West Texas? I’m the editor of El Paso Inc. now and enjoy reading Texas Observer, and now your blog!
Wendy
Ruth:
Just saw your piece in the NYTimes and wanted to say ‘hi’! We met years and years and years (and years) ago, at a beach (maybe) meeting of social psychologists. I was a very young student, there with my future husband, Dave, and I met Jamie and you. (I think?)
Anyway, tell him I say “hi,” plus, I have a new book coming out next week, called “The Superior Wife Syndrome.” If you’d like to get a (free) review copy, let me know and I’ll see if I can get my publisher to spring for one!
By the way, your story about multitasking was funny and great!
Carin Rubenstein
Hello, Ruth.
Did I not just relish your article, ‘The Mediocre Multitasker’ in the New York Times; the language and the meaning. I am an amateur writer, which may be evident, who loathes—no, detests!—corporate, American, oligarchy. I am not intending, however, to write about that. Well, not much.
What I, too, found refreshing was the denunciation of their queer institution. Of many, a singular bane, peculiar to modernism, but—as I believe—peculiarly generated by corporations to extract more from humans than is humanely considerable, in smaller and smaller time frames, and, subsequent to their most recent contraction of the workforce, from fewer and fewer individuals. I think that generalises my meaning enough.
Otherwise—which is the motive for my response—I loved you writing style. I have not read more of it online (I am not much a fan of reading anything online, although I do love to write.). Notwithstanding, I thought your writing was elegant, fittingly—if at all, insufficiently—sardonic, and ideally intelligent.
If my email is not, also, hidden from your view you are invited to respond.
Hello, again, Ruth.
Subsequent to my recent post (minutes ag0) I did read some of your blog and have a query regarding your “silent sister’s” occupation in Poland.
Perhaps, a ponderous thing to submit, but I am only enquiring about referential data.
Loathing what I do as I do (previous comment) I am wont to emigrate. Because each of my ancestors of one generation ago were from Poland did that note on your site captivate my attention. Although I have begun investigations related to said ancestry, the possibility to teach English in Poland (converse to the less appealing versions in Japan/China/elsewhere) appeared as a surprisingly option.
Therefore, the enquiry—providing you are comfortable, and willing to reply with such information—is whether there is an agency to which your sister subscribed and, thus, was hired to teach there.
To wit: A facility to capitalize upon , perhaps, so to migrate. Providing what qualifications I possess would render that feasible.
If the request is not excessive, please respond.