Aging

  • The Ten Things on My Mind

    My recent stroke has compelled me to reevaluate my life and goals. Here are the ten issues I am most focused on. 10. Keeping My Sanity Have you ever been hit by a torrent of water from a fire hose?… Continue reading

    The Ten Things on My Mind
  • Wisdom Earned

    I recently celebrated my two-year anniversary of graduating from college at the age of seventy-five, with two degrees: an A.A. in English and a B.A. in English Creative Writing. Summa Cum Laude, baby.And so I’ve been thinking a lot about… Continue reading

    Wisdom Earned
  • Old(er): An Epic Journey

    Part Two “Eat Life like you’re starving. You may feel full at the end of the day, but damn, it tasted good.” antonio pedro ruiz I remember the moment I touched down at LAX Los Angeles Airport like it was… Continue reading

    Old(er): An Epic Journey
  • A Yankee Baseball Game

    My annual tribute to my father, Antonio “Tony” Ruiz. My father never took me to a Yankees game when I was a kid. That was the secret burden of resentment I carried for a long time. At some point before… Continue reading

    A Yankee Baseball Game
  • I Ain’t No Superman

    Man, I can’t catch a break. Hard living. First, my knee replacements. Both knees. Then, my recent brush with life-changing trauma, a stroke. It reminded me of my last body-slamming event: a blocked heart and the pacemaker implanted in my… Continue reading

    I Ain’t No Superman
  • Four Months

    Today marks four months since my mini-stroke. “We must be willing to let go of the life we planned so as to have the life that is waiting for us.” Joseph Campbell It seems so long ago, but it’s been… Continue reading

    Four Months
  • The Great Escape

    In a god we trustWhen I was ten years old, as I was praying during Mass performing my duties as an altar boy in the basement church St. Rita of Cascia, kneeling before the raised altar, the gold cross hanging… Continue reading

    The Great Escape
  • Smoke ‘em If You Got ‘em

    The first time I saw an American joint was when some guy in the high school gym asked me to pass one along to another guy on the other side of meThat guy seemed awfully anxious to get it like… Continue reading

    Smoke ‘em If You Got ‘em
  • Fat

    This is not a word to be thrown easily at anyone these days. I’m told it’s very disparaging. Obese is the proper term to use. Porky. Falstaffian. Overweight. Plump. Fleshy. Tubby. Roly-poly. What does it matter? We’re all getting to… Continue reading

    Fat
  • Old(er): An Epic Journey

    Part One I sometimes do everything possible to stop from getting old(er) denying the truth in front of me and trying to make life stand still Finding life is just too exciting to stop my body and mind from getting… Continue reading

    Old(er): An Epic Journey