I’m rarely in danger, but on the Sunday of Labor Day Weekend this year, it was nice to have a strong thirty-something-year-old man wrap his arm around me to keep me safe. John and Rosi had traveled from Oklahoma to Taos, New Mexico, for a long weekend getaway. Xenia, my fifteen-year-old, and I were takingContinue reading “Whitewater River Rafting”
Author Archives: Syra Ruehle
Baklava Near Disasters
I didn’t think that my annual baklava party was going to happen this year. I mean, there’s always a bit of anxiety over whether anyone will actually show up or whether the baklava will turn out. Too much baklava is always better because it can be frozen, but either too little or too much feelsContinue reading “Baklava Near Disasters”
Summer’s End
Esther, John Ben, Misha, and Vera have left for another semester of school. It’s been a great summer for seeing my grandkids grow. As always, I’ll miss the four of them, while cherishing the peace and quiet left behind. The living room is spotless. There are no little cars or baby toys scattered about, thoughContinue reading “Summer’s End”
Mystery of the Extra Key
People say you lose your keys when you get old. Last weekend I had an extra set of mystery keys plaguing me. Add to that forgetting where I was going and what time I was supposed to arrive, and tearing off my car bumper with a teeny-tiny overcorrection, and I was very glad to knowContinue reading “Mystery of the Extra Key”
ADHD?
Careless, thoughtless, forgetful, lazy, distracted, messy, impulsive, can’t handle helpful criticism without shutting down. These are words that people have used to describe me for most of my life. Other words sound better, like carefree, free-spirited, busy, interesting, fun…at least that’s the way I usually describe myself. People often tell me to try harder, andContinue reading “ADHD?”
Pirate Party 2026
If you had come to my pirate party, you would have had so much fun! Most members of the band had come to one of the multiple pirate practice parties and were feeling pretty good about the music. Everyone else came understanding that this was a participation-required party, and people who hadn’t the strongest voices were hopingContinue reading “Pirate Party 2026”
Lonely Spring Break
“The rise and triumph of the internet—the neurological network of the Machine—has meant that there are now few places on Earth to which we can escape from the incessant noise of this state-corporate ‘growth’ and the incessant urge to contribute to it by clicking, scrolling, buying, and competing.” Paul Kingsnorth My spring break this yearContinue reading “Lonely Spring Break”
Hospitality as Art
Hospitality as Art As much as I loved my time with Esther, John Ben, Misha, and Vera, I came home starving for art and missing my friends. My hands itched to hold my bow and touch the strings of my cello. I longed to create something. When I played my cello, after recovering from myContinue reading “Hospitality as Art”
Toddler Circuit Training
A couple of years ago, I gave my fitness app my motivation for being fit. I want to be able to play with my grandchildren. The app told me this week that I’m on track to reach my goals. It turns out that the best training for keeping up with a one-year-old is keeping upContinue reading “Toddler Circuit Training”
Welcome Baby Vera
I purchased my airplane tickets back in December to leave on January sixth and stay till the sixteenth. I would leave after teaching my calculus class Friday morning and arrive the day before baby’s due date on the seventh. The following week was a four day week to give the students a four day weekendContinue reading “Welcome Baby Vera”
