I'm Ruth. I taught third grade for thirty-one years, and I spent most of them
explaining myself to people who weren't listening.

My husband died six years ago. My children are grown and live in other states.
I live alone in an old house with a wooden porch, and I've learned to love it —
though it took four months of leaving the kitchen radio on before I got there.

This is a channel for the woman who has done a great deal of holding things
together. Each week I sit down and talk through one quiet thing: how to stop
explaining yourself, how to let a misunderstanding sit, how to grow older alone
without calling it lonely.

I'm not a coach and I'm not an expert. I've been wrong about most of what I now
understand, and I say so.

New talks Monday, Wednesday, and Friday. Long, slow, and best listened to late.

Whatever you're carrying tonight — set it down by the door. I'll leave the light on.