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Why Aging Shouldn't Scare You
As a western society, we reveal a definition of aging that elevates the physical effects while possibly depleting the inward growth taking place, with many viewing the aging process as something to be grieved, ignored, or even reversed instead of displayed.
But You Look So Young
A friendly woman on the plane asks, “What school do you go to?” When I start to say I’m an engineer, I can already tell by the surprised look on her face what she’ll say. “Oh wow. Good for you. I thought you were still in college.”
Comforting My Mother-In-Law in Her Last Days
I waited until my mother-in-law left her kitchen to open the coveted junk drawer, the top one next to the sink, and stare at the five inch long twist ties all lined up on the right side. A multitude of colors: yellow, black, silver, green, red. Why would anyone save so many of those metal fasteners?
Losing My Mom to Dementia
During one of our daily chats, Mom told me that the funniest thing had happened to her at Target. Finished with her shopping, she couldn’t find her keys in her purse. She retraced her steps, no keys. Mom then walked back to her car which was running, and the keys were in the ignition. This was two years before she died.
My 40th Birthday (a poem)
This year / will mark the 40th trip I've taken / around our sun. / And I'll be happy to be one year older.
Planning My Retirement
Here I sit, pondering the end of this satisfying career. Is it the right time? Does attending a workshop make it happen since now other people know what I'm thinking? How does a person "transition" from one all-consuming career to retirement? Is there an emotional roadmap?
Another Year Older
I’m not very good at celebrating birthdays. I don’t really know why. I like the idea of it, but I’m not the socializing, party animal kind. For my last birthday I stayed in with my housemate and her partner. We watched a horror movie, projected onto the wall and ate an obscene amount of bad food and cake. We drank a fair amount of wine too. I mean, why not? It was my birthday after all.
Ageless is the New Gray
Women tend to become invisible as we age. The charm of graying temples is a term of endearment reserved for men. Our society is conditioned to equate beauty with youth, intrigue with speed, and attraction with shallowness. And as you age, you realize fewer people notice you.