Time is such a mind fuck! I do that same kind of mental mind math all the time (the 40's/80's conundrum comes up frequently). Hate to break it to your husband, but the young folks in my life do not think the 80s were cool, nor do they think many people who were young in the 80's are cool. They think we are old; therefore, by definition not cool. I feel we are in a weird, adolescent sort of spot right now. Too old to be cool, but not old enough to be cool. Because once we're *old* old, cool is possible again. (Like Betty White.) I like studying folks a little older than me, trying to figure out how I want to be, what kind of old I want to grow into. I love your perspective, and this was a fun read. Maybe some day our ashes will meet in the wind. 😊
That 40’s/80’s thing is a trip! He pointed it out. Because of course he did. I remember Craig Ferguson used to always say on his show (addressing the “kids”): I’m just like YOU! You’re right, though—there is an age where maybe we become cool again. Betty sure was. I don’t know if I’ll live that long. And maybe our ashes will meet in the wind, but I hope we meet before then… ❤️
A happy story about aging: I called my aunt in California for her 90th birthday. She sounded great, her voice was the same even with a few medical issues. We talked for a bit, and then I asked her how old she felt inside. Long pause. She answered, "Not a day over 70!" It's all relative, and if we're lucky we get to die young as late as possible.
It is all relative! And I’m so glad you have longevity in your fam. We need you around for quite some time yet. Dying young late is the goal. How old do you feel?
So true! My husband recently returned from a big punk rock retrospective in Florida where long ago he played a major part in that scene and which led to his current career. Anyway, he said all the people reminiscing about old punk rocker times were also comparing notes about medicare. Ha! Geezers!
You’re so sweet. But it’s ok, even if I don’t leave a legacy. I won’t know, right? (Or maybe I will?) I did want to leave the world a little bit better than I found it, and I think maybe I have. I know you have. ❤️
You two are a pair! I’m doing an author conversation in May with a woman named Liz Scott, for her book You’re Going to Die But Not Me! And I think it’s right up your husband’s alley!
You guys are indeed very cute together, and I hate to tell him, but he definitely looks older than you! 😆 Sorry, man!
I’m actually 17 months older than my husband, but he looks years older than me – and I’ll take it. I definitely FEEL like I should be at least 20 years younger than I am right now, possibly even 30 years younger. But I am where I am and I am who I am! I don’t think I have to give up on life just because my age is a certain number – and I never lie about my age, I always tell people straight up. I’m proud I’m still here and doing pretty well! The only thing that’s annoying is being treated like “an old person” once people know what my age actually is. People consistently guess me to be at least 20 years younger than I am. I’ll take it. 😊 It does make me wonder sometimes if I should let people guess and then just take what they say and say “yeah, you’re pretty close.” 😂
Hahaha. I’m older, too, and it’s roughly the same span. I think once my hair turns completely gray, that might change. I never lie about my age, either. Hoping that that’s a good thing out in the world. No one should feel shame about that! Why would we? And your profile pic? You’re radiant.
In the doctor's office recently, I realized all the patients - about 5 - were my age. Top-40, '70's AOR was playing continuously. It suddenly occurred to me that we had all been teenagers together. We were all teenagers together fifty years ago, listening to this music on the radio, didn't visit doctors and now here we are.
It’s a gambling game for playing at funerals - you get all your friends to mark a twenty with their own initials and the name of the person in the group whose funeral you think will be next. At the next funeral, the ones who get it right share the winnings. He thinks he’s a genius.
What a great photo of you both! In Hawaii too!:)…. Just beautiful!! Aging…
I don’t remember my own mom talking about it.
An old friend attended a memorial for mom at age 100…yesterday. Her partner’s mom… lived in her own home and apartment.
Completely independent with no aches and pains.
It was a fall this year and brief stint in rehab, then briefly in assisted living.
That’s the way to go!!
Just for fun I am so old I had an apple 8 plus.
Bought a new 17e… and the MacBook neo both of which came out on 3/11… interesting that on 3/10 my phone looked bonkers and was not usable. The universe needed to update
my “software”.
I’m learning how to be my own best patient advocate.
Began at 65 and two months with blood cancer diagnosis… then heart . The universe also looked after me as I had just signed up for a Medicare supplement.
Your health is your most valuable asset!
I think I see two beautiful spirits here regardless of age .. young and healthy!
Stay that way and thank you for bringing joy and smiles through your writing,
Thank you, Lynn. For all of that! I’m so glad the universe has looked after you! You’ve had a lot of challenges. Nobody gets by unscathed (though your friend’s mom seems to have done everything right). A brand new phone and laptop—yay! I have seen the advertisements. Mine are both a few years old, and so far, doing fine. Glad you’re here. ❤️
I am your husband in this scenario. I do not wish to die, I do not wish to get older, and I am CONSTANTLY comparing myself to other people willing them to be older than me. He, however, is a much better poet.
The rapport between the two of you is everything. Loved this piece!
EVERYBODY is older than me! I look younger than my children! (HAHA no I don't that would be weird.)
David is reasonable and steady and understands that we all die eventually and that health is far more important than some stupid airbrushed beauty/youth ideal and I DON'T LIKE THAT BECAUSE IT'S SO REASONABLE. Of course he also never tires of reminding me that he's three weeks younger than me and never misses an opportunity to say "haha, I'm a year younger" during the interval between my birthday and his.
I don't know if astrology is your thing at all (it's not really mine but I've absorbed some rudimentary knowledge), but he's a Virgo and I'm a Leo, which actually explains a lot.
I like him. And astrology is minorly my thing (I have bits of knowledge and find horoscopes—the good ones (detailed and thoughtful)—fascinating). I’m a Virgo, too! And Stuart is an Aries. This explains a lot. And I am the elder in our marriage, by a year and a half. I ALSO round that difference! Currently, I am TWO years older, but very soon, will only be ONE year older… 😏
OMG - I am halfway through Eleanor the Great with June Squibb right NOW. I am loving it. And this pic of the two of you - so stinking cute. I want to start playing the Game "Dead or Alive" with Tom. I will love ya TTG - to the GRAVE baby - or in your case, to the ROASTER :)
Gah I just loved this whole thing. “This is not a safe space.” 🤣🤣 You’re the safest and best space and he clearly knows it. I loved his poem, too.
Haha. Awww. Thank you. ❤️ It was fun to write. (And he was quite pleased with his poem as well. It was the perfect coda.)
Time is such a mind fuck! I do that same kind of mental mind math all the time (the 40's/80's conundrum comes up frequently). Hate to break it to your husband, but the young folks in my life do not think the 80s were cool, nor do they think many people who were young in the 80's are cool. They think we are old; therefore, by definition not cool. I feel we are in a weird, adolescent sort of spot right now. Too old to be cool, but not old enough to be cool. Because once we're *old* old, cool is possible again. (Like Betty White.) I like studying folks a little older than me, trying to figure out how I want to be, what kind of old I want to grow into. I love your perspective, and this was a fun read. Maybe some day our ashes will meet in the wind. 😊
That 40’s/80’s thing is a trip! He pointed it out. Because of course he did. I remember Craig Ferguson used to always say on his show (addressing the “kids”): I’m just like YOU! You’re right, though—there is an age where maybe we become cool again. Betty sure was. I don’t know if I’ll live that long. And maybe our ashes will meet in the wind, but I hope we meet before then… ❤️
Yeah, me too.
Wonderful photo!
A happy story about aging: I called my aunt in California for her 90th birthday. She sounded great, her voice was the same even with a few medical issues. We talked for a bit, and then I asked her how old she felt inside. Long pause. She answered, "Not a day over 70!" It's all relative, and if we're lucky we get to die young as late as possible.
It is all relative! And I’m so glad you have longevity in your fam. We need you around for quite some time yet. Dying young late is the goal. How old do you feel?
So true! My husband recently returned from a big punk rock retrospective in Florida where long ago he played a major part in that scene and which led to his current career. Anyway, he said all the people reminiscing about old punk rocker times were also comparing notes about medicare. Ha! Geezers!
Hahahaha! It’s a balance. The dream and reality (and both can be true! at the same time!).
I love this piece—the sweet gentleness of you and your husband. You two are wonderful.
Awww, thank you, Sara! ❤️
You’re immortal, Wolf. Your art guarantees it. 🤍
You’re so sweet. But it’s ok, even if I don’t leave a legacy. I won’t know, right? (Or maybe I will?) I did want to leave the world a little bit better than I found it, and I think maybe I have. I know you have. ❤️
I know you have. Know it in my old bones. 🫶🏻
I love this and you ❤️
Awww, thanks, E. I love you, too. ❤️
You two are a pair! I’m doing an author conversation in May with a woman named Liz Scott, for her book You’re Going to Die But Not Me! And I think it’s right up your husband’s alley!
https://pierianspringspress.com/your-going-to-die-but-i-am-not/
YOU GET HIM. The title alone is proof. Passing this along… 😂❤️
You guys are indeed very cute together, and I hate to tell him, but he definitely looks older than you! 😆 Sorry, man!
I’m actually 17 months older than my husband, but he looks years older than me – and I’ll take it. I definitely FEEL like I should be at least 20 years younger than I am right now, possibly even 30 years younger. But I am where I am and I am who I am! I don’t think I have to give up on life just because my age is a certain number – and I never lie about my age, I always tell people straight up. I’m proud I’m still here and doing pretty well! The only thing that’s annoying is being treated like “an old person” once people know what my age actually is. People consistently guess me to be at least 20 years younger than I am. I’ll take it. 😊 It does make me wonder sometimes if I should let people guess and then just take what they say and say “yeah, you’re pretty close.” 😂
Hahaha. I’m older, too, and it’s roughly the same span. I think once my hair turns completely gray, that might change. I never lie about my age, either. Hoping that that’s a good thing out in the world. No one should feel shame about that! Why would we? And your profile pic? You’re radiant.
Awww, thank you! ☺️
"How the 80’s were 40 years ago. (Gulp.)"
Yikes!
In the doctor's office recently, I realized all the patients - about 5 - were my age. Top-40, '70's AOR was playing continuously. It suddenly occurred to me that we had all been teenagers together. We were all teenagers together fifty years ago, listening to this music on the radio, didn't visit doctors and now here we are.
Ack. It’s sobering, isn’t it? 😳 Hope you’re ok.
So funny. I made the mistake of reading this to my partner who is now playing Dead or Sleeping and a new game he’s calling Who’s Next.
Hahahahaha. They’d get along famously. How do you play Who’s Next?
It’s a gambling game for playing at funerals - you get all your friends to mark a twenty with their own initials and the name of the person in the group whose funeral you think will be next. At the next funeral, the ones who get it right share the winnings. He thinks he’s a genius.
I'm sitting here laughing out loud. He may be right. He may be a genius.
What a great photo of you both! In Hawaii too!:)…. Just beautiful!! Aging…
I don’t remember my own mom talking about it.
An old friend attended a memorial for mom at age 100…yesterday. Her partner’s mom… lived in her own home and apartment.
Completely independent with no aches and pains.
It was a fall this year and brief stint in rehab, then briefly in assisted living.
That’s the way to go!!
Just for fun I am so old I had an apple 8 plus.
Bought a new 17e… and the MacBook neo both of which came out on 3/11… interesting that on 3/10 my phone looked bonkers and was not usable. The universe needed to update
my “software”.
I’m learning how to be my own best patient advocate.
Began at 65 and two months with blood cancer diagnosis… then heart . The universe also looked after me as I had just signed up for a Medicare supplement.
Your health is your most valuable asset!
I think I see two beautiful spirits here regardless of age .. young and healthy!
Stay that way and thank you for bringing joy and smiles through your writing,
Photos ,artwork and humor.
Thank you, Lynn. For all of that! I’m so glad the universe has looked after you! You’ve had a lot of challenges. Nobody gets by unscathed (though your friend’s mom seems to have done everything right). A brand new phone and laptop—yay! I have seen the advertisements. Mine are both a few years old, and so far, doing fine. Glad you’re here. ❤️
I am your husband in this scenario. I do not wish to die, I do not wish to get older, and I am CONSTANTLY comparing myself to other people willing them to be older than me. He, however, is a much better poet.
The rapport between the two of you is everything. Loved this piece!
Thank you! And haha. They probably ARE older than you! What’s David like? How does he view aging? Is he older than you?
EVERYBODY is older than me! I look younger than my children! (HAHA no I don't that would be weird.)
David is reasonable and steady and understands that we all die eventually and that health is far more important than some stupid airbrushed beauty/youth ideal and I DON'T LIKE THAT BECAUSE IT'S SO REASONABLE. Of course he also never tires of reminding me that he's three weeks younger than me and never misses an opportunity to say "haha, I'm a year younger" during the interval between my birthday and his.
I don't know if astrology is your thing at all (it's not really mine but I've absorbed some rudimentary knowledge), but he's a Virgo and I'm a Leo, which actually explains a lot.
I like him. And astrology is minorly my thing (I have bits of knowledge and find horoscopes—the good ones (detailed and thoughtful)—fascinating). I’m a Virgo, too! And Stuart is an Aries. This explains a lot. And I am the elder in our marriage, by a year and a half. I ALSO round that difference! Currently, I am TWO years older, but very soon, will only be ONE year older… 😏
OMG - I am halfway through Eleanor the Great with June Squibb right NOW. I am loving it. And this pic of the two of you - so stinking cute. I want to start playing the Game "Dead or Alive" with Tom. I will love ya TTG - to the GRAVE baby - or in your case, to the ROASTER :)
Eleanor the Great was wonderful. And TTG&B (and BEYOND) because that is how long I will love you!
Another great essay Wendy! Thank you!
Thank you so much, Kathy! I’m glad you’re here.
Delightful! It sounds like a fun combination, you and your husband’s mix of views.
It does make for interesting conversations! 😂