When I was younger, I heard jokes about conversations among older adults that were “organ recitals” – meaning they were telling each other about pains and health problems related to their various body parts. I laughed at this expression. And like so many things I heard in my youth about what happens when people getContinue reading “The Organ Recital”
Author Archives: sherryderen
In Search of Praise
I recently watched some of the matches at the US Open Tennis championships, and couldn’t help thinking that some of the players’ behaviors were lacking in humility. During some matches, when a player won a particularly hard-fought point, or won the match, he or she would look up at the audience to receive their adulation.Continue reading “In Search of Praise”
Rediscovering my Yiddish
Yiddish was my first language. My Bubba, Devorah, was born in Poland, and lived with my family in Brooklyn since before I was born. She was almost 50 years old when she left Poland in 1933. She never learned English, so Yiddish was the language spoken at home. Bubba was a loving, caring presence, andContinue reading “Rediscovering my Yiddish”
Becoming an Older Older Adult
As the years passed after retirement, there were several clear signs that I was getting deeper into aging. After I stopped dying my hair, the gray showed up, and was quite obvious, as my natural (and dyed) hair color was a very dark brown. Over time, the gray has taken over more territory. No problemContinue reading “Becoming an Older Older Adult”
Conundrums of Aging
As I get older, I find that new conundrums—problems with no easy answers—are appearing. I haven’t sought them out, nor given them much thought during my life, but they have arrived, so face them I must. First, there’s the issue of energy decline. When I had the flu and RSV this past winter, I attributedContinue reading “Conundrums of Aging”
Playdates
I recently discovered a source of pleasure that I thought I had long left behind in my childhood. Playdates! When I was young I played some of the usual childhood games, like monopoly, punchball, cards, and many other activities I did with other children. But when I became an adult with a family and aContinue reading “Playdates”
Bringing the Past Into the Future
For much of my life, I looked forward to what was coming next. When I was in school, each year I eagerly anticipated the next grade; in the various places I lived, I looked forward to moving into my next home; and when I left a job it was usually with the feeling that IContinue reading “Bringing the Past Into the Future”
Changes Over Time: Some Limericks
What Is Happening? I used to be svelte and slim Full of energy and vim But now as I age I feel sadness and rage As I see my vitality dim How Did It Happen? As I teen I could eat with no fear My weight stayed the same every year But having a childContinue reading “Changes Over Time: Some Limericks”
Repurposing and Reimagining
I first started thinking about repurposing things when I talked with a friend about some books we were reading. She loves her Kindle, mainly for its portability and adjustable font size, and told me she no longer buys physical books. I have been revamping my apartment, purging some books I have no need for, andContinue reading “Repurposing and Reimagining”
Please Call Me An Older Adult, I Haven’t Been a Senior Since College
Most of my writing has focused on being a senior, and I never liked that label. I associate it with being in the last year of high school or college, and I graduated from both of those a long time ago. I have a grandchild who was a high school senior last year, is now a college freshman, and hopefully, inContinue reading “Please Call Me An Older Adult, I Haven’t Been a Senior Since College”
