sherryderen

Transitions

It’s been over a month since my last posting, and I think some explanation is needed. Several things contributed to this hiatus: I traveled to Moldova to visit my daughter who was working there, and went to family weddings in Florida and California. (All this travel occurred before COVID-19 changed our lives, hopefully temporarily.) ButContinue reading “Transitions”

Losses I Can live With

I started noticing it first with restaurants. Places I liked were disappearing. Several dates with friends at restaurants ended in disappointment when we found that the restaurant had changed ownership, cuisine, or wasn’t even a restaurant any more. My husband and I planned to have dinner at a restaurant in the West Village called “ElContinue reading “Losses I Can live With”

Microaggressions for Seniors

How can I help you, young lady? The salesman asked me. As you know, dear reader, I am lots of things—retired, sometimes funny, a list-maker, etc.,—but I am not a young lady. I certainly don’t want to be addressed as an “old lady,” but perhaps “madam” or just How can I help you? would do.Continue reading “Microaggressions for Seniors”

Better Late Than Never— Sometimes

I was up-to-date in my profession, always incorporating new ideas in my research and writing. But lately I have realized that I am slow in incorporating some new products or inventions into my life. There is a theory that categorizes people in terms of how quickly they accept or embrace new technology or new ideas.Continue reading “Better Late Than Never— Sometimes”

Act Your Age!

As a child, I remember parents and others telling me to “act my age” — usually when they thought my behavior seemed immature — sometimes when they felt I was reaching too far beyond what was appropriate for my age. But what does it mean to “act my age” now as an older person whoContinue reading “Act Your Age!”

Silver Alert

There they were, at least seven people in wheelchairs who appeared to be in their 60s-80s, queued up and waiting for the boarding call at LaGuardia airport for the flight to Fort Lauderdale. My husband and I were waiting for this flight too; we travel to Florida two-three times yearly to visit family. As IContinue reading “Silver Alert”

Unassisted Living

On a recent visit to Florida, I called an elderly cousin and learned that her telephone number had been disconnected. Fearing the worst, my husband and I drove to her housing development, where she lived with her spouse, and learned that they had sold their home and moved into a senior facility. Checking the locationContinue reading “Unassisted Living”

My First Walker

I recently had to get a walker for a short time period. I had two tumors removed from my thigh that were benign, and the prognosis is that I will make a full recovery. However, because some muscles were affected during the surgery, when I left the hospital I was given a walker as aContinue reading “My First Walker”

WORRY NOT

I have always been a worrier. I have worried about important things, like the illness of a family member, a critical project at work, or concern about a teen-ager being out too late. Worry or stress has been shown to be useful, and can signal you to avoid danger or get into action, so IContinue reading “WORRY NOT”

Managing Doctors

For most of my life the doctors I saw were older than me, and it seemed that was how it should be. I believed that their age brought experience and wisdom. When I noticed that the pediatricians who took care of my children were my age, that seemed fine too. Their youth meant they mightContinue reading “Managing Doctors”