As I get older, I want to find opportunities for celebration–—dare I say it—of me. Like most others, my life has been filled with moments of joy and feelings of accomplishment, and times of grief and feelings of self-doubt. I have decided to find ways to increase the times for celebrations. I’m sure the negativeContinue reading “Half-birthdays and Other Opportunities for Celebration”
Author Archives: sherryderen
New Year’s Irresolutions
Like many people, at the end of every year I start thinking about making New Year’s resolutions. Losing weight and exercising more are among the top two resolutions made by people in the US, and I have made them too, repeatedly. Sometimes I make specific plans for achieving them, like a diet or an exerciseContinue reading “New Year’s Irresolutions”
Senior Dating Advice
I am not on the dating market, as my husband Doug and I have been married for 44 years and hopefully will be together for years to come. However, in my observations of seniors I have become aware of some Do’s and Don’ts for those wishing to date. This may occur for seniors who areContinue reading “Senior Dating Advice”
Downsize-Upsize
I have associated the word downsizing with life changes, like a reduction in the number of employees in a business or moving to a smaller home. Both seemed like actions that could lead to reduced costs and greater efficiencies. But the benefits are not always so clear. Several years ago I moved from a four-bedroomContinue reading “Downsize-Upsize”
Comforts of Life
As I get older, I am more aware of my “comfort objects.” These are items that I am familiar with and that I know I like. They help me feel relaxed and calm, as if my needs, and any hurts, are being taken care of. I find that just their presence is comforting, providing solaceContinue reading “Comforts of Life”
Shooting for 90
I have always been a logophile, a lover of words. I enjoy word games, I like learning new words, and my profession, as a research scientist, involved lots of writing. But I recently discovered that some numbers are becoming important in my life, especially the number 90. When I was a student, getting a gradeContinue reading “Shooting for 90”
What the Mets Mean to Me
Many people have written about what baseball means to them. As a senior, I am finding that I have become an avid Mets fan as I age. There are several reasons for this. The seeds for my baseball interest started in Brooklyn. Growing up there, I was a Dodgers fan, as was everyone else IContinue reading “What the Mets Mean to Me”
Lost and Found
My husband and I were well-published research scientists in careers spanning several decades. We both headed research studies related to substance use, with my work primarily focused on HIV/AIDS, and his on topics related to criminal justice. We have been married over 44 years, and with my recent retirement I was still in the earlyContinue reading “Lost and Found”
Never Me
When I was in my late teens and early 20s, still influenced by romantic fairy tales, I fantasized about meeting my prince. He would be handsome and very smart. And like me, he would support liberal political views. And he would never have been married before and would never have had children. He would loveContinue reading “Never Me”
Career Paths Not Traveled
I had a long successful career as a research scientist, lasting over 40 years. But before I got started, I had some short-term job experiences where I learned what I did not want to do. For example, when I was in graduate school, going for my Master’s Degree, I got part-time work so I wouldContinue reading “Career Paths Not Traveled”
Reflections on Aging 