Memory loss is a natural part of aging, and for most people it starts in the 50s. When I think of happy or pleasurable times in the past- whether with family, friends, or at work- I feel suffused with warmth and a sense of gratitude. Being able to talk about the memories with those whoContinue reading “Memories: Remembered and Forgotten”
Author Archives: sherryderen
Gender Differences Part II: Observations on Behaviors
In a previous blog entry, I wrote about gender differences in sensory capacities- vision and hearing. I knew it would be the first of several entries, because there are gender differences in other areas too, like some behaviors at home and on the road: Finding abilities Stories about primitive societies refer to gender differences inContinue reading “Gender Differences Part II: Observations on Behaviors”
Youthful and Useful: Changes in Meaning Over Time
I did it! After having my hair colored for many years, I am letting my gray hair grow in. When a few gray hairs showed up near my temples, I thought it looked attractive, and contrasted nicely with my dark brown hair. My friend said it looked like the gray was providing a partial frameContinue reading “Youthful and Useful: Changes in Meaning Over Time”
Testing: From Birth to COVID
The Apgar test for newborns wasn’t developed until after I was born. I’m sure if it were in use at that time, I would have worried that I might not do well. I always worried about how I would do on tests. Throughout my school career I studied hard, often cramming the night before anContinue reading “Testing: From Birth to COVID”
Props for a Closing Window
I started thinking about aging when I was in my 50s. What would I do once my children left home? How would I spend my time when I stopped working full time and my career ended? What would provide meaning in my life? I didn’t worry too much about it then because my life wasContinue reading “Props for a Closing Window”
The Time of My Life
As a verbophile, a person who loves words, I often enjoy thinking about words or expressions with multiple meanings. There are some expressions that change in meaning as I get older. The time of my life is a phrase that I think a lot about now. I am in the time of my life whereContinue reading “The Time of My Life”
Postponement Strategies
During my 50 year+ career, I was always task-oriented, whether there was a project at work to finish, or household chores to do. Time seemed, and was, very limited. There were always multiple tasks waiting to be done, so I worked hard to get each one completed as best and as quickly as I could.Continue reading “Postponement Strategies”
Shedding
I always associated shedding with something animals did, like snakes shedding their skin, or dogs shedding hair. I haven’t thought about it for humans until recently, when I became aware of my own shedding activities—the involuntary and the voluntary. The first to show up was hair loss. Since I always had thick hair, it wasn’tContinue reading “Shedding”
Gender Differences: Some Observations About Sensory Capacities
After more than forty years of marriage, I have concluded that there are differences between men and women in their sensory capacities. Visual field perception Research has found that men outperform women on spatial tasks, like visualizing how a 3-D object would appear if it were rotated in space. But there are other spatial tasks,Continue reading “Gender Differences: Some Observations About Sensory Capacities”
Still Among the Youngest
I never liked being the youngest of three children, with a brother four and a half years older and a sister eleven years older. As the youngest child, I always felt a bit of an outsider and I couldn’t do many of the fun things my older siblings were allowed to do. Also, I skippedContinue reading “Still Among the Youngest”
Reflections on Aging 