Red's Wrap
Happiness. It's relative.
Category: Aging in Abundance
There Would be No Tea with Mary Todd Lincoln
Mary Todd Lincoln had three of her sons die in her lifetime, the fourth had her committed, and, if that is not enough, she was holding her husband’s hand when he was fatally shot. During all of this, she was derided as a spendthrift,… Continue Reading “There Would be No Tea with Mary Todd Lincoln”
The Talk after the Talk
She had faded red curly hair and a sweetly joyful smile. I’d never met her before. She came up to me after I’d given a very brief talk about my experience with agism which turned out to be a tale about how the combination… Continue Reading “The Talk after the Talk”
The Week That Was
Let’s see. I wrapped up a project this week that involved working with a person who was the ‘other woman’ in a volatile relationship I had thirty-five years ago. I knew about her and she knew about me but I don’t know if she… Continue Reading “The Week That Was”
Where Old People Gather
Yesterday when I walked into the senior center where we were having a big meeting about moving the senior center to a new location, the smell of the place hit me in the face. There were a lot of people there, most smiling, many… Continue Reading “Where Old People Gather”
A Budding Centenarian Thinks about What’s Next
I’ve been working on where I fit. This sounds like a sad thing, a hapless thing, like I suddenly got disinvited from the cool kids’ table at lunchtime. Nope. I’m still egotistical even to think I am the cool kid. (That’s a recent thing,… Continue Reading “A Budding Centenarian Thinks about What’s Next”
Keep a Robust Rock in Your Pocket
This morning while I was walking at the dog park, a guy called me out of the blue to set me straight on a question I’d asked on Facebook. This was about an organization with which we had both been affiliated, me a while… Continue Reading “Keep a Robust Rock in Your Pocket”
I Haven’t Lost Everything but I Know Someone Who Did
In 1970, when my grandmother was in her mid-eighties and consigned to a nursing home because of her propensity for falling, my mother and her brother conferred about how to pay for her care. It’s not for me to say they had a variety… Continue Reading “I Haven’t Lost Everything but I Know Someone Who Did”
The Beauty of Baseball
The Milwaukee Brewers won their first National League playoff game against the Chicago Cubs today. It was delicious to watch for a dozen reasons, not the least of which everyone in Milwaukee hates the Cubs and their manager, Craig Counsell, a hometown boy, former… Continue Reading “The Beauty of Baseball”
When the Imperfect Fits Right
I like that we have to rinse out our coffee cups to have cocktail hour. I like that we have just two cups that have to serve all purposes. I like that I put my soap back in its wet box after my shower… Continue Reading “When the Imperfect Fits Right”
Durant’s First Trip to Michigan
We’re on the road in our own little wee way. Two old people and two old dogs. And a campfire. it’s lovely.
Snow Door | wisconsinacademy.org
Listen to Jan read her essay “Billy” presented on WUWM’s Lake Effect
Jan’s essay “At the Breakfast Bar” on WUWM Lake Effect
Jan’s essay “The Parish Hall,” on WUWM Lake Effect
“Fury Cannot Touch Me,” Modern Love, NYT, 9/29/11
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