Happy Year 3! I've been reading you for a year, lured in by your early Veronica Notes (I'm a sucker for a cute kitty). I really like your writing, hearing about your life. I'm about to turn 58 and feel like I'm leading the way in my office and in my life, for the women (and men!) in my circles. I don't take my relative good health for granted - I walk a lot and do frequent push-ups and core-work to ensure I keep my balance (I'm terrified of falls) and back healthy. If my mom hadn't gotten stricken with Post-Polio Syndrome, she would still be very active and mobile - all of the women in our family live into their 90s, so I have many good years ahead.
I'm hoping for early retirement (I'm very fortunate that my husband has a job that will net him/us a very good pension). 35 months to go!
We are also hoping to adopt a couple of kittens in the next month...send good vibes! And please give Veronica a scritch on the head for me. <3
Thanks so much for your posts - I love them! Enjoy your break and see ya when we see ya!
Congrats on 2 years, doubling your subscribers, and being back to work. I admire and look forward to your very human documentation of aging.
At 62 my battery luckily still charges to about 93% but I feel the heaviness in my legs climbing stairs or riding the bike up hills, especially compared even to two years ago. Fortunately the mind seems to work better than it did in my lunkhead twenties, though that's not saying much.
At the ripe old age of 74, yes, the body is definitely not what it was even 10 years ago, but there is nothing wrong with my mind and my zest for life is much better than it was even 10 years ago. I’ll take it. Moving On. One day at a time. Hugs 🥰
Hi there. It has been a while since I wrote anything but, I have been reading and following along through your thoughts, trials and tribulations. Things have been interesting in 2025. So far:
1. Got caught in an Internet online scam and got conned good. Retirement $$ is gone. Beware people, this was one cool and slick scam and it lasted months (since Feb. 2025) and ended when I tried to withdraw some of my profits at the end of July. Then, the scammers promptly disappeared.
2. Adopted a year old kitty at the end of March who I felt was in a bad home and I feared for her continued well being. She has fit in well with my 2 six year old kitties and the pecking order has been established. So, all is well on that front. Getting her fixed, chipped and vaccinated cost a bit though.
3. My desktop was giving me the “yips” and I am now going into a 2 year credit card debt and having a super duper new one built that the tech guy promises will last 10 years. Hopefully, it will be ready next week. Cannot wait!
4. I am now at the mercy of my dentist after not going to one for almost 6 years. He is trying to save what he can. So far, he is still breathing and relatively unharmed. Lol!
I turned 74 in May of this year. I intend to live my best possible years for the next 15 or so years. On both sides of my family, provided we do not commit suicide or drink ourselves into oblivion and drive our spouses to suicide we live well into our 90’s with no history of Cancer or Alzheimers. I do not drink and am going to live my best life from here on. I have not seen/heard from my husband for almost 20 years. I do not even know if he still walks this earth. I do not care as I know he does not care if I am alive or not. I have relatives in their 90’s who are doing well. I expect to do so too.
Life is what you make it. You can sit and whine and complain or you can lift your chin up and do the best you can. You Can Live! I spent too many years fighting with depression and hating everything around me. I will never go back to that. I will live life to its fullness, whatever comes. I have kitties to take care of too. I am their whole world and ALL they got. I will not let them down.
I loved this romp through your life so far. And I particularly liked the image of aging battery that can only recharge to 90% Such a great description of what I feel has been happening the past five years or so. Enjoy your time away.
You should enlarge a pic of this one and sign it bottom-right as Matisse would've.
I'm reminded of my original plaudits for this series of posts. And of the fact that women are my heroes, and have been since 1972, year of the John Lennon feminist anthem they don't dare play on the radio.
Re "this tragic era," I'm finding that anything I see, read or hear that contains the slightest bit of humanity lays me low. I look down through these hair-trigger tear ducts and I'm a puddle. I introduced my partner to Gilmore Girls the other night and I thought I was gonna have a nervous breakdown: no pedestrians were hustled into windowless white vans in Stars Hollow, groceries were affordable, people were pleasant and quirky, Lauren Graham's smile still stuns and boy have I ever set a low bar for the rest of the world.
For an hour there, life was so peaceful, so worry-free. It was like living in Canada.
Finally: how's this for honesty? Do you think that 85 years ago, a German could be overheard whispering to another German, "Every morning I set aside a few minutes to pray for the death of our leader"? "This tragic era" is becoming a real test of the power of prayer.
Adding my prayers to yours and I am not very religious but, man, you guys need some sort of divine intervention. Good luck and hang on, I am afraid the “fear ride” may just beginning. My university degree is in Political Science so I know how government systems work and the US system is scary and complex at best. Under your current administration, it is down right terrifying.
I just rediscovered "Gilmore Girls" with my 13-year-old and it's awesome. She doesn't have to get the now-obscure pop culture references to see what great writing is.
Casting & writing are 9 tenths of the law. Chemistry in the Netflix series is phenomenal, they haven't lost a step, and -- with the exception of Ed Hermann -- everyone's still alive! They haven't changed a bit. I urge everyone to at least sample it, for a look at a quaint kind of America that will never come around again.
I am a 3rd or 4th generation Canadian. You and all American citizens have my deepest sympathy. I wish there was more that I could do than give you my regards. Our government system may not be perfect but, man, your’s really sucks. Good Luck and hold on tight. Hugs from Canada. 💕🇨🇦🥰
Last night I gave it good to a woman who smugly said all we Americans have to do is quietly get through the next 3 years. As if all will just go back to "normal," and being silent and complicit will protect us! It sucks but some of us will go down fighting. Love Canada.
You will be very lucky if things go back to normal”normal” after the next 3 years. Look what has happened in less than a year. And I feel it is going to get only worse. Repairing the damage already done to your reputation on the world stage is going to take a while. The long held trust between the US and many countries is going to take quite a while to fix. As a Canadian, it will be a long, long while before I set foot in your country, if ever. And the Trump Presidency still has a long, long way to go. I am sorry…it should not have to be that way. Hugs. 🇨🇦
This was a lovely read, thank you. I’ll be following you into Club 65 in December
Welcome to the next level!
Happy Substack anniversary! I'm almost 53 (also a September baby!) and happy to have found you.
Thank you!
I like your cat mucho.
We’ve got some parallels for sure. I’ve subscribed. Enjoy your break.
Thank you for subscribing!
Happy Year 3! I've been reading you for a year, lured in by your early Veronica Notes (I'm a sucker for a cute kitty). I really like your writing, hearing about your life. I'm about to turn 58 and feel like I'm leading the way in my office and in my life, for the women (and men!) in my circles. I don't take my relative good health for granted - I walk a lot and do frequent push-ups and core-work to ensure I keep my balance (I'm terrified of falls) and back healthy. If my mom hadn't gotten stricken with Post-Polio Syndrome, she would still be very active and mobile - all of the women in our family live into their 90s, so I have many good years ahead.
I'm hoping for early retirement (I'm very fortunate that my husband has a job that will net him/us a very good pension). 35 months to go!
We are also hoping to adopt a couple of kittens in the next month...send good vibes! And please give Veronica a scritch on the head for me. <3
Thanks so much for your posts - I love them! Enjoy your break and see ya when we see ya!
Awwww, thank you! I also look forward to your wonderful posts.❤️
63 and always online!
Congrats on 2 years, doubling your subscribers, and being back to work. I admire and look forward to your very human documentation of aging.
At 62 my battery luckily still charges to about 93% but I feel the heaviness in my legs climbing stairs or riding the bike up hills, especially compared even to two years ago. Fortunately the mind seems to work better than it did in my lunkhead twenties, though that's not saying much.
At the ripe old age of 74, yes, the body is definitely not what it was even 10 years ago, but there is nothing wrong with my mind and my zest for life is much better than it was even 10 years ago. I’ll take it. Moving On. One day at a time. Hugs 🥰
Hi there. It has been a while since I wrote anything but, I have been reading and following along through your thoughts, trials and tribulations. Things have been interesting in 2025. So far:
1. Got caught in an Internet online scam and got conned good. Retirement $$ is gone. Beware people, this was one cool and slick scam and it lasted months (since Feb. 2025) and ended when I tried to withdraw some of my profits at the end of July. Then, the scammers promptly disappeared.
2. Adopted a year old kitty at the end of March who I felt was in a bad home and I feared for her continued well being. She has fit in well with my 2 six year old kitties and the pecking order has been established. So, all is well on that front. Getting her fixed, chipped and vaccinated cost a bit though.
3. My desktop was giving me the “yips” and I am now going into a 2 year credit card debt and having a super duper new one built that the tech guy promises will last 10 years. Hopefully, it will be ready next week. Cannot wait!
4. I am now at the mercy of my dentist after not going to one for almost 6 years. He is trying to save what he can. So far, he is still breathing and relatively unharmed. Lol!
I turned 74 in May of this year. I intend to live my best possible years for the next 15 or so years. On both sides of my family, provided we do not commit suicide or drink ourselves into oblivion and drive our spouses to suicide we live well into our 90’s with no history of Cancer or Alzheimers. I do not drink and am going to live my best life from here on. I have not seen/heard from my husband for almost 20 years. I do not even know if he still walks this earth. I do not care as I know he does not care if I am alive or not. I have relatives in their 90’s who are doing well. I expect to do so too.
Life is what you make it. You can sit and whine and complain or you can lift your chin up and do the best you can. You Can Live! I spent too many years fighting with depression and hating everything around me. I will never go back to that. I will live life to its fullness, whatever comes. I have kitties to take care of too. I am their whole world and ALL they got. I will not let them down.
There Ends the Lesson and my Sermon from Canada.
Be well Everyone and Take Care.
Joyce 💕👍🏻🇨🇦
Congrats on two years!
Glad you’re back to work and have doubled subscribers. You deserve a break so enjoy!
I loved this romp through your life so far. And I particularly liked the image of aging battery that can only recharge to 90% Such a great description of what I feel has been happening the past five years or so. Enjoy your time away.
Honesty, bracing as a cool sea breeze off PCH.
You should enlarge a pic of this one and sign it bottom-right as Matisse would've.
I'm reminded of my original plaudits for this series of posts. And of the fact that women are my heroes, and have been since 1972, year of the John Lennon feminist anthem they don't dare play on the radio.
Re "this tragic era," I'm finding that anything I see, read or hear that contains the slightest bit of humanity lays me low. I look down through these hair-trigger tear ducts and I'm a puddle. I introduced my partner to Gilmore Girls the other night and I thought I was gonna have a nervous breakdown: no pedestrians were hustled into windowless white vans in Stars Hollow, groceries were affordable, people were pleasant and quirky, Lauren Graham's smile still stuns and boy have I ever set a low bar for the rest of the world.
For an hour there, life was so peaceful, so worry-free. It was like living in Canada.
Finally: how's this for honesty? Do you think that 85 years ago, a German could be overheard whispering to another German, "Every morning I set aside a few minutes to pray for the death of our leader"? "This tragic era" is becoming a real test of the power of prayer.
Adding my prayers to yours and I am not very religious but, man, you guys need some sort of divine intervention. Good luck and hang on, I am afraid the “fear ride” may just beginning. My university degree is in Political Science so I know how government systems work and the US system is scary and complex at best. Under your current administration, it is down right terrifying.
I just rediscovered "Gilmore Girls" with my 13-year-old and it's awesome. She doesn't have to get the now-obscure pop culture references to see what great writing is.
Casting & writing are 9 tenths of the law. Chemistry in the Netflix series is phenomenal, they haven't lost a step, and -- with the exception of Ed Hermann -- everyone's still alive! They haven't changed a bit. I urge everyone to at least sample it, for a look at a quaint kind of America that will never come around again.
I am a 3rd or 4th generation Canadian. You and all American citizens have my deepest sympathy. I wish there was more that I could do than give you my regards. Our government system may not be perfect but, man, your’s really sucks. Good Luck and hold on tight. Hugs from Canada. 💕🇨🇦🥰
Aren't you kind to say so! We're excited about a Canada trip to either Toronto for TIFF or Montreal for the jazz festival.
Sooooo envious of your peace and quiet. What's it like, going an entire day without hearing "his" name? Sounds like Heaven.
Last night I gave it good to a woman who smugly said all we Americans have to do is quietly get through the next 3 years. As if all will just go back to "normal," and being silent and complicit will protect us! It sucks but some of us will go down fighting. Love Canada.
You will be very lucky if things go back to normal”normal” after the next 3 years. Look what has happened in less than a year. And I feel it is going to get only worse. Repairing the damage already done to your reputation on the world stage is going to take a while. The long held trust between the US and many countries is going to take quite a while to fix. As a Canadian, it will be a long, long while before I set foot in your country, if ever. And the Trump Presidency still has a long, long way to go. I am sorry…it should not have to be that way. Hugs. 🇨🇦