Just Doing Life
The Youngest of the Old People
Turns out there's a name for people in their 50s: the youngest of the old people. I didn't choose it, but I'm starting to think it fits. We're the scouts of aging, sent ahead to report back. And here's what we've found so far. We're in a strange in-between. We...
Same Laughter, New Chapter
This weekend, I watched one of my daughter's friends get married. Before the ceremony, the girls gathered at my house for cocktails, and the sound of their voices and laughter filled the rooms again. For a little while, it sounded like the old days. In April and May,...
The World Needs More Theo’s
I closed the last page of Theo of Golden by Allen Levi and immediately thought of my dad. I won’t give away the story, but I’ll tell you what stayed with me. Theo is an older gentleman who arrives in a small town and quietly begins changing people’s lives. He asks...
You’re Not a Faux Adult
You're Not a Faux Adult A client in her 20s recently used a phrase that stopped me: "I feel like a faux adult." "Like a faux fur jacket or faux leather pants?" I asked. "Yes!" she laughed. "Exactly." I knew just what she meant. She had a job. She paid her bills. She...
We All Need Mermaids
Every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday, my 82-year-old mom goes to swim class. Of course, moving her body is good for her health. But perhaps even more important is the chance to see her friends. It’s a playdate for her. These women have been swimming together for years....
The People Who Make The Drive
My oldest son coached his first game in his new role as the offensive line coach for a college football team. It’s a big step for him. He’s worked hard for this moment. The crazy hours as a graduate assistant, the missed events, and all the unglamorous parts of...
Gratitude With Nowhere to Go
Last week, I loaded up the car and drove my daughter eight hours away to begin graduate school. She’s been my buddy this summer. My sidekick, my partner in crime, the person who is almost always up for whatever I’m doing. When I pulled into the driveway after work,...
Her Gut Is Data
One of the most important things we can teach our daughters is this: Her gut is data. Not drama. Not overreacting. Not being "too sensitive". Not making a big deal out of nothing. Data. That uncomfortable feeling in her stomach when someone’s words don’t match their...
It’s Not About Being Young, It’s About Being Open
I turned 58 this weekend and the day before my birthday, I went to a music festival with my daughter. My first one. Not exactly where I pictured myself spending the final day of 57. It was loud. Crowded. Colorful. A little crazy. And wonderfully different from my...
The World Needs More Offensive Linemen
Last week my husband grabbed his whistle, found his clipboard, and started eating throat drops to save his voice. Just like that, football season was back. He coaches the offensive line. The big guys whose job is to make everyone else look good. They are the...
