Category Archives: aging

The problem with numbers

Posted on March 1, 2016 by stillalife

Many years ago, a colleague and I co-authored a textbook on math anxiety. Her specialty was math and mine anxiety. I went to a birthday lunch yesterday, which reminded me that my husband and I will both celebrate a high-numbered … Continue reading →

Posted in aging | Tagged , , , | 6 Comments

Stroll back through time

Posted on February 20, 2016 by stillalife

This year I vowed to throw in a few blog topics that are uncomfortable to write about.  I’ve told my fellow novelists that we have to push our characters to do things we would never do. I’ve begun to do … Continue reading →

Posted in aging, friends and family, memories, personal reflections | Tagged , , | 3 Comments

Online dating best left to the young

Posted on February 9, 2016 by stillalife

Rarely do I wish to return to my youth. Only when it takes forever for an injury to heal, or when my head tells me I have the flexibility, strength and stamina of earlier days and my body proves my … Continue reading →

Posted in aging, personal reflections | Tagged | 6 Comments

Finding inspiration in the life of a 95-year old

Posted on January 23, 2016 by stillalife

Meet my friend Eleanor. She’s a terrific writer, former teacher, advocate for the mentally ill at city, state and national levels, addicted thrift-store shopper (though she claims to have quit cold turkey this past year), patron of the arts, and all-around … Continue reading →

Posted in aging, inspiration, intergenerational, writing | Tagged , , , | 11 Comments

We didn’t really dress that way, did we?

Posted on January 8, 2016 by stillalife

I made it to the last day of an exhibit called Counter-Couture at the Bellevue Arts Museum, which allegedly “celebrates the handmade fashion and style of the 1960s and 1970s.” I went to be reminded of my life after college. … Continue reading →

Posted in aging, arts and crafts | Tagged , , , , | 4 Comments

“Fireworks in your brain”*

Posted on April 1, 2015 by stillalife

This is the first and probably the last time I’ll ever quote Marilyn Manson, but since my topic is music, this one fits right in. “Music is the strongest form of magic.” I’ve written about the positive effects of listening … Continue reading →

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Dear Diary…

Posted on January 21, 2015 by stillalife

*Dear Diary, “I walked home from school with Mary. We played at my house.  Then I practiced piano.” Ann (*reasonable facsimile of childhood diary) Lately, I’ve been thinking about journals, blushing about my own feeble attempts to fill even one … Continue reading →

Posted in aging, journaling, writing | 2 Comments

Seeing is believing

Posted on January 11, 2015 by stillalife

“Consider yourself ‘piratized,’” said the nurse as she finished taping a patch over my right eye. “I’m nervous about this.” “I’ll give you a pill to calm you and drops to numb your eye.” But what if the pill didn’t … Continue reading →

Posted in aging, health, technology | Tagged , | 5 Comments

Thinking about our legacies

Posted on December 22, 2014 by stillalife

Only four years after retirement, I sometimes think about legacies, asking myself, “Have I contributed to anything lasting?” When my mother turned eighty, I read the book, “How to Say It to Seniors: Closing the Communication Gap with Our Elders,” … Continue reading →

Posted in aging, changes after retirement, personal reflections | Tagged , , , | 2 Comments

Confused? There must be an app for that

Posted on July 14, 2014 by stillalife

In the past week I read about three free apps that help people who want to stay focused on one project for an hour or two, and avoid checking email or Facebook or Twitter or their bank account or “breaking … Continue reading →

Posted in aging, personal reflections, technology | Tagged , , , , , | 6 Comments