If your extended family went away each summer to a cabin by the lake, a beach house or another special destination while you were growing up, you probably have a stable of vivid childhood memories: Gleefully swimming, hiking and playing board games wit… Continue reading
Group texts are a fast way for family, coworkers or far-flung friends to share news and make plans. In case you’ve never sent or received one, a group text connects people with some kind of affiliation to each other in some way to get the same text mes… Continue reading
When I got married for the first time 15 years ago, at 47, people asked me if it was going to be difficult to adjust to marriage because I was “set in my ways” or “used to so much freedom.” Those comments were disturbing, but I shrugged them off as jus… Continue reading
Editor’s Note: In April, we asked Next Avenue readers to submit their questions about dating and relationships after 50. We received many thoughtful inquiries that touched on a wide range of topics. This story is another in our six-part series called “… Continue reading
As the instructor was assembling foam dumbbells for her upcoming water aerobics class, I was grateful her busyness kept her from looking my way. Because I was wearing goggles instead of my eyeglasses, her image had a soft blur, as if she were a figure … Continue reading
What do you call an accordion player with a pager? An optimist. The old joke aside, the funny thing about the accordion is that this offbeat musical instrument remains a beloved part of our lives. It appears at family gatherings, and adds a perky laye… Continue reading
Four years ago, I was excited about my husband’s imminent retirement. I envisioned him cleaning the basement, repainting the house and cooking dinner while I was at work. Now he’s retired, and I realize the odds are better that the whistling forest ani… Continue reading
It used to be that the first thing I’d see each time I opened my credit card holder was my health plan ID. One day, I placed my fitness center ID on top of it. Now when I open the card holder, I grin, because at 70, time spent exercising in the pool is… Continue reading
(Editor’s Note: In the introduction to her new book, This Chair Rocks: A Manifesto Against Ageism, Ashton Applewhite, 2016 Next Avenue Influencer of the Year, describes why she’s fighting against ageism system-wide,why she’s inspired to change the disc… Continue reading
When Joy Leather, 56, of Waco, Texas, was diagnosed with breast cancer, finding a new boyfriend was not top of mind for the single mom. In addition to having cancer, she was also weighed down with grief. Her oldest brother, an aunt and her stepfather … Continue reading