Courageous Conversations at the Human Library

You can’t judge a book by its cover, but most people do exactly that with humans. “We so frequently do judge people by their appearances or their identity or their religion or gender — you name it,” says librarian Susan Lauricella of the Wilton Library… Continue reading

The Ethical Will: Life Is About More Than Your Possessions

When people find out Debby Mycroft helps people write ethical wills, she always gets a predictable response: The Lament. “They say, ‘Oh, I wish I had a letter from my dad or grandmother or great aunt,’ whoever that person was. I have not come across a … Continue reading

After a Serious Fall, a Closer Bond

My husband and I were in the shower together. He was washing my hair, something he’s never done before. I was moaning with pleasure, but not in any sexy way. There’s nothing erotic about a 55-year-old woman sitting on a plastic stool in the shower swat… Continue reading

Dave Barry’s Old Dog Teaches Him New Tricks

At 71, Dave Barry doesn’t shy away from comparisons to an old dog. In fact, he embraces them. Barry, a Pulitzer Prize-winning humor columnist and bestselling author, also realizes that his family’s beloved 10-year old companion, Lucy — who he writes lo… Continue reading

What Questions Do You Have About Dating?

At Next Avenue, we’ve heard from many single readers who would like to see themselves better represented in our stories. The fact is, not everyone is married or with a partner. There are people over 50 who are happily on their own, while others are cur… Continue reading

Reviving Friendships In Real Life

Former friends occupy an unusual place in our social orbits. We all have those people who knew us “when” — prom dates, pledge brothers, sorority sisters, college roommates, high school biology class partners with whom we dissected frogs. These are the … Continue reading

Best Ways to Handle a Long-Distance Flight

As more and more Americans over 50 venture to far-flung destinations like Africa, Australia/New Zealand and Asia, they have to contend with long flights, often in economy class. Besides the obvious health risks — developing a deep vein thrombosis (DVT)… Continue reading

Life With Cheeta the Chimp

The late Hollywood animal trainer Tony Gentry put it in his will that when he died, his best friend, Jiggs, who ­­he lived with and took care of for decades, was to be euthanized. Jiggs was better known to the public as Cheeta, Johnny Weissmuller’s com… Continue reading

Take a Walk on the Mall Side

Mall stores are shuttering, and David Brown is shuddering to think what mall walkers can do when the malls close, too. By title, Brown is a behavioral scientist with the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC) division of nutrition, … Continue reading