When the Internet Is ‘The Other Woman’

At this point in my advancing years, I don’t expect wild, creative or frequent sex. I do, however, count on the morning kiss. By that, I mean the unarousing, but sweet, pressing of lips that my husband and I exchange to greet the day and each other. On… Continue reading

An Afternoon in a Cemetery

On an unseasonably hot day in June when the temperature was forecast to be in the 90s, I packed several bottles of water, snacks and a couple of books on death (conveniently, my shelves are full of them) and drove to Oakland Cemetery in a historic neig… Continue reading

My Marriage: Sexless With Benefits

In Lisa Taddeo’s new book, Three Women, she explores the sex lives of a trio of females, seeing how moments of passion altered their lives. My spouse should be included to make the book Four Women. Hers, however, would be a more celibate story, as woul… Continue reading

A Social History of Older Women in America

“If you’re getting older — or preparing to get older — knowing what’s happened in the past is important,” says Gail Collins. What’s happened? Well, throughout history, society’s views on older females have varied widely, even among women themselves, an… Continue reading

How Technology Has Changed Divorce

Thanks to technology, we can buy groceries online. We can search online for a job, a pet, even a spouse. And if for whatever reason that spouse doesn’t work out, we can go through the divorce process online, too. But when you’re divorcing, can a websit… Continue reading

The Tall Poppies Support Women Novelists

When health professor Ann Garvin, 58, of Madison, Wis. challenged herself to write and publish her first novel, she never imagined that it would spark a burning desire to become a career novelist. But in 2009, after two years of carving out stolen mome… Continue reading

A Visit to ‘Motherland’

“I have given you everything — You don’t know what I gave up for you…Who else could you possibly have in your life?” Mother and daughter. Rita and Elissa. In her new book, Motherland: A Memoir of Love, Loathing and Longing, Elissa Altman, a James Beard… Continue reading

How to Forgive When All You Want is Revenge

“Look at your stomach and your big ass,” my mother said with disgust, pointing at my belly. That hit me right on. Here comes another. “Who would ever want to marry you?” Is she done? I wanted to flee. Oh no, she’s got help. “Look, it’s Shamu. Shamu, th… Continue reading

Meeting Misty Copeland, My ‘Shero’

One day during the first week of March 2017, I noticed on my Facebook newsfeed that ballet dancer Misty Copeland was going to be appearing at the Union Square Barnes & Noble bookstore in New York City on March 21 to discuss her recently published b… Continue reading

A Little Culture is Good for Your Mental Health

Eve Hammond, 76, a retired scientist in the Bay Area, has a steady diet of museum and gallery shows, plays and/or concerts each month. She has also taken craft classes, from jewelry-making and pottery to mosaics, and is a member of a local museum. “Sin… Continue reading