Life Lesson # 84: The Day Grandma Got It Off Her Chest
All of the girls whose names will never be known All of the girls whose choices were not their own All of the girls denied their share of the gold All of the girls, like cattle, bought and sold All of the girls who had to submit to a man All of the girls the boys could not understand All… Read More
The Flower: A Withering Life Lesson
“Beware of missing chances: otherwise it may be altogether too late some day.” –Franz Liszt “What is wrong with you? You killed it!” I looked at the blossom in my hands and felt baffled. Why was Grandma angry at me? An hour earlier she had visited the tiny garden I was semi-nurturing, studying my efforts…. Read More
Chaos In Your Soul…The Odd Truth About Why We Need It
You need chaos in your soul to give birth to a dancing star. – Nietzsche Pain. Happiness. Of late I’ve been thinking about pain and happiness more and more often. It seems natural to want more of the latter unless you’re into the S & M scene. Even then I guess the goal is happiness via pain. It… Read More
A Story Of A Child Who Died And Lived To Tell The Story
When we die we leave behind us all we have, and take with us all we are. – Author Unknown Have you ever heard a story that not only left you breathless, but opened to possibilities? A story that touched upon long-held beliefs? I have, and it happened a few days ago. I was sitting at the chiropractor’s office staring… Read More
Who Do You Trust With Your “Delicate” Menopause Questions?
“I’m what is known as perimenopausal. “Peri”, some of you may know, is a Latin prefix meaning ‘SHUT YOUR FLIPPIN’ PIE HOLE”.” ―Celia Rivenbark Questions. As peri-menopause, or later, menopause, comes upon us questions arise. Where did my memory go? Why am I feeling like I want to bite my husband’s/partner’s/friend’s head off? What is the difference between a hot… Read More
Late Bloomers…Putting The Petal To The Metal?
“You don’t have to remind a flower when it’s time to bloom is near; it has been preparing for it all of its life.” ― Matshona Dhliwayo Commuting sucks. During this past week, I’ve spent hours getting back and forth to work in Minnesota’s legendary winter weather. One of the few saving graces is listening to audio… Read More
Photo thought…
“One of the secrets of life is to make stepping-stones out of stumbling blocks.” –Jack Penn
The Wisdom of Bugs Bunny: How Carrots Can Help Women’s Hormone Challenges
“No disease that can be treated by diet should be treated with any other means.” ― Maimonides Over my blogging years, I have often mentioned health updates by Dr. David Williams. Especially when he has something of interest for women going through menopause or hormonal transitions. In this month’s newsletter, Alternatives, Volume 20, No. 1, January 2017, he writes… Read More
Focused On Life: When A Great Photographer Develops Laughter
“Taking pictures is like tiptoeing into the kitchen late at night and stealing Oreo cookies.” — Diane Arbus Mary is a quiet woman. The first time I met her, I knew I wanted to be friends, but she barely made eye contact. We sat somewhat uncomfortably in the dimly lit back row of the photography club meeting. However, it took… Read More
Agingschmaging: What Are Your Thoughts On Growing Older?
The aging process has you firmly in its grasp if you never get the urge to throw a snowball. ~Doug Larso The table was decorated for Christmas. You know, the kind of holiday embelishments created for easy clean up when people are milling, eating, drinking and spilling? There was a green plastic tablecloth, a gingerbread man encased… Read More
Christmas Ornaments: Emotionally Complex Shiny Things
“Christmas is the day that holds all time together.” –Alexander Smith My husband plunked down the container and, with a flourish of his hands, said, “Here you go.” He had made the brave journey into our crawlspace to retrieve the Christmas ornaments, and now it was up to me to do something with them. I stared at the box… Read More
“Because…†Why Not Sharing Is The New Black
 “What you didn’t tell someone was just as debilitating as what you did.†― Jodi Picoult,  “If you had a terminal disease, would you tell me?†I thought about it for a few moments. “Probably not.†Such was the start of a discussion between my daughter and I some years ago. She was in college and adapting to our… Read More
“‘Enough’ is a feast. Buddhist proverb
Happy Thanksgiving wishes from Aging Schmaging and Gail Gates!
When It Comes To The Flu Shot, Why I Choose Not
 “The art of medicine consists in amusing the patient while nature affects the cure. †Voltaire First things first. I am not trying to persuade anyone! My choices are just that. My choices. However, particularly around this time of year, I get asked if I have gotten the annual flu shot. I end up feeling slightly defensive when I look… Read More
Jagged Edges, Bleeding Memories: Love and Loss In The Second Half Of Life
“You will lose someone you can’t live without, and your heart will be badly broken, and the bad news is that you never completely get over the loss of your beloved. But this is also the good news. They live forever in your broken heart that doesn’t seal back up. And you come through. It’s like having a broken leg… Read More
“Eat & Get The Hell Out.†Another Foray Into Bad Customer Service
 “Customers may forget what you said but they’ll never forget how you made them feel. “ Unknown  “Eat and get the hell out,†is a playful slogan used by Bob’s Grill in Kill Devil Hills, Outer Banks, North Carolina (http://www.bobsgrillobx.com). The first time we drove by the sign I burst out laughing. I also noticed signs declaring “Dirty… Read More
Making Connections, Sharing Stories: Five Points On How And Why I Blog
“Don’t focus on having a great blog. Focus on producing a blog that’s great for your readers.†–Brian Clark I started my blog in 2011.  At the time I was working on my Masters degree, and knew I wanted to start writing for my target audience—women in the second half of life.  More specifically, I want to write for midlife women… Read More
An Open Letter From A Midlife Woman, With A Vote, To Politicians…
Dear Politicians, Do you want my vote? Yeah, I know I’m just one person and have a lot working against me to be noticed. I live in a fly-over state; I am an artist, I don’t contribute $$$ to any political candidate or party, and…I have a vagina. Hmmm, what else…Oh! I was raised to use compassion and common sense… Read More
October’s Silk Scarf Ambush Models…Teri Lou Dantzler and Lynette Sheppard!
I am super-duper, over-the-top, pleased to introduce Teri Lou and Lynette, my October silk scarf ambush models.  Both women are internationally known for their photography, and I was lucky enough to attend an iPhone photography workshop  hosted by them this past weekend.  When it comes to living vibrant lives, they are beyond inspirational.  Let me share a little about each… Read More
“If I Can Help You…” Art Fair Gratitude From Me To You
“We must find time to stop and thank the people who make a difference in our lives.†― John F. Kennedy 150 tents speckled the town of Marine On The St. Croix like puffy earth clouds. Instead of rain, however, the earth clouds contained artists, art, and hope.  Jewelry, paintings, photography, pottery, scarves, lawn decor, furniture, more…all made one by one… Read More
Forget Bette Davis Eyes! The Elephant Saw Into the Window Of Our Souls…
“As if my soul would burst the prisoned skin…†~H.W. Jeffree, Life: An Epic, “Book IV,” written 1861, revised 1874  Men walked by in all manner of kilts, tunics, and leather goods. Women, much to my husband’s delight, showed more heaving cleavage than a library dedicated to romance novel covers. In a world that tends to ban weapons where crowds gather,… Read More
Feeling Helpless: Midlife Suggestions On What To Do Or Say When Someone You Care About Is Hurting
“Too often we underestimate the power of a touch, a smile, a kind word, a listening ear, an honest compliment, or the smallest act of caring, all of which have the potential to turn a life around.†–Dr. Felice Leonardo “Leo†Buscaglia Ph.D. Earlier this summer our neighbor fell from the horse she was training and broke her neck. As… Read More
Midlife Woman Vs. Cat: Paws-atively The Best Part Of My Day
“Way down deep, we’re all motivated by the same urges. Cats have the courage to live by them.” —Jim Davis Our cat, Pudgy, is more than a little eccentric. What? A cat with odd behavior? Whoever heard of that? Yeah, yeah, paw-leez hear me out. Although Pudgy purrs and then bites, although she seeks attention and then hisses when she… Read More
Midlife Nibbles: Health Tips That Go Down Quick And Easy
“Being effective at social media, whether for business or personal use, means capturing people who have short attention spans. They’re only a click away from a picture of a funny cat, so you have to make your thing more compelling than that cat. And that can be a high bar.” Author: Alexis Ohanian Funny cat photo. Check. Midlife… Read More
Owning Our Feelings When The Popular Majority Sits In Judgment
“All of us sport an invisible sign around our necks — “AS IS.” It means, take me as I am. I may not become what you want me to be. And I’m far, far from perfect. But I have some great qualities, too, as well as my share of faults. You will have to take me “AS IS” and I’ll… Read More
Announcing September’s Ambush Silk Scarf Model…Peta (PAY-tah) Barrett!
“In 2012, I sold my talent agency and left the industry to pursue (as a business) my avocation and passion: sharing the wilderness experience with others through guiding and teaching in the great outdoors!” –Peta Barrett Life is full of serendipity! This past July, while attending the Ely Blueberry Festival, I had the privilege of meeting Peta. She is… Read More
Beauty: What Is Your Measure In The Second Half Of Life?
“They told me ‘advertising is for dreams, not reality, and women dream to be young.’ That was their reasoning. It’s wrong of course. Not all women want to be blonde, thin, and young. But that’s the image companies want to sell. And you always have to fight it.” –Isabella Rossellini, on being sacked by Lancome I guess I’m odd. I… Read More
A Midlife Woman’s Recipe For Determination:Where There’s A Dill, There’s A Way.
Beads of sweat formed on my brow. I was under extreme pressure and any former moments of glory faded like watercolors in the rain. (Thank you, Al Stewert, for that line.) Was I competing in an Olympic event? Um, no. Was I performing in front of millions? Nuh uh. Waaay more pressure than that. I.Was. Making. Pickles. So what? So… Read More
Aunt Bunny: Two Midlife Women, Two Drinks, And A Funeral
The waitress studied us with eyes full of curiosity. My sister and I were “out of towners” ordering drinks. Alcoholic drinks. At lunchtime. I looked around the room and noted most of the diners appeared to be locals in varying stages of life and work. Unlike us, however, they had ordered coffee, iced tea, or pop to go with their… Read More
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