Some Oldster-adjacent content to take you through the weekend. PLUS: "The Oldster Top 10," Cliff Chenfeld's monthly playlist of new songs for old ears.
I loved your comment about starting Oldster on a lark...that is so awesome. Yes, I left my stifling bureaucratic job and started my own consulting company in April 2020 and have never been happier. And then, a few months ago, I shifted again by passing on a huge contract which would have trapped me into full-time work to taking on a few casual gigs so I could remain nimble and travel whenever I wanted. The key thing for me is I now know I no longer can handle being on someone's else's schedule. That revelation for me was huge...NO MORE SCHEDULES!
I love that. Yes, I no longer want to be on other people's schedules! Congrats on the consulting company, and the good sense to pass on that contract. <3
I stopped buying stuff I didn't need once I discovered I already owned 10 pairs of black pants. Also began FaceTiming my parents (now 87 and 94) every day—a ritual we continue, even just a couple minutes to say hello or goodnight or what did you have for dinner.
Yes! Being stuck inside with all my stuff made me realize how much of it I didn’t want or need, and I donated several garbage bags full of clothes. I also started Facetiming with my parents—twice a day with my mom, starting when she was stuck alone in Florida for several months in 2020, a ritual that continues.
You are definitely a public service provider. I am delighted to have stumbled across your free-flowing style of presenting resources for sanity and strength.
I learned the resilience/tools I'd need to cope with what's happening now (my 18 year business and clients disappeared overnight when Trump/Musk decimated USAID) and recognize when I need to get some exercise or find a new way to deal with despair. I thought confinement was bad. This is worse.
My first reaction to this question was losing some of my FOMO, or at least quieting the impulse that I had to be part of everything, which is by definition impossible. Before March 2020, I felt like I needed to catch so many concerts, plays, museum exhibits, parties and networking events to be “au courant” - to hold my own in the conversation. For me, the “why” has changed. Now, there are weeks when in my non-working hours I can spend time gardening, cooking, or walking through a gorgeous state park in the Catskills, without the sensation that life is passing me by. In fact, the opposite is true. Time seemingly stops when I’m planting perennials or mulching, noticing the small changes in nature from week to week, previously obscured in a blur of self-imposed busyness.
The pandemic caused me to return to creative writing, starting with a weekly Zoom workshop run by a fabulous storyteller here on Cape Cod and then taking online classes with Grub Street. My hours as the marketing director of a regional symphony orchestra were cut back, so I had the time, once I stopped panicking. And then I realized that I didn't want to continue as a marketing director, having done it for nearly two decades. I got into marketing in the first place because I wanted to write, not because I wanted to manage people, deal with demanding sales people, or cope with colleagues who believed they could easily do my job better than me! So in 2021, I stopped being a marketing director. Now I'm a freelance writer, struggling to find new clients these days but otherwise thankful that I had a pandemic epiphany.
Thank you for putting so much time into this terrific round up. I have my reading cut out for me this weekend! (not counting the Will Shortz piece which I’ve already torn through.)
Love these roundups, Sari—so much good stuff here! Especially appreciated the piece on Bruce Willis and the Judy Collins poetry book. And the Oldster Top 10 playlist is fantastic (Sam Fender and Blondshell are standouts). Always amazed at your ability to curate content that feels both fresh and timeless.
There is very little I can say about the Covid period that was good. I became a hopeless couch potato. This did not make me lose weight (I was thin to start) but it did make me weak and lazy. It completely derailed my efforts to learn the cello, never to be recovered, and I absolutely hated my few remote college classes. The one good thing is it made the family members of my "pod," who I did continue to see on the same regular basis, even more dear to me. And, last but not least, my cat!
Thanks, of course, for the Lloyd-link (my aging idol), and especially the Cynthia Ozick story. I have been not-quite-getting-to-her since the late 80s, but oh, the brilliant command of language! Time, finally, to remedy that.
I was delighted to see your response to Dinner Party. I responded as well. Mine was about losing my job as a nonprofit movie theater manager. None of the staff was called back when the theater finally reopened and we were offered no explanation. This felt like a betrayal because the founder was an Oscar winning director know as a man of the people. I'm 70, but like to work, and almost 2 years ago I got a new job as a floor manager at an art museum. I love it! I'm still involved with the arts, and work with wonderful staff, volunteers, and patrons. Not as much celebrity, but no more egos.
I loved your comment about starting Oldster on a lark...that is so awesome. Yes, I left my stifling bureaucratic job and started my own consulting company in April 2020 and have never been happier. And then, a few months ago, I shifted again by passing on a huge contract which would have trapped me into full-time work to taking on a few casual gigs so I could remain nimble and travel whenever I wanted. The key thing for me is I now know I no longer can handle being on someone's else's schedule. That revelation for me was huge...NO MORE SCHEDULES!
I love that. Yes, I no longer want to be on other people's schedules! Congrats on the consulting company, and the good sense to pass on that contract. <3
I stopped buying stuff I didn't need once I discovered I already owned 10 pairs of black pants. Also began FaceTiming my parents (now 87 and 94) every day—a ritual we continue, even just a couple minutes to say hello or goodnight or what did you have for dinner.
Yes! Being stuck inside with all my stuff made me realize how much of it I didn’t want or need, and I donated several garbage bags full of clothes. I also started Facetiming with my parents—twice a day with my mom, starting when she was stuck alone in Florida for several months in 2020, a ritual that continues.
You are definitely a public service provider. I am delighted to have stumbled across your free-flowing style of presenting resources for sanity and strength.
So glad. <3
I learned the resilience/tools I'd need to cope with what's happening now (my 18 year business and clients disappeared overnight when Trump/Musk decimated USAID) and recognize when I need to get some exercise or find a new way to deal with despair. I thought confinement was bad. This is worse.
I hear you. <3
My first reaction to this question was losing some of my FOMO, or at least quieting the impulse that I had to be part of everything, which is by definition impossible. Before March 2020, I felt like I needed to catch so many concerts, plays, museum exhibits, parties and networking events to be “au courant” - to hold my own in the conversation. For me, the “why” has changed. Now, there are weeks when in my non-working hours I can spend time gardening, cooking, or walking through a gorgeous state park in the Catskills, without the sensation that life is passing me by. In fact, the opposite is true. Time seemingly stops when I’m planting perennials or mulching, noticing the small changes in nature from week to week, previously obscured in a blur of self-imposed busyness.
Love this. I moved a bit in this direction, too, and could stand to have even less FOMO driving some of my choices.
The pandemic caused me to return to creative writing, starting with a weekly Zoom workshop run by a fabulous storyteller here on Cape Cod and then taking online classes with Grub Street. My hours as the marketing director of a regional symphony orchestra were cut back, so I had the time, once I stopped panicking. And then I realized that I didn't want to continue as a marketing director, having done it for nearly two decades. I got into marketing in the first place because I wanted to write, not because I wanted to manage people, deal with demanding sales people, or cope with colleagues who believed they could easily do my job better than me! So in 2021, I stopped being a marketing director. Now I'm a freelance writer, struggling to find new clients these days but otherwise thankful that I had a pandemic epiphany.
That’s great. You got to shift gears. Love it.
Thank you for putting so much time into this terrific round up. I have my reading cut out for me this weekend! (not counting the Will Shortz piece which I’ve already torn through.)
My pleasure! Enjoy…
Thank you so much for including me!! I’m so honored! 🥰
A pleasure. Great piece. <3
❤️💜💚💙
Love these roundups, Sari—so much good stuff here! Especially appreciated the piece on Bruce Willis and the Judy Collins poetry book. And the Oldster Top 10 playlist is fantastic (Sam Fender and Blondshell are standouts). Always amazed at your ability to curate content that feels both fresh and timeless.
Thanks so much, Anton. :)
There is very little I can say about the Covid period that was good. I became a hopeless couch potato. This did not make me lose weight (I was thin to start) but it did make me weak and lazy. It completely derailed my efforts to learn the cello, never to be recovered, and I absolutely hated my few remote college classes. The one good thing is it made the family members of my "pod," who I did continue to see on the same regular basis, even more dear to me. And, last but not least, my cat!
So many great things to read here...can't wait to catch up on Judy Collins and Gilligan's Island...I'm at that age where you've figured my buzzwords
Ha ha. Enjoy!
Thanks, of course, for the Lloyd-link (my aging idol), and especially the Cynthia Ozick story. I have been not-quite-getting-to-her since the late 80s, but oh, the brilliant command of language! Time, finally, to remedy that.
And how ‘bout that cross-country solo flight?
I hear the Ozick book is over 700 pages! You have your reading work cut out for you.
I was delighted to see your response to Dinner Party. I responded as well. Mine was about losing my job as a nonprofit movie theater manager. None of the staff was called back when the theater finally reopened and we were offered no explanation. This felt like a betrayal because the founder was an Oscar winning director know as a man of the people. I'm 70, but like to work, and almost 2 years ago I got a new job as a floor manager at an art museum. I love it! I'm still involved with the arts, and work with wonderful staff, volunteers, and patrons. Not as much celebrity, but no more egos.