Agreed! But many women stop way short of their actual limitations and give in to perceived ones. A big part of the book is about adapting - keeping the elements of adventure like exhilaration and exploration but dialing the actual logistics to suit the situation. I interview a 64 yar old bird watching in a wheelchair. I walked through a suburban park with a hiker. Your 80 will look different than my 60!
I love this! I have lived my life in awe of my great grandmother, who at 53 decided she would go to college with her youngest kid (my grandmother) ... she did, Oberlin was the only place that would let them in together! .... and she lived to be 98, became a poet/writer/professor at Berea College in KY, and was still riding her bike to do her errands until not long before she died! Had she known about one wheelers she would have had one.
Oh I love this! I am not quite that coordinated or daring (I could ride my bike into Yellowstone, though!), but at 58 I have no intention of curbing my desire for solo travel and exploring. I get raised eyebrow reactions from certain people about my solo adventures (and I love how some folks turn to my husband and ask, “You let her do that?”), and I hope to continue defying expectations and my age. Rock on!
This essay is terrific! I've been a risk take/ adventurer for as long as I can remember. I always wanted to be a musician in a band but was always intimidated and thwarted at every turn. I have played guitar for decades but never with others. Three years ago I joined a bluegrass band and began to climb the steepest learning curve of my life. Today I play in time with my band mates, sing and play(very challenging) and am in charge of the sound system. It has been thrilling, humbling, terrifying and joyful. I will play music in a band for the rest of my life. I love it so much! Whenever I am at a social event and people ask what do you do - I tell them a few things and then mention I play guitar in a bluegrass band. The reaction is the same with all ages - impressed and instant awe. I never thought about it that way but it has been a fun side benefit. Now 68 years old, I'm just getting started!
Wow. My daily walks and occasional woodland hikes and regular 20-mile bike rides and walking the golf course (never a cart) seem, well, small time. :) Caroline, you are a dynamo. And not only do you hava a great story, but you offer a great, great, way to live. "Don't choose boring."
I was going to echo the hurrahs for female athletes of any age, but as a national park contractor and a search and rescue volunteer I can't applaud a BASE jumper at Yosemite. Parks are underfunded and staff beleaguered--reckless stunts put the jumper, rescue personnel, and visitors at risk. BASE jumping at Yosemite is gutsy. It's also selfish.
Love every part of this article! Thank you for the reminder to not choose boring; especially as the years keep slipping by faster and faster. Recently I've been feeling a new urgency with all that what I want to accomplish with the last third of my life. Feeling inspired and can't wait to read Tough Broad!
Whoa baby good job. I used to feel that way jumping my horses and competing on them but stopped in my late sixties and took up crusing around on a bike. A much better way to take in the scenary than in a car. I miss running but my kness after 35 years hate me and defy my will. Ironically I just got a pretty bad head injury falling off my chiropractor's table and ended up in the ICU!!! He should have caught me but sadly that didn't happen.....so you see danger happens in the moist innocuous circumstances. I plan to be biking again this Spring . Keep defying age darling and I'm doin' it with you
How much do I love everything about this piece?! I especially enjoyed her pitch-perfect predictions of how Millennials et al would think, judge and ultimately describe her on social media. Just SO good. I have always secretly wanted an (adult size) scooter myself - a candy apple red one.
Not the electric version, the kind you push along with one foot. Maybe I can now overcome my weenie-girl self-consciousness after reading what these kick-ass women are actually doing. Right now my idea of adventure is wearing funky shoes without the orthotics in ...
What a delightful, inspiring read! The writing is so vivid, I can see Caroline as she navigates every foot (pun intended) of her park journey. Tho my Segway days are behind me (thank you, brain aneurysms), the author's adventures remind that I can find alternative ways to Be Older Me in this youth-mania culture we live in. Note I said "older" - not old. Intentional difference. And THANK YOU for sharing Caroline's excerpt here. I'm buzzing and will remain buzzing for the day!
Agreed! But many women stop way short of their actual limitations and give in to perceived ones. A big part of the book is about adapting - keeping the elements of adventure like exhilaration and exploration but dialing the actual logistics to suit the situation. I interview a 64 yar old bird watching in a wheelchair. I walked through a suburban park with a hiker. Your 80 will look different than my 60!
I love this! I have lived my life in awe of my great grandmother, who at 53 decided she would go to college with her youngest kid (my grandmother) ... she did, Oberlin was the only place that would let them in together! .... and she lived to be 98, became a poet/writer/professor at Berea College in KY, and was still riding her bike to do her errands until not long before she died! Had she known about one wheelers she would have had one.
Oh I love this! I am not quite that coordinated or daring (I could ride my bike into Yellowstone, though!), but at 58 I have no intention of curbing my desire for solo travel and exploring. I get raised eyebrow reactions from certain people about my solo adventures (and I love how some folks turn to my husband and ask, “You let her do that?”), and I hope to continue defying expectations and my age. Rock on!
This essay is terrific! I've been a risk take/ adventurer for as long as I can remember. I always wanted to be a musician in a band but was always intimidated and thwarted at every turn. I have played guitar for decades but never with others. Three years ago I joined a bluegrass band and began to climb the steepest learning curve of my life. Today I play in time with my band mates, sing and play(very challenging) and am in charge of the sound system. It has been thrilling, humbling, terrifying and joyful. I will play music in a band for the rest of my life. I love it so much! Whenever I am at a social event and people ask what do you do - I tell them a few things and then mention I play guitar in a bluegrass band. The reaction is the same with all ages - impressed and instant awe. I never thought about it that way but it has been a fun side benefit. Now 68 years old, I'm just getting started!
And the assembled intoned: " FUCK YEAH! " 😁😂❤
Love this! So much of what you said here totally resonated with me. And on top of that, now I want to learn how to ride a one-wheeler.
Wow. My daily walks and occasional woodland hikes and regular 20-mile bike rides and walking the golf course (never a cart) seem, well, small time. :) Caroline, you are a dynamo. And not only do you hava a great story, but you offer a great, great, way to live. "Don't choose boring."
I was going to echo the hurrahs for female athletes of any age, but as a national park contractor and a search and rescue volunteer I can't applaud a BASE jumper at Yosemite. Parks are underfunded and staff beleaguered--reckless stunts put the jumper, rescue personnel, and visitors at risk. BASE jumping at Yosemite is gutsy. It's also selfish.
I love what this author has written, especially these words: the real peril for us as we age may be a sedentary life that lacks pizzazz and challenge
Love every part of this article! Thank you for the reminder to not choose boring; especially as the years keep slipping by faster and faster. Recently I've been feeling a new urgency with all that what I want to accomplish with the last third of my life. Feeling inspired and can't wait to read Tough Broad!
Get it girl! I’m happy to hear you don’t let age or gender conventions apply to you. It’s your life - no one else’s. Do what makes you happy 😃
Whoa baby good job. I used to feel that way jumping my horses and competing on them but stopped in my late sixties and took up crusing around on a bike. A much better way to take in the scenary than in a car. I miss running but my kness after 35 years hate me and defy my will. Ironically I just got a pretty bad head injury falling off my chiropractor's table and ended up in the ICU!!! He should have caught me but sadly that didn't happen.....so you see danger happens in the moist innocuous circumstances. I plan to be biking again this Spring . Keep defying age darling and I'm doin' it with you
As an 80 y/o fiber artist who golfs, bowls, does yoga and Tai Chi, i am very impressed. If I was in my 50s, I would definitely try an e board!
How much do I love everything about this piece?! I especially enjoyed her pitch-perfect predictions of how Millennials et al would think, judge and ultimately describe her on social media. Just SO good. I have always secretly wanted an (adult size) scooter myself - a candy apple red one.
Not the electric version, the kind you push along with one foot. Maybe I can now overcome my weenie-girl self-consciousness after reading what these kick-ass women are actually doing. Right now my idea of adventure is wearing funky shoes without the orthotics in ...
What a delightful, inspiring read! The writing is so vivid, I can see Caroline as she navigates every foot (pun intended) of her park journey. Tho my Segway days are behind me (thank you, brain aneurysms), the author's adventures remind that I can find alternative ways to Be Older Me in this youth-mania culture we live in. Note I said "older" - not old. Intentional difference. And THANK YOU for sharing Caroline's excerpt here. I'm buzzing and will remain buzzing for the day!
Fabulous