33 Comments
User's avatar
Dwight Lee Wolter's avatar

Ok. Perhaps “runners feel aging more keenly” - but I throw in my vote for knitters. Hell on the knuckles. Actually I vote for oyster shuckers in New Orleans. Or nursing assistants in assisted living facilities. Or cooks in grade school cafeterias. Or aging waitresses taking care of their live-in mothers. Or prisoners with security detail supervision while they are picking up garbage flung from vehicles on highways during summer heat. Running is optional. For many oldsters working isn’t. Aging ain’t particularly comfortable for most of us. But youth wasn’t particularly comfortable either. Letting go can be hell. It can also be heaven. Perspective matters. -Dwight Lee Wolter.

Sam Pyrah's avatar

Thanks so much for featuring my piece The Evening Run on the sorrow of not being able to outrun ageing! I am honoured to be in such great company.

Sari Botton's avatar

My pleasure, Sam. Great piece.

Debra L Eder's avatar

And that’s why I read your posts as soon as they pop up. So take good care of yourself, Sari.

Debra L Eder's avatar

Another amazing post from Sari! Do you get enough sleep?

Sari Botton's avatar

Thank you! (I do not sleep very much or very well.)

Debra L Eder's avatar

You’re certainly productive!

Sari Botton's avatar

It’s honestly one of the only things keeping me upright at this terrifying, heartbreaking time. <3

Maryjane Fahey's avatar

These are fabulous.

Sari Botton's avatar

Thanks, Maryjane.

Kimberly Diaz's avatar

Thank you for the links! Here are my suggestions--I'm going to see Pat Benatar and Neil Giraldo next month. I've seen them a few times already and to be able to go I have to travel two hours and take two unpaid days off from work but it will be worth it. They put on one of the best shows I've seen. Best classic rock concerts for me also include Alice Cooper, the Guess Who, Ringo Starr's Allstar Band, the Black Crowes and the Led Zeppelin tribute band, Kashmir. I haven't seen the one with Jason Bonham. I'm guessing that one would be amazing as well. I usually go to these shows alone because people don't want to spend the money but to me the experiences are so well worth it. Tip: If you like to dance like I do, get a seat in the very back row so you can rock out the whole time and not obstruct anyone's view.

Sari Botton's avatar

Oh, fun! Years ago we were given free tickets to an "Orchestral Tull" concert, and we went as a goof, but had a great time.

Kimberly Diaz's avatar

That sounds so cool. I'd love to see Jethro Tull in concert but so far never had the chance.

Sari Botton's avatar

It was equal parts inspired and cheesy!

Kristen's avatar

Love your Friday roundup of links.

“A belated happy 90th” is the correct way, not “happy belated 90th”

Sari Botton's avatar

Thanks, and for the correction. I’ll fix.

Kim Place-Gateau's avatar

Thanks for the mention, Sari! We're so thrilled and honored that you're joining us for the conference again this year. It's going to be amazing.

Sari Botton's avatar

I'm looking forward to it!

Chris J. Rice's avatar

Thank you

Fran Johns's avatar

So many great links . . . so little time. But I'll be trying, thanks!

Jane Trombley's avatar

Loved it all. Particularly moved by Dreifus piece.

Susan Martinez's avatar

Sari, are you involved in any other writer’s conferences? The one in Vermont sounds great but I can’t make that one. Wish you would head to Texas (Austin)!!

Sari Botton's avatar

Currently, no. But I’d love to have a reason to come to Austin! I’ve always wanted to go there. I’ll do a little research…

Kera Bolonik's avatar

Thank you, Sari!! 🙏🥰 Hope you get a lot of sleep this weekend xo

Susanna Donato's avatar

Kera, I couldn't finish your whole essay (at least I don't think? It said it was free, but then said to unlock, but it wouldn't unlock for me). But I loved what I could read! I was 20 in 1992 and dropped out of college in NYC that year due to unmooring, and my friends were always at Pyramid Club punk shows (not for me -- I was a (S)Limelight girl, sort of). I've never gotten so into Patti Smith's music, though I love her writing and her video missives, but maybe I'll have to dig back in!

Susanna Donato's avatar

Thanks so much! I just finished reading it -- so fantastic. That subway meeting ... I love it. So agreed about her gentle caretaking tone. Appreciate you making this post available! (I'm on a spending fast for January but gonna try to come back to your Substack after that.)

Kera Bolonik's avatar

Thank you so much!!!

Kera Bolonik's avatar

Oh weird, let me see if I can fix it. Dig back in — to her music, I mean. But also the post, lol, once I fix it. Thank you so much for reading!

Sari Botton's avatar

My pleasure, Kera. (And I hope so, too!) 😘

Katie Hawkins-Gaar's avatar

Thank you for including My Sweet Dumb Brain! There are so many good links to dive into!