I made you a Friday Link Roundup to celebrate. PLUS: A special year-end edition of "The Oldster Top 10," Cliff Chenfeld's monthly playlist of new songs for old ears.👂
The tiny house community is an idea similar to the one a friend and I have been fantasizing about for a few years. It would be a Lit Ladies Lair -- we'd share a big house (with separate beds and baths for all) and hopefully with a swimming pool. Men would be allowed to visit but not for more than a few hours. Residents would be women of a certain age who want to live in beautiful surroundings and work on their writing without the pesky business of having a full-time job to survive. I'm not sure where it would be but it would have to be close to a city for access to concerts and trivia nights and such. Maybe North Carolina near some mountains... not too cold or too hot ...
Thanks, I hope we can make it happen soon. I'm so over trying to comply with the school system's insane ways. And my nurse friend is not loving the craziness of that world.
I like The New Yorker as much as the next person. As an oldster, the long form journalism pieces of 20,000-30,000 words require a commitment (time and focus) I can no longer make. I see Calvin Tomkins' father had the same complaint. Glad I am not the only one. Calvin's February 26 diary entry reads:
"We subscribed to The New Yorker when I was growing up, and I probably began looking at the cartoons when I was nine or ten. My father read every issue. He sometimes complained that the articles were too long. I remember him saying that he’d get to the end of a very long piece only to find that it was the first of five parts."
All good either way - seems like a mountain of work for you with or without extended comments. I usually check out Oldster with my quiet morning coffee before the day gets frenetic. I’ll often pick out one roundup link among the many and today it was Vincent O’Keefe’s on gift giving. I’ve always been a last-minute anxiety-filled shopper and could never quite get people like his mother in law who amassed gifts well before the decorations and snow ❄️ had arrived. But it did remind me of one thing that I started doing when my kids were small that saved my sanity: Keeping a small stash of gender neutral gifts, both because I didn’t believe in reinforcing boy-girl stereotypes but mostly because I’d never know whose birthday party I’d forget!!
Sari-I am just getting around to reading this post. And, I have much to look into from all of your goodness. I'm really happy with what you call-the minimalist Friday Link Roundup. I do appreciate all that you share with all of us on Oldster. Happy New Year !
Greetings from Sweden! Thanks for sharing the NYT opinion piece. What I recommend is Kate Winslet's directing debut "Goodbye June." I found the film so moving when I watched on Netflix Christmas Eve. I think it is a film everyone should see, so different, and conveying so much about the value of family. And Helen Mirren, like you have never seen her before.
Cheeky I know to point you in the direction of my own work in response to your invitation for Oldster-friendly recommendations... but you might be interested in a piece I wrote about having to come to terms with getting slower as you age from a running perspective. It was in the UK edition of Runner's World this month but is on my website here https://sampyrah.com/the-evening-run/
I read the New Yorker piece and it was so relevant to me. His wife is 27 years younger. I tried to find a contact for her but was unsuccessful. I want to know if she really takes it all in stride and with such generosity of spirit as he suggests.
The tiny house community is an idea similar to the one a friend and I have been fantasizing about for a few years. It would be a Lit Ladies Lair -- we'd share a big house (with separate beds and baths for all) and hopefully with a swimming pool. Men would be allowed to visit but not for more than a few hours. Residents would be women of a certain age who want to live in beautiful surroundings and work on their writing without the pesky business of having a full-time job to survive. I'm not sure where it would be but it would have to be close to a city for access to concerts and trivia nights and such. Maybe North Carolina near some mountains... not too cold or too hot ...
It's a great idea!
Thanks, I hope we can make it happen soon. I'm so over trying to comply with the school system's insane ways. And my nurse friend is not loving the craziness of that world.
Thanks for curating all this cool stuff, Sari! I'd be fine with the quick bullet points if that's easier for you, but either way works.
Thanks for weighing in, Deborah! I think I might return to my maximal mode for most editions, and keep it minimal for especially busy times.
I like The New Yorker as much as the next person. As an oldster, the long form journalism pieces of 20,000-30,000 words require a commitment (time and focus) I can no longer make. I see Calvin Tomkins' father had the same complaint. Glad I am not the only one. Calvin's February 26 diary entry reads:
"We subscribed to The New Yorker when I was growing up, and I probably began looking at the cartoons when I was nine or ten. My father read every issue. He sometimes complained that the articles were too long. I remember him saying that he’d get to the end of a very long piece only to find that it was the first of five parts."
Interesting!
Thank you. I loved the video.
Glad to hear!
All good either way - seems like a mountain of work for you with or without extended comments. I usually check out Oldster with my quiet morning coffee before the day gets frenetic. I’ll often pick out one roundup link among the many and today it was Vincent O’Keefe’s on gift giving. I’ve always been a last-minute anxiety-filled shopper and could never quite get people like his mother in law who amassed gifts well before the decorations and snow ❄️ had arrived. But it did remind me of one thing that I started doing when my kids were small that saved my sanity: Keeping a small stash of gender neutral gifts, both because I didn’t believe in reinforcing boy-girl stereotypes but mostly because I’d never know whose birthday party I’d forget!!
Smart! I keep a few little gifts around, and always have extra greeting cards on hand.
Sari-I am just getting around to reading this post. And, I have much to look into from all of your goodness. I'm really happy with what you call-the minimalist Friday Link Roundup. I do appreciate all that you share with all of us on Oldster. Happy New Year !
Thank you, Mary!
This was so juicy. Going to follow up on all this reading next week. And thank you for the mention Sari. Just love and appreciate what you are doing.
My pleasure, Maryjane. <3
Greetings from Sweden! Thanks for sharing the NYT opinion piece. What I recommend is Kate Winslet's directing debut "Goodbye June." I found the film so moving when I watched on Netflix Christmas Eve. I think it is a film everyone should see, so different, and conveying so much about the value of family. And Helen Mirren, like you have never seen her before.
Sounds great. On my list. Thank you.
Great, as Oldster and Sari always are.
💝
Cheeky I know to point you in the direction of my own work in response to your invitation for Oldster-friendly recommendations... but you might be interested in a piece I wrote about having to come to terms with getting slower as you age from a running perspective. It was in the UK edition of Runner's World this month but is on my website here https://sampyrah.com/the-evening-run/
Thanks. I’ll check it out.
Thanks so much for including my new memoir podcast in the Roundup Sari - and thanks for all you do with Oldster, one of my fave stops on Substack! x
My pleasure, Amy. Thanks for the kind words. 😘
I loved Marjorie Prime—so glad you got to see it. Interested to discuss more. It really hit me hard!
Your recommendation persuaded me! Would love to discuss…
When I’m next at my laptop I’ll send you a note so we can start chatting
Yes!
I read the New Yorker piece and it was so relevant to me. His wife is 27 years younger. I tried to find a contact for her but was unsuccessful. I want to know if she really takes it all in stride and with such generosity of spirit as he suggests.
Thanks for these lists, Sari.
So glad you enjoy them, Nancy. That piece really is something.
I don’t know if you know but my husband is 17 years older.
I think I’ve seen you mention that before.
Honored to be included!
It’s such a great piece. Made me want to turn in my Gen X membership card. Lol. Your sentence-writing game is beyond enviable, btw.
Thanks so much for including my essay at Motherwell in your list! I always enjoy the "Roundup" and usually read several of the recommendations.
My pleasure!