This was very thought provoking. It caused me to reflect upon my own passage into awareness, but more importantly got me thinking about personal challenge aging presents to friends and others close to me.
Thank you, Sari, for sharing yourself with the rest of us. For what it's worth, I think you're doing a good job of moving into what I now regard--as I prepare to move into my ninety-third year of it--inti life's most adventurous phase, There we begin to mount the pedestal of our widening perspective over where we've been going and reflecting on how we got there. You're also doing a great job of drawing us all into a singular community. Thanks for that, too.
As a newer reader of Oldster, it's nice to be sent this link in my email today, and check in with the original Oldster. (OO instead of OG?) Today's email (Oct 2, 2024) also provided a little bio and link to Sari's Gen X book of essays. Reader, I DID NOT KNOW about this book! Or perimenopausally forgot! So Sari, I would encourage you to lead with a mini note about yourself in each missive. Might get some book sales, but also help orient readers to who *you* are and why we should join you on this journey—not just what your interviewees say. I love Oldster, I'm buying the book, yay.
Thank you for ordering my book, Tiffany! I always feel awkward promoting my books etc. in Oldster, but I figure it would be okay on my bday. I should probably get over that awkward feeling, and just share my work...sigh.
Dude, it's a Gen X thing. And we are becoming dinosaurs! So, maybe we need to self-promote.
I spent much of my life in Portland and oh lord, was that a place where (old Portland, not the new one) no one felt like they were allowed to succeed, or promote their work, or anything. Elliott Smith started getting famous and we basically ran him out of town.
Personally I found the whole "Oh no, I can't promote the work" attitude less punk rock over the years and more... ... hm. It bred a kind of falsity I didn't appreciate, a humblebraggy or understated anxiety-modesty laced with fear, indirect communication (which can be troublesome for us neurodivergent souls), and passive aggressiveness. Those were all well-known qualities on the Portland scene.
Sometimes people end up promoting the work in a roundabout way that can make people feel excluded.
One of my more successful writer-editor-friend-colleagues refused any visible self promotion, social media, email newsletters --- for years. Behind the scenes they were clearly working hard, moving up, getting press, etc. A lot of us felt like we must not be in-crowd enough, because unless we ran into them or were a regular drinking buddy, and heard from them in person that they were, say, doing a Powell's reading -- we simply wouldn't know. If we were off raising babies or helping ageing relatives or working a boring day job or not being up On The Scene all the time, reading the relevant magazines and papers, and going to all the cool-kid events where we might run into said person... how would we ever know they won this award or were doing this event? So, just saying, the modesty can lead others to feel left out. Send us a damned link, a newsletter, help us feel looped in, especially when we are in a life phase where we can't possibly do the scenester stuff but we still care about our friends and acquaintances, their novels and bands.
And I am blathering and will stop now! Anyway. Hope you feel comfortable sharing links and wares with us. Seems like everyone in Oldsterlandia is on your side and would want to share in your successes.
You are so young and fresh! I look forward to your articles and summaries. Get in touch with me if you want to know what reimagination and reinvention of your life and mission looks like after 75.
I’d proud of you Sari, and where your love for writing has taken you. Congratulations on Oldster. But I have to laugh thinking you consider yourself an Oldster (I’m 71 this year!) You are forever young in my memory. Keep up the great work and don’t let the “regrets” creep up on you as the years pass. They suck big time!
So, so much if this resonates with me. Thanks for putting Oldster out into the world. I love it.
Funny I like you just the way you are and won't want you to change. Just saying. And I hope you feel more and more you as you age.
I love the photo of you at age 6. I’m sure you still have her confidence and charm.
💕
This was very thought provoking. It caused me to reflect upon my own passage into awareness, but more importantly got me thinking about personal challenge aging presents to friends and others close to me.
Thank you, Sari, for sharing yourself with the rest of us. For what it's worth, I think you're doing a good job of moving into what I now regard--as I prepare to move into my ninety-third year of it--inti life's most adventurous phase, There we begin to mount the pedestal of our widening perspective over where we've been going and reflecting on how we got there. You're also doing a great job of drawing us all into a singular community. Thanks for that, too.
Paul, thank you for these kind words! So glad you are a part of this.
Happy Birthday! What a beautiful reflective piece of writing.
Thanks, Maryjane!
As a newer reader of Oldster, it's nice to be sent this link in my email today, and check in with the original Oldster. (OO instead of OG?) Today's email (Oct 2, 2024) also provided a little bio and link to Sari's Gen X book of essays. Reader, I DID NOT KNOW about this book! Or perimenopausally forgot! So Sari, I would encourage you to lead with a mini note about yourself in each missive. Might get some book sales, but also help orient readers to who *you* are and why we should join you on this journey—not just what your interviewees say. I love Oldster, I'm buying the book, yay.
Thank you for ordering my book, Tiffany! I always feel awkward promoting my books etc. in Oldster, but I figure it would be okay on my bday. I should probably get over that awkward feeling, and just share my work...sigh.
Dude, it's a Gen X thing. And we are becoming dinosaurs! So, maybe we need to self-promote.
I spent much of my life in Portland and oh lord, was that a place where (old Portland, not the new one) no one felt like they were allowed to succeed, or promote their work, or anything. Elliott Smith started getting famous and we basically ran him out of town.
Personally I found the whole "Oh no, I can't promote the work" attitude less punk rock over the years and more... ... hm. It bred a kind of falsity I didn't appreciate, a humblebraggy or understated anxiety-modesty laced with fear, indirect communication (which can be troublesome for us neurodivergent souls), and passive aggressiveness. Those were all well-known qualities on the Portland scene.
Sometimes people end up promoting the work in a roundabout way that can make people feel excluded.
One of my more successful writer-editor-friend-colleagues refused any visible self promotion, social media, email newsletters --- for years. Behind the scenes they were clearly working hard, moving up, getting press, etc. A lot of us felt like we must not be in-crowd enough, because unless we ran into them or were a regular drinking buddy, and heard from them in person that they were, say, doing a Powell's reading -- we simply wouldn't know. If we were off raising babies or helping ageing relatives or working a boring day job or not being up On The Scene all the time, reading the relevant magazines and papers, and going to all the cool-kid events where we might run into said person... how would we ever know they won this award or were doing this event? So, just saying, the modesty can lead others to feel left out. Send us a damned link, a newsletter, help us feel looped in, especially when we are in a life phase where we can't possibly do the scenester stuff but we still care about our friends and acquaintances, their novels and bands.
And I am blathering and will stop now! Anyway. Hope you feel comfortable sharing links and wares with us. Seems like everyone in Oldsterlandia is on your side and would want to share in your successes.
I needed this! It has really helped me to read this. Thank you.
I’m so glad to know that!
You are so young and fresh! I look forward to your articles and summaries. Get in touch with me if you want to know what reimagination and reinvention of your life and mission looks like after 75.
Georgia, drop me a line at Oldstermag@gmail.com so we can get you a questionnaire or something...
I’d proud of you Sari, and where your love for writing has taken you. Congratulations on Oldster. But I have to laugh thinking you consider yourself an Oldster (I’m 71 this year!) You are forever young in my memory. Keep up the great work and don’t let the “regrets” creep up on you as the years pass. They suck big time!
Kathy, thank you! Hope you are doing well in Spain. Love to you and John. <3