This was a perfect way to start my day. What an insightful and hilarious interview. I remember reading about Ben and Birdy when they were babies, and I’m so happy Catherine Newman can now buy a bagel with cream cheese like the queen she is. 💙
This made me laugh out loud: "and I was complaining to a friend how this car disrupts the pride I’ve always had in my scrappiness, and she was like, “Catherine, it’s a used KIA. I think you can absorb this car into your identity." Catherine's friend sounds like a gem!
Catherine Newman is just hilarious and heart-felt all the time! Reading her books is like hanging out with an excellent friend who never judges you and affirms all your silliest dreams! I love her so much!!
I drove a 2006 Hyundai Sonata until 2 years ago and driving a 2018 Honda Odyssey has been like a dream. Playing Apple Music and fitting all the cousins in the van, I don’t know why I was so reluctant to get a car from the last decade.
I love, love, love this author, Catherine Newman. I thought her two previous books, We All Want Impossible Things, and Sandwich, captured the joys and pains of midlife in the most excruciatingly exact and detailed way. Friendship, parenting, loss and reinvention. All there in gloriously touching and funny prose. She gives voice to a new narrative of this transition phase of life, moving from the 2nd to the 3rd Quarter of life, when so much change takes place, and we have so few models to guide us. (Although Sari is also working on this!)
Sari, you weren't in Lisbon this week were you? I coudda sworn I saw you in the street! I didn't think it likely, so I didn't yell out your name and be that crazy foreign lady aggressing the locals.
Where to begin? So much to relate to, things I've rarely seen in one essay. Like not drinking, polar plunges, pre-emptive grieving, frownies, identifying as scrappy, orienting appropriately with boundaries and connections in relationships and more. I feel like I just had coffee and lots of laughs with an old (not in age but in number of years as friends) friend. Thanks Catherine and Sari! You made my day.
"If I had it to do over, I would ask more questions and react more slowly so that I wouldn’t just trample all over everything with my longing for something that feels like justice or love but is actually maybe just self-righteousness and bottomless pit of want."
Definitely did not have time for this before work, but so glad I read it anyway, while impatiently awaiting my copy of Wreck.
After decades of raising three boys on a teacher and firefighter salary, we finally have breathing room in our finances. I love how Catherine describes this—we are so far from wealthy but much less vulnerable to the random flat tire or toothache now that could cause financial havoc back then. I want a world in which no one need stress in that way. 💛
OMG, I would like to submit my application to be Catherine's next imperfect friend because I LOVE HER. I will bring: a still impressive ass, but also an affection for poop and fart jokes. Complete confidence that I'm actually hotter than I was in my 20s, but also regular dismay when I witness myself in a mirror and realize that I'm staring at my mother's jowls. I mean, WTF?! When did THAT happen?? I will rewatch Reservation Dogs with you (endless times), happily and gratefully eat your eggs and toast at any occasion, gripe about how much I need a drink while joyfully not drinking, and laugh about how my used HRV makes me feel like the fanciest person that ever parked in the Wegmans parking lot. Though thank god I put a sticker on it so I could tell it from all the other basic cars, because I lose it regularly. Nearly as often as I would lose my head if it weren't attached to my neck.
Also, not being stupid broke all the time? What a weird and wonderful revelation that is. I wax and wane in and out of that state, and am currently on the wane. But it's useful to realize how little one needs beyond "stupid broke" to feel like you can catch your breath finally. Congratulations on that!
How have I not heard of Catherine Newman before?! Love her wry humor and relatable insights. Luckily, she’s a writer and I can go immediately to find her books!
I always enjoy the responses to your Oldster questionnaire, but Catherine’s comment about chaining herself and her “increasingly hairy asshole” to the White House if Trump takes away the $80 lifetime National Parks pass for seniors may be my favorite!
I love all Oldster interviews, but this is probably my favorite so far. So many nuggets of wisdom, great stories, embarrassing admissions openly and happily dished...and bonus points for the senior lifetime pass to the national parks mention, for which I already -- ahem -- qualify.
And this: "one student actually asked me once if I had been alive during the last pandemic—as in, the Spanish flu of 1918." HAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!!!
What a wonderful interview. Here’s to immaturity in one’s old age, which Catherine, at 57 you are far from.
I have 16 years on you and my red/grey hair comes down to the bottom of my butt. It’s the only ornamental thing about me but I still like it flying behind my motorcycle as I ride across the continent. And no, it’s not a Harley, they’re for old people.
I got my Eagle Pass for 10 bucks back in the Light Ages. 3 years later my wife paid at least $50. By the time you’re 65 they’ll be $250, if the National Parks have not been sold off for mineral rights. If that happens, there’ll be more than one hairy asshole pointing through the WH fence.
Yur guest says: "I am less proud about wearing makeup. Sometimes I feel like a little color on my lips, cheeks, and eyelids makes me look better. I have really mixed feelings about that."
I am always interested in what people getting older (everyone!) says about makeup. I have NO qualms (ZERO!) about wearing makeup at 85 years old and talk about it in one chapter of my book "GETTING OLD AND OTHER INDIGNITIES". I personally reject the notion that adding makeup makes me less authentic or less accepting of my aging face. After all, you add salt to the stew to make it taste better. Why not some mascara on these very light eyelashes to highlight my eyes, the window to my soul?
This was a perfect way to start my day. What an insightful and hilarious interview. I remember reading about Ben and Birdy when they were babies, and I’m so happy Catherine Newman can now buy a bagel with cream cheese like the queen she is. 💙
Right? Lol.
This made me laugh out loud: "and I was complaining to a friend how this car disrupts the pride I’ve always had in my scrappiness, and she was like, “Catherine, it’s a used KIA. I think you can absorb this car into your identity." Catherine's friend sounds like a gem!
I laughed at so many of the lines in here!
Catherine Newman is just hilarious and heart-felt all the time! Reading her books is like hanging out with an excellent friend who never judges you and affirms all your silliest dreams! I love her so much!!
Exactly.
I drove a 2006 Hyundai Sonata until 2 years ago and driving a 2018 Honda Odyssey has been like a dream. Playing Apple Music and fitting all the cousins in the van, I don’t know why I was so reluctant to get a car from the last decade.
And the bagel line, too! I was cracking up.
She’s hilarious. The books made laugh out loud several times.
I love, love, love this author, Catherine Newman. I thought her two previous books, We All Want Impossible Things, and Sandwich, captured the joys and pains of midlife in the most excruciatingly exact and detailed way. Friendship, parenting, loss and reinvention. All there in gloriously touching and funny prose. She gives voice to a new narrative of this transition phase of life, moving from the 2nd to the 3rd Quarter of life, when so much change takes place, and we have so few models to guide us. (Although Sari is also working on this!)
Yes! Well said.
Sari, you weren't in Lisbon this week were you? I coudda sworn I saw you in the street! I didn't think it likely, so I didn't yell out your name and be that crazy foreign lady aggressing the locals.
No, wasn’t me! Wish it were! I was in Porto in early Sept., but that’s the only time I’ve been to Portugal.
glad i didn't throw myself on you then... lemme know if you get to London.
Will do!
Where to begin? So much to relate to, things I've rarely seen in one essay. Like not drinking, polar plunges, pre-emptive grieving, frownies, identifying as scrappy, orienting appropriately with boundaries and connections in relationships and more. I feel like I just had coffee and lots of laughs with an old (not in age but in number of years as friends) friend. Thanks Catherine and Sari! You made my day.
<3
"If I had it to do over, I would ask more questions and react more slowly so that I wouldn’t just trample all over everything with my longing for something that feels like justice or love but is actually maybe just self-righteousness and bottomless pit of want."
HELLO I LOVE THIS THANK YOU
<3
Definitely did not have time for this before work, but so glad I read it anyway, while impatiently awaiting my copy of Wreck.
After decades of raising three boys on a teacher and firefighter salary, we finally have breathing room in our finances. I love how Catherine describes this—we are so far from wealthy but much less vulnerable to the random flat tire or toothache now that could cause financial havoc back then. I want a world in which no one need stress in that way. 💛
Yes!
OMG, I would like to submit my application to be Catherine's next imperfect friend because I LOVE HER. I will bring: a still impressive ass, but also an affection for poop and fart jokes. Complete confidence that I'm actually hotter than I was in my 20s, but also regular dismay when I witness myself in a mirror and realize that I'm staring at my mother's jowls. I mean, WTF?! When did THAT happen?? I will rewatch Reservation Dogs with you (endless times), happily and gratefully eat your eggs and toast at any occasion, gripe about how much I need a drink while joyfully not drinking, and laugh about how my used HRV makes me feel like the fanciest person that ever parked in the Wegmans parking lot. Though thank god I put a sticker on it so I could tell it from all the other basic cars, because I lose it regularly. Nearly as often as I would lose my head if it weren't attached to my neck.
Also, not being stupid broke all the time? What a weird and wonderful revelation that is. I wax and wane in and out of that state, and am currently on the wane. But it's useful to realize how little one needs beyond "stupid broke" to feel like you can catch your breath finally. Congratulations on that!
Love this, Asha. <3
How have I not heard of Catherine Newman before?! Love her wry humor and relatable insights. Luckily, she’s a writer and I can go immediately to find her books!
I really enjoy her books! Highly recommend.
Same! I just put Sandwich on hold at the library. Can’t wait to read it.
Same. Big miss- now on my personal hot list.
all Catherine Newman interviews are like another great book
I always enjoy the responses to your Oldster questionnaire, but Catherine’s comment about chaining herself and her “increasingly hairy asshole” to the White House if Trump takes away the $80 lifetime National Parks pass for seniors may be my favorite!
She’s so funny.
I will return to this interview so many times! CN is a national treasure, bless her.
Truly!
I love all Oldster interviews, but this is probably my favorite so far. So many nuggets of wisdom, great stories, embarrassing admissions openly and happily dished...and bonus points for the senior lifetime pass to the national parks mention, for which I already -- ahem -- qualify.
And this: "one student actually asked me once if I had been alive during the last pandemic—as in, the Spanish flu of 1918." HAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!!!
I really love this one, too.
What a perfect thing to read this morning, thank you both! I related to so much of this. And. Is I’m bumping my copy of Sandwich up the endless pile.
I really loved Sandwich and Wreck…
Well, that was a very satisfying read! Like a visit with a good friend, so thank you.
What a wonderful interview. Here’s to immaturity in one’s old age, which Catherine, at 57 you are far from.
I have 16 years on you and my red/grey hair comes down to the bottom of my butt. It’s the only ornamental thing about me but I still like it flying behind my motorcycle as I ride across the continent. And no, it’s not a Harley, they’re for old people.
I got my Eagle Pass for 10 bucks back in the Light Ages. 3 years later my wife paid at least $50. By the time you’re 65 they’ll be $250, if the National Parks have not been sold off for mineral rights. If that happens, there’ll be more than one hairy asshole pointing through the WH fence.
Yur guest says: "I am less proud about wearing makeup. Sometimes I feel like a little color on my lips, cheeks, and eyelids makes me look better. I have really mixed feelings about that."
I am always interested in what people getting older (everyone!) says about makeup. I have NO qualms (ZERO!) about wearing makeup at 85 years old and talk about it in one chapter of my book "GETTING OLD AND OTHER INDIGNITIES". I personally reject the notion that adding makeup makes me less authentic or less accepting of my aging face. After all, you add salt to the stew to make it taste better. Why not some mascara on these very light eyelashes to highlight my eyes, the window to my soul?
To each her own!