29 Comments
Mar 27·edited Mar 28Liked by Sari Botton

This is a guy I’d like to know. Can you imagine his stories?

I love his self-awareness. And his self-deprecating humor. He’s a gem. I’d love to be sitting next to him at a bar.

So much wisdom with no arrogance to go along with it.

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"Aging has taken away many of my elders, my mom and dad, and cultural heroes. But I keep myself open to have others fill those gaps in my life."

Having a lot of holes from missing people in my own life, this is great advice.

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author

<3

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Mar 29Liked by Sari Botton

I’m going to take it too. This made me realize that my Aunt left a giant hole (RIP 11/2023) and I have no more ‘elders’. Time to make some more friends!

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Mar 27Liked by Sari Botton

Love Will’s approach to aging: ‘on-the-cheap wardrobe-upgrade advice, which I’ve tried to apply, in my hapless way’ and ‘pleasures of moisturizing’ made me laugh. I had a Lou Reed mix tape that I played at the clothing store I managed (‘86-‘93). Most of my staff was fresh out of high-school and listening to the inane ‘80’s bands that their teenage friends liked. They hadn’t heard of Lou Reed before that or knew the influence of his music

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Mar 27Liked by Sari Botton

I would have asked him “How’s your hearing?” I think many older people who listened to a lot of loud music back in the day are nowadays experiencing hearing loss beyond what is expectable.

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author

Funny you should say that! This Friday's open thread will be about hearing loss.

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I am THERE for this one! I came up through punk rock in LA. The tinnitus.....

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Will is so cool, just as I'd hope him to be from his writing.

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author

He really is!

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This reminds me, fondly, of an ex of mine.

It’s weird to realize that the folks who I idolized in my teens because they were “real adults” in their twenties, out in the world doing real, adult things, are now in their sixties. And I still, sometimes, look at them like, Wow!

This felt like that.

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author

Nice!

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Mar 27Liked by Sari Botton

My word. This one is probably my favorite so far of this series. Hermes’ attitude emanates joyful acceptance. What an inspiration! Favorite answer: “Having to spend more money on haircuts and clothing to not look totally shabby.”

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Jul 19Liked by Sari Botton

LOVE THIS>>"I’m too much of a hedonist to be strict about anything dietary — at least until I’m forced too." YES! Everyone knows the worst years of your life are the ones at the very end. Why drag it out while depriving yourself?

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I recently discovered your blog and I’m so glad I did. There’s a wealth of knowledge hidden in each of these posts.

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author

Thank you for saying so

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Thank you for another fantastic and insightful addition in this series. Thank you, Will!

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We go to a music festival (Big Ears) in our town every year, and this year I decided on zero FOMO for shows that we missed and other people raved about. (Laurie Anderson being one of those!) It made it so much more enjoyable.

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Well I am not worthy.

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Thank you, Sari.

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Probably, I was right there with you "back in the day." The recording business, rubbing elbows with those struggling to air/share their gifts, finding my world; I wasn't a stranger any longer. A coward, I left it.

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Apr 3Liked by Sari Botton

We found a real gem here!

I was sometimes scared to grow older, but when I see people like him, I cannot way to experience everything in life and reflect upon it :)

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Absolutely love this question "Is there another age you associate with yourself in your mind?". Thoroughly enjoyed this read. x

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