I believe it is so important to not let a number determine how you feel about yourself. There is already enough ageism around us in the day to day. The pandemic prepared me for spending time with myself and learning to enjoy reading and doing watercolor and not depending upon others to include or exclude me. I am grateful for the perspective that I have at this age 76. Every day is a new first!
I feel much the same as you. I was made redundant at 60 and at the time here in the UK no one wanted people like me not even for menial tasks so I curled up a died then 8 months ago I woke up.I think more like a Phoenix I rose up out of the ashes and at 76 began my life again. I decided to write joined Substack and am about to start a new business aptly named The Yorkshire Fenix. We'll see where that leads. More power to your elbow.
As I head towards 60 in May, thinking about what it means or what I want it to mean for me, it’s refreshing to read that Susan doesn’t have a rigid mindset about aging. Except for health-related challenges, why should we?! The Library Book is still one of my favorite reads! Dry skin for the win🙌🏼
Enjoyed this so much! She has such a beautiful outlook and so very talented.
This really hit home to me - “…I rarely experience something now that doesn’t have some resonance with an occurrence in my past.” I , myself need to remember this.
Wonderful interview! To be honest, I hadn't heard of Susan Orlean before. Some of her titles sounded familiar, but also I've been alive for the same amount of time she's worked at The New Yorker ;). I added her titles to my Goodreads and am excited to dive into them, especially "The Library Book."
My favorite thing about listening to others significantly older than myself is all of their insecurities have subsided. They become the most rock-star badass women as they age because they truly stop giving any fucks. I appreciate that-- and it makes me look forward to growing old myself. I am still young with fears, insecurities (thought they've gotten MUCH better than my twenties) and am inspired by your share. Thank you, Sari, for capturing this wonderful chat!
Thanks for your post. I am 55 and feel much younger than my age even with rotator cuff problems and mild arthristis. I am an older mom as well. I had my son at 38 and I have always been the older mom but I don't feel like it. My son is 16 and most my people my age are becoming or are grandparents, we haven't even gone college shopping yet. I have very good mom friends that are 5, 10 even 15 years younger, but I don't feel the age difference. I think it has to do with where you are in life. Thanks again for writing this article!
Well,I found this riveting as I've just turned 69 and some of it I can totally identify with,some of it not but due to my different personality or character and cultural differences ie I'm in UK which makes more of a difference than would be thought but that could also be due to my social class too (quite near the bottom). And that is real,in real life reality despite our "egalitarian" society. I live only 35 minutes drive from King Charles country home of Highgrove near Tetbury but he's never yet invited me to drop in for a cup of tea! I'm joking,my next door neighbour hasnt either. Most people assume I'm aged between 48 - 52. I know this . And it's not a blessing,it's a curse. You don't.get offered a seat. You are assumed to be stronger and more vigorous than you are. And some of the people in your locality giving you the squinty old fish eye they think youre on welfare benefits not the state pension you paid in for. ( You know it's a Ponzi scheme really).
In 1960 when I was 5 old people all had white hair,they had wrinkly faces,they used a walking stick. They dressed like proper old people,the men and the ladies. BUT (in my east Bristol working class locality) no old person had DEMENTIA. They were all sharp as tacks,wits quicker then a winning greyhound and in a second could bring down any pretentiousness with a blood drawing sharp word,quick as a knife.
The old people of my childhood they were fearless and up to anyone and no one got the better of em.
I often wish I could be a "proper" old person instead of a sort of superannuated teenager. So that's what I can identify with.
Jane, I'm 76 and from the same class background. I was lucky and elevated my position but on being made redundant at sixty when I still had a good 20 years of working life still in me it nearly finished me, what in life was left for me but at 76 I rose again from the ashes,call myself The Yorkshire Fenix and started writing on substack, I feel reborn and now aim to start a new business in 2024. I now intend to live until I die once more. My very best wishes. tyf.
I've got a Substack page that I want to chronicle the development of my 3rd,and probably last,garden on.Im on Substack because a couple of people I "follow" are on it. Then it asked me "would you like a page" so I thought "ooh yes",but being dim I can't remember how to post on it. I did manage a couple in February but at random,I must have touched and clicked and swiped in just the right order. So,can you give me any BASIC advice on how to post a photo and some text in the right procedure. I'm not being a writer. I have no pro ambitions but I would like to keep a garden journal. Especially now things are growing. Sorry to be so dim. I know there is a help section but I get confused if it's talking to bots. Any advice appreciated.
PS. I love the wide range of reading on here,on all topics,and often light hearted and funny but I do NOT WANT TO BE some sort of lurking troll putting comments on other people's work.
Keith,thank you for your reply to my comment. Can I ask some advice from you. But first say I remember in the 1980s when it was a big thing to insist all people over 50 leave work and "retire" so the youngsters could have the "few jobs" available as we had 3 million unemployed and rising. It was all doom and gloom. It always is!
Anyway I was in my mid 30s then,maladjusted and finding life difficult to cope with. Nowadays I'd have been diagnosed as Autistic but I'm glad that label thing wasn't around then or not so wide ranging. So at my workplace all the 50+ employees were offered a super generous redundancy package which they all took of course. It was dreadful really because these were all loyal,experienced people in their prime. Well,did it free up loads of jobs for unemployed school leavers. No. Some of the "oldies" were rehired on new contracts,lol. And the company started putting in mechanisation and no doubt automation after I left not long after. Even before I left tasks that used at least 4 people could be done by 2. In fact I had always secretly thought (but never said) that the way we worked,this is 1970s into 1980s was practically Dickensian,so I think the firm came late to machines instead of people,which is good. But how ironic that back then the whole government policy was to "cull" oldies from the workforce. Now it's to whip us lot back to the coal face as all the young ones can't hack it with their anxiety issues.
That's the narrative,not my opinion. As this "aside" is far too rambly as usual for me I'll put my ask in next.
At 60, I watch my mother, who is 83, age and it's quite an experience to share her losses and challenges as her caregiver. In some ways I feel it will be helpful as I get older, perhaps prepare me better. And in other ways I wonder if it has predestined me mentally to expect certain things. All I know is that physical challenges make aging so much more difficult in myriad ways. The aspects of my mother's life that I've watched taken from her - the ability to drive, the energy she used to have, the social circle that has diminished for multiple reasons - makes me sad. I live in dissonance every day.
Yes,I was my late Mums carer and it was very frustrating to her to lose her mobility,(but never her wits),and it does make you think,who is going to do all this for me. (No one). But my Mum was both brave and stoical,she only cried once,and with patience faced her later life and always until near the end of course was interested and engaged in life.
Great interview. Not using age as an excuse is the advice I would also give. In addition, being around people of all ages is inspiring. I taught college for many years and had a child later in life as well. Their perspective was/is important to me. In addition, as an artist, I have many artist friends older than me who blow away all the ageism conventions.
Twenty years ago when I was 49 and totally uninvolved with tech,highly suspicious of it,having tech phobic parents and thinking I would NEVER be involved in all that flim-flam (but it gets you in the end) I knew loads of people in their 60s who were totally conversant with computers,email etc . I think it was the beginnings of the Internet then and Im pretty sure online shopping was a new thing,people were so annoyingly smug about how they got this or that for at least 80% less than we going to the shops shoppers paid! I used to think how ironic it was that me the "younger" person was the ignorant one and these "old people" were all on the ball,fast thinkers and knew what was what. So I know that she is no reason to not have at least basic online skills but to be honest,basic for some of us,is THE level! So I always find two media things very odd. One: Old People can't do online and dont know about it. False for the above reasons. Two: parents dont have a clue about online so dont know what their kids are accessing. This tech has been around for 40 years now. Parents may be in their 20s so tech has always been in their life,so that's nonsense
But I do think with all the multi- things online it can be hard to keep track. I know there are apps and settings to block bad stuff from your kids but you dont know what they might see on another kids phone at school.
You're right Jane. A lot of us think the same. Keep- plodding your skills will increase with time. Whether we like it or not it's here to stay so we need to try to adapt or become a Dodo
You'll both have fiery natures then or have I got it wrong about redheads. See at 76, I'm still not too old to flirt. All a bit NATO, no action talk only, where is the rewind button.
Oh yes, redheads tend to have fiery natures. I think it is because we are so different from others as children and must learn to defend ourselves in the world. Just my theory.
I believe it is so important to not let a number determine how you feel about yourself. There is already enough ageism around us in the day to day. The pandemic prepared me for spending time with myself and learning to enjoy reading and doing watercolor and not depending upon others to include or exclude me. I am grateful for the perspective that I have at this age 76. Every day is a new first!
Snap Lorette you are not alone. 1947 was a good year for you and me. My best wishes Keith
I feel much the same as you. I was made redundant at 60 and at the time here in the UK no one wanted people like me not even for menial tasks so I curled up a died then 8 months ago I woke up.I think more like a Phoenix I rose up out of the ashes and at 76 began my life again. I decided to write joined Substack and am about to start a new business aptly named The Yorkshire Fenix. We'll see where that leads. More power to your elbow.
As I head towards 60 in May, thinking about what it means or what I want it to mean for me, it’s refreshing to read that Susan doesn’t have a rigid mindset about aging. Except for health-related challenges, why should we?! The Library Book is still one of my favorite reads! Dry skin for the win🙌🏼
Enjoyed this so much! She has such a beautiful outlook and so very talented.
This really hit home to me - “…I rarely experience something now that doesn’t have some resonance with an occurrence in my past.” I , myself need to remember this.
Thanks Susan and Sari.
I didn't realise until I read these replies,how alike our generation are in our thinking.
Wonderful interview! To be honest, I hadn't heard of Susan Orlean before. Some of her titles sounded familiar, but also I've been alive for the same amount of time she's worked at The New Yorker ;). I added her titles to my Goodreads and am excited to dive into them, especially "The Library Book."
My favorite thing about listening to others significantly older than myself is all of their insecurities have subsided. They become the most rock-star badass women as they age because they truly stop giving any fucks. I appreciate that-- and it makes me look forward to growing old myself. I am still young with fears, insecurities (thought they've gotten MUCH better than my twenties) and am inspired by your share. Thank you, Sari, for capturing this wonderful chat!
Glad you enjoyed this, Emilee! And also that it has introduced you to one of our greatest writers. You'll love her books.
Rock on Emilee no point in getting hung up on something you can't do anything about. Enjoy what you've got. I do.
Thanks for your post. I am 55 and feel much younger than my age even with rotator cuff problems and mild arthristis. I am an older mom as well. I had my son at 38 and I have always been the older mom but I don't feel like it. My son is 16 and most my people my age are becoming or are grandparents, we haven't even gone college shopping yet. I have very good mom friends that are 5, 10 even 15 years younger, but I don't feel the age difference. I think it has to do with where you are in life. Thanks again for writing this article!
Dry skin! Amen. Thanks Wordy Bird! You're exactly the badass I imagined! 🔥
Love her philosophy on life at her age that we seem to share (I’m 77). Could be the red hair?
Well,I found this riveting as I've just turned 69 and some of it I can totally identify with,some of it not but due to my different personality or character and cultural differences ie I'm in UK which makes more of a difference than would be thought but that could also be due to my social class too (quite near the bottom). And that is real,in real life reality despite our "egalitarian" society. I live only 35 minutes drive from King Charles country home of Highgrove near Tetbury but he's never yet invited me to drop in for a cup of tea! I'm joking,my next door neighbour hasnt either. Most people assume I'm aged between 48 - 52. I know this . And it's not a blessing,it's a curse. You don't.get offered a seat. You are assumed to be stronger and more vigorous than you are. And some of the people in your locality giving you the squinty old fish eye they think youre on welfare benefits not the state pension you paid in for. ( You know it's a Ponzi scheme really).
In 1960 when I was 5 old people all had white hair,they had wrinkly faces,they used a walking stick. They dressed like proper old people,the men and the ladies. BUT (in my east Bristol working class locality) no old person had DEMENTIA. They were all sharp as tacks,wits quicker then a winning greyhound and in a second could bring down any pretentiousness with a blood drawing sharp word,quick as a knife.
The old people of my childhood they were fearless and up to anyone and no one got the better of em.
I often wish I could be a "proper" old person instead of a sort of superannuated teenager. So that's what I can identify with.
Jane, I'm 76 and from the same class background. I was lucky and elevated my position but on being made redundant at sixty when I still had a good 20 years of working life still in me it nearly finished me, what in life was left for me but at 76 I rose again from the ashes,call myself The Yorkshire Fenix and started writing on substack, I feel reborn and now aim to start a new business in 2024. I now intend to live until I die once more. My very best wishes. tyf.
I've got a Substack page that I want to chronicle the development of my 3rd,and probably last,garden on.Im on Substack because a couple of people I "follow" are on it. Then it asked me "would you like a page" so I thought "ooh yes",but being dim I can't remember how to post on it. I did manage a couple in February but at random,I must have touched and clicked and swiped in just the right order. So,can you give me any BASIC advice on how to post a photo and some text in the right procedure. I'm not being a writer. I have no pro ambitions but I would like to keep a garden journal. Especially now things are growing. Sorry to be so dim. I know there is a help section but I get confused if it's talking to bots. Any advice appreciated.
PS. I love the wide range of reading on here,on all topics,and often light hearted and funny but I do NOT WANT TO BE some sort of lurking troll putting comments on other people's work.
Jane I hope you got my long winded reply. I got a message to say it hadn't gone through, Keith
Oh I think comments are disabled or something. I'm having a traumatic time in life just now. I don't even know what day it is.
Keith,thank you for your reply to my comment. Can I ask some advice from you. But first say I remember in the 1980s when it was a big thing to insist all people over 50 leave work and "retire" so the youngsters could have the "few jobs" available as we had 3 million unemployed and rising. It was all doom and gloom. It always is!
Anyway I was in my mid 30s then,maladjusted and finding life difficult to cope with. Nowadays I'd have been diagnosed as Autistic but I'm glad that label thing wasn't around then or not so wide ranging. So at my workplace all the 50+ employees were offered a super generous redundancy package which they all took of course. It was dreadful really because these were all loyal,experienced people in their prime. Well,did it free up loads of jobs for unemployed school leavers. No. Some of the "oldies" were rehired on new contracts,lol. And the company started putting in mechanisation and no doubt automation after I left not long after. Even before I left tasks that used at least 4 people could be done by 2. In fact I had always secretly thought (but never said) that the way we worked,this is 1970s into 1980s was practically Dickensian,so I think the firm came late to machines instead of people,which is good. But how ironic that back then the whole government policy was to "cull" oldies from the workforce. Now it's to whip us lot back to the coal face as all the young ones can't hack it with their anxiety issues.
That's the narrative,not my opinion. As this "aside" is far too rambly as usual for me I'll put my ask in next.
At 60, I watch my mother, who is 83, age and it's quite an experience to share her losses and challenges as her caregiver. In some ways I feel it will be helpful as I get older, perhaps prepare me better. And in other ways I wonder if it has predestined me mentally to expect certain things. All I know is that physical challenges make aging so much more difficult in myriad ways. The aspects of my mother's life that I've watched taken from her - the ability to drive, the energy she used to have, the social circle that has diminished for multiple reasons - makes me sad. I live in dissonance every day.
Yes,I was my late Mums carer and it was very frustrating to her to lose her mobility,(but never her wits),and it does make you think,who is going to do all this for me. (No one). But my Mum was both brave and stoical,she only cried once,and with patience faced her later life and always until near the end of course was interested and engaged in life.
Great interview. Not using age as an excuse is the advice I would also give. In addition, being around people of all ages is inspiring. I taught college for many years and had a child later in life as well. Their perspective was/is important to me. In addition, as an artist, I have many artist friends older than me who blow away all the ageism conventions.
Twenty years ago when I was 49 and totally uninvolved with tech,highly suspicious of it,having tech phobic parents and thinking I would NEVER be involved in all that flim-flam (but it gets you in the end) I knew loads of people in their 60s who were totally conversant with computers,email etc . I think it was the beginnings of the Internet then and Im pretty sure online shopping was a new thing,people were so annoyingly smug about how they got this or that for at least 80% less than we going to the shops shoppers paid! I used to think how ironic it was that me the "younger" person was the ignorant one and these "old people" were all on the ball,fast thinkers and knew what was what. So I know that she is no reason to not have at least basic online skills but to be honest,basic for some of us,is THE level! So I always find two media things very odd. One: Old People can't do online and dont know about it. False for the above reasons. Two: parents dont have a clue about online so dont know what their kids are accessing. This tech has been around for 40 years now. Parents may be in their 20s so tech has always been in their life,so that's nonsense
But I do think with all the multi- things online it can be hard to keep track. I know there are apps and settings to block bad stuff from your kids but you dont know what they might see on another kids phone at school.
You're right Jane. A lot of us think the same. Keep- plodding your skills will increase with time. Whether we like it or not it's here to stay so we need to try to adapt or become a Dodo
Inspiring!
This Susan sounds way more interesting than me. And she’s a redhead, too.
You'll both have fiery natures then or have I got it wrong about redheads. See at 76, I'm still not too old to flirt. All a bit NATO, no action talk only, where is the rewind button.
Oh yes, redheads tend to have fiery natures. I think it is because we are so different from others as children and must learn to defend ourselves in the world. Just my theory.
What a wonderful read, and inspiring in the spirit of instinctual, youthful spirited anti-aging rather than a rage against time.
I'm only 52 but know several people in the vicinity of 70 who have a similar attitude as Susan. It's great to have role models.
Appreciate the insight + the fun photo (Elsbeth vibes)!