14 Comments

Inspiring! I love the backwards life idea. Think I am doing it too. And this made me so happy-'xYou haven’t yet met all of the people who are going to love you.”

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May 8, 2023Liked by Sari Botton

I'm here for a 50 something beauty influencer!

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May 8, 2023·edited May 8, 2023Liked by Sari Botton

Oh I LOVE this and Bethany (just followed her on instagram, too!) So much about it resonates for me... the concept of living a "backwards life", learning to ask for help later in life (at 52 I can feel I'm just about on the verge of learning this one!) Wonderful voice, humor and outlook -- thank you both for sharing!

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May 18, 2023Liked by Sari Botton

I want to have your confidence. Retirement and family illness has left me strapped for cash. All those plans to really travel, see Broadway shows, are gone. My health (knock on wood) is relatively healthy. My partner's rational (mostly) fear of Covid is still keeping us isolated. I'm sadder and more scared than I've been. My partner went through a terrifying health scare this past Thanksgiving, which he's mostly recovered from, but it keeps him housebound. I want to go hiking, and take dance classes again. I'm really sad that I've lost my singing voice - which was never great, but got me a lot of work in musicals, but even singing at home (which used to give me lots of pleasure) is problematic. Wow - just writing this all down, I sound like I've given up. I haven't! I still feel 29, and still want adventure and fun. I am taking one day at a time, and hope I can resolve these things, or change my attitude about these things. I'm still that girl at 17 who looked up at her high school's flag, waving high up toward the heavens, and wondered where I'd be - and *who* I'd be at 50. And now I'm 70. Onward and upward.💕😊

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So exuberant I love it!

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This interview made me so happy on a day when I'm in the midst of totally having my heart broken... "You haven’t yet met all of the people who are going to love you.” Thanks for that. That someone else loves Penelope Fitzgerald is also such a joy. I've always dreamed of growing up like her, penning slim, vivid treasures in a cottage out back. And living life backwards... I suspect this may be much more fun than the whole hamster wheel of progress... might be time to give it a go :)

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founding
May 11, 2023Liked by Sari Botton

Bethanne you seem like an incredible person! I love your confidence, generosity, honesty, gratitude, humor, and enthusiasm for life. So interesting reading about your role models. I look forward to reading your book!

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thank you bethanne. being a new writer, non-twitterer, i've not encountered you before. at 77 i'm thrilled about your hair, though mine is still naturally blonde and i envy the grey/white haired ones of us! mostly i admire your comment about what age gives writers...a broader, eagle-eye, perspective. i write mostly about conscious ageing (as it is spelled here in the UK) and it is rare to find someone as enthusiastic as you are about the process of growing older with awareness. onward with the grace of grey hair and enthusiasm...being imbued with spirit!

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May 8, 2023Liked by Sari Botton

I love this! I've been following Bethanne for so many years and to see her this blooming time is just great. Also another 1963-er... I'll be traveling for work on my birthday, sigh.

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Love this! Bethanne is a fellow 1963-er. I’ll be 60 in November. I have so many questions for her but I have a feeling they may be answered in her memoir. Will purchase today. Thx Sari.

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Bethanne is one of the delights of Twitter, and this interview just proves what a delight she is IRL. And will you please come here, Bethanne, FFS?! Pretty please? xo

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I think if there were a dictionary entry for "joi de vivre" Bethanne's photo would figure prominently. It's clearly hard-won, and what a delight she is!

P.S. LOVE the hair! My partner convinced me to finally stop dying mine. Hopefully by 60 it will be as lovely as her's.

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Oh, so beautifully said. I gleaned much from this. Thank you.

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