Wishing you safe and wonderful travels! I empathize but at 82 they are multiplied. Still happy to have friends to commiserate with and be grateful we’re still here!
Loved that book even though I had been intimidated by its length!! Amazing. Also: please dig into all of those topics you mentioned… I’m here for it! Safe and delightful travels to you! ❤️
You are spot on! It would be great to hear from others that face the ever-changing challenges of an aging female body, with the adventurous spirit and youthful mind I still have at 63 🤪
Safe travels. Wholeheartedly agree about aging challenges—especially your highlights of energy and feet. Of course the hair, weight and I will throw in dry skin can be challenging too. 😊🌻
Yes, to posts about aging. I'm trying to deal with flushes in TX summers, struggles with weight loss, and sleep. Hair hasn't been an issue, but I love Wen and T'weaked sulphate-free shampoos.
I was hyperthyroid around the same time I was menopausal. So I never knew if my heat intolerance was thyroid or hormones. I didn’t have the hot flashes, though. But for sure, for a few years there I had the thermostat so low my hubby walked around in a parka no matter the season!
Yes! Would love to hear more about aging and all its challenges - including hair! And have a great time in London. My favorite city, too. Although not in the summer - too hot for my San Francisco blood! But maybe I just don’t have the right clothes.
I'm older than you and travel quite a bit. I'd recommend the cute boots and ONE pair of those sneakers...whichever is most comfy. Planning a 14 night trip next month with just a carry-on & large purse. Have a blast!
Ah, but we have established (see previous post) that I don’t pack lightly! I’m pretty pleased I’m wearing one pair so that I only had to pack three! Also the Skechers won’t work in rain so I would have had to take one of the other pair of sneaks. But good for you for doing it with only a backpack!
Yes to the lifestyle changes!! Just the other day I was thinking about your Fashion Friday tips. Lifestyle changes would be great!!
Enjoy your London trip. I’m going on a Mediterranean cruise in early October and am packing mainly dresses, Skechers, Jean jacket and lightweight sweater.
Skechers have come such a long way, haven't they? They really are so comfortable and now have much cuter styles. And they're more affordable than other highly-recommended brands for those of us who need support. Have fun on your cruise!
Oh, Melanie, I am a firm believer in keeping that information to oneself. Do male authors publicly agonize about diminishing testosterone levels and needing to wear support shoes? Why should women diminish themselves in order to bond? No matter how charmingly it is done, is there nothing else we can connect with?
Bon Voyage! Really enjoying your blog, and looking forward to learning about your London trip.
Well, you raise a point I've struggled with a lot, ever since we authors have kind of been forced to be on social media 24/7. (To clarify - no one is "forcing" us but you'd better believe that our publishers know how many followers we have on each account, and rely on our platforms to help publicize our books.) I've done the distant and aloof thing in the past. But the point is today we can't afford to do that, male or female. Also, I would add that male authors get far more attention for their books than do female authors, so it's not a level playing field. When I decided to start a Substack, I was hoping to do something different than other authors here. Most of them only talking about writing, and offer advice and tips, and while it's well-intentioned, TBH I don't think the world needs another author telling other authors what she thinks or what they should do. Today's world is awash in so-called experts doing just that, especially on places like Substack. And as much as we all here love books, and hopefully do want to hear occasional tidbits about my writing, in my own life I don't want to only talk about those things. So I hoped, by coming here, I'd build a community. And a community generally has shared experiences and interests. And my readers tend to be women over 40, women a lot like me. So, I thought - why not create that community? I didn't intend to talk so much about the real challenges we face until I did that Facebook post and realized I'd stuck a chord. (Also - that one FB post got SO much more engagement than any post I do about books or writing.) But again- I do understand your point. But times have changed so much. Would Hemingway have a Substack today where he talks about how much he loves to hunt and what happened the other night at the Floridita when he had one too many daquiris? Maybe. Maybe he would have.
I definitely see Hemingway posting himself with a huge caught fish, or with his hunting rifle. Wouldn't a spoof of the iconic writers of the past on Substack be fun?
But I totally get what you're saying, Melanie. The commercial reasons. Writers telling people how to write, and what to think, doesn't interest me. But sharing health issues is also not my favorite flavor. I've always bent toward "Never complain, never explain." And wasn't that needlepointed on a Wallis Windsor pillow? I love it when you write about novels and novelists. Angela Thirkell. "Diary of a Provincial Lady." You have so much to share. You open doors.
I used to agree with Layne until I hit menopause. It was helpful hearing women in my Pilates class relate their issues with various cancers and aging issues. I bet male authors do talk about their issues, too, but I'm not interested enough to go Google them.
YES to the challenges of ageing!
I’m all in with sharing the struggles you described. Wising you a joyful trip.
Wishing you safe and wonderful travels! I empathize but at 82 they are multiplied. Still happy to have friends to commiserate with and be grateful we’re still here!
Loved that book even though I had been intimidated by its length!! Amazing. Also: please dig into all of those topics you mentioned… I’m here for it! Safe and delightful travels to you! ❤️
I love long books, but I understand that they're not for everybody. But when I'm sucked into a great story I want to remain there a long time!
Absolutely! ❤️
You are spot on! It would be great to hear from others that face the ever-changing challenges of an aging female body, with the adventurous spirit and youthful mind I still have at 63 🤪
Safe travels. Wholeheartedly agree about aging challenges—especially your highlights of energy and feet. Of course the hair, weight and I will throw in dry skin can be challenging too. 😊🌻
Yes, to posts about aging. I'm trying to deal with flushes in TX summers, struggles with weight loss, and sleep. Hair hasn't been an issue, but I love Wen and T'weaked sulphate-free shampoos.
I was hyperthyroid around the same time I was menopausal. So I never knew if my heat intolerance was thyroid or hormones. I didn’t have the hot flashes, though. But for sure, for a few years there I had the thermostat so low my hubby walked around in a parka no matter the season!
Yes! Would love to hear more about aging and all its challenges - including hair! And have a great time in London. My favorite city, too. Although not in the summer - too hot for my San Francisco blood! But maybe I just don’t have the right clothes.
I’m trying yet another new shampoo/conditioner. I’ll let you know how it works!
I'm older than you and travel quite a bit. I'd recommend the cute boots and ONE pair of those sneakers...whichever is most comfy. Planning a 14 night trip next month with just a carry-on & large purse. Have a blast!
Sorry! Last thing I saw from you was “Pony Swim”. All caught
up now. 👍
Ah, but we have established (see previous post) that I don’t pack lightly! I’m pretty pleased I’m wearing one pair so that I only had to pack three! Also the Skechers won’t work in rain so I would have had to take one of the other pair of sneaks. But good for you for doing it with only a backpack!
Yes to the lifestyle changes!! Just the other day I was thinking about your Fashion Friday tips. Lifestyle changes would be great!!
Enjoy your London trip. I’m going on a Mediterranean cruise in early October and am packing mainly dresses, Skechers, Jean jacket and lightweight sweater.
Skechers have come such a long way, haven't they? They really are so comfortable and now have much cuter styles. And they're more affordable than other highly-recommended brands for those of us who need support. Have fun on your cruise!
Oh, Melanie, I am a firm believer in keeping that information to oneself. Do male authors publicly agonize about diminishing testosterone levels and needing to wear support shoes? Why should women diminish themselves in order to bond? No matter how charmingly it is done, is there nothing else we can connect with?
Bon Voyage! Really enjoying your blog, and looking forward to learning about your London trip.
Well, you raise a point I've struggled with a lot, ever since we authors have kind of been forced to be on social media 24/7. (To clarify - no one is "forcing" us but you'd better believe that our publishers know how many followers we have on each account, and rely on our platforms to help publicize our books.) I've done the distant and aloof thing in the past. But the point is today we can't afford to do that, male or female. Also, I would add that male authors get far more attention for their books than do female authors, so it's not a level playing field. When I decided to start a Substack, I was hoping to do something different than other authors here. Most of them only talking about writing, and offer advice and tips, and while it's well-intentioned, TBH I don't think the world needs another author telling other authors what she thinks or what they should do. Today's world is awash in so-called experts doing just that, especially on places like Substack. And as much as we all here love books, and hopefully do want to hear occasional tidbits about my writing, in my own life I don't want to only talk about those things. So I hoped, by coming here, I'd build a community. And a community generally has shared experiences and interests. And my readers tend to be women over 40, women a lot like me. So, I thought - why not create that community? I didn't intend to talk so much about the real challenges we face until I did that Facebook post and realized I'd stuck a chord. (Also - that one FB post got SO much more engagement than any post I do about books or writing.) But again- I do understand your point. But times have changed so much. Would Hemingway have a Substack today where he talks about how much he loves to hunt and what happened the other night at the Floridita when he had one too many daquiris? Maybe. Maybe he would have.
I definitely see Hemingway posting himself with a huge caught fish, or with his hunting rifle. Wouldn't a spoof of the iconic writers of the past on Substack be fun?
But I totally get what you're saying, Melanie. The commercial reasons. Writers telling people how to write, and what to think, doesn't interest me. But sharing health issues is also not my favorite flavor. I've always bent toward "Never complain, never explain." And wasn't that needlepointed on a Wallis Windsor pillow? I love it when you write about novels and novelists. Angela Thirkell. "Diary of a Provincial Lady." You have so much to share. You open doors.
I used to agree with Layne until I hit menopause. It was helpful hearing women in my Pilates class relate their issues with various cancers and aging issues. I bet male authors do talk about their issues, too, but I'm not interested enough to go Google them.
Oh, burn! Love this!