WOMEN OF A CERTAIN STYLE Amid fashion’s surge of interest in older women, ‘Iris’ focuses on one of the most singular figures By Ruthe Stein For years, high-end fashion designers have tried to recruit Iris Apfel to wear their clothes as she makes her rounds in Manhattan. The reason they would want to align themselves with her is obvious. One of New York’s most recognizable fashion mavens, Apfel, now 93, attracts attention wherever she goes in her creatively constructed, brightly colored ensembles. Apfel is flattered when top designers come after her, but she couldn’t be less interested. “Why would…
By Terry Ballantyne
Mind Your Elders
I’m getting some pushback about the term Olderhood. “Why not Elderhood” “Why or Seniorhood” I am asked. “I don’t want to be old.” they tell me. I called it Olderhood because everyone is older than someone. First graders hold sway over kindergarden kids. High school kids disdain the junior high group. Seniors are the elders…
Stuck about making the big move to a smaller house?
You know it’s time, you want to want to do this , but you’re stuck. This is a big deal. It’s the outward expression of your inner acceptance that you are, well, moving on in life. Looking carefully at the quality of your daily life. No deferments, no ‘wait till later’, no ‘I’ll get around to…
Life as a journey!
“Life should not be a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in a pretty and well preserved body, but rather to skid in broadside in a cloud of smoke, thoroughly used up, totally worn out, and loudly proclaiming “Wow! What a Ride!” ― Hunter S. Thompson tags: life
Your First Steps When Someone Dies
The moment someones essence, spirit, consciousness, soul, whatever you are comfortable with leaves the room, it is a moment like no other experience. People all experience it differently and there is no predicting how you will feel or react, but likely you will be lost. Not unlike the first moment alone at home with a newborn…
When Moving Forward is Really Really Hard
For the person selling the family home in their 70s, 80s, or 90s, it represents so much more than a change of residence. And this group has a limited voice and not much say over what happens when adult children step in to be “practical” or “realistic”. It is rather like looking at the folks…
Changing The Conversation
As we navigate the norms, and push against the complacency born of ignorance, exhaustion and isolation, we are slowly forging a new path through end of life issues. We must challenge all of it, the doctors, the funeral homes, Medicare, our families, the popular culture. Our death, and our bodies are ours alone and we…
Navigating Olderhood 