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Nora Ephron’s mother’s advice that everything was worth becoming copy certainly makes starting a new decade all so much more palatable. I get to write about what I’m feeling and experiencing even if my angst sends shock waves through my now aging body. And I get to offer a sort of public service announcement to my fellow aging peers who haven’t yet hit my age and a new decade.   Well, there’s good news to share all around. First, my aging parts really make it a bit easier to tolerate the numbers going upward. My poorer eyesight makes it harder to...

Valentine’s Day is upon us, bringing glee, insecurities and sadness, along with a slew of romantic images on social media and television, and in every retail store. Look around and there are frilly nightgowns, ties, candy, red wine, flowers and cards everywhere you turn. And hopefully you like the color red for it takes over. For those with a significant other, it’s a time to let the person know how you feel with hearts sent by Cupid with arrows, messages with lots of exclamation points and a special gift or two. For those who are perfectly comfortable with singlehood the...

Most of us know about the Big Dig; that was the major demolition in downtown Boston that was planned in 1982 with construction work starting in 1991 and not being completed until the very end of 2007. Few thought the timeline funny. But we’re talking about a different kind of dig, a verbal one known as sarcasm, which most of us have used to criticize a friend or family member, usually unwittingly, though sometimes deliberately. In an attempt to be funny, we end up sounding snarky, sometimes hurting the recipient of our barbs. Or sometimes the intent is to be...

Scams are a little like a storyline out of the Wild West where there seemed to be little law and order and a lot of crazy behavior. These days, we may have more order but due to ever multiplying and sophisticated technology our information—whether private or not—can be found easily by prying eyes when we’re least expecting it. And sadly, the rash of scams that have arisen often target seniors and try to bilk them out of lots of money.   The list of most prevalent scams includes a grandparent’s scam, sweepstake or lottery scams, utility scam, tech scams, Social...

We all have our own thoughts about how we want to celebrate our birthdays and what we expect from others, even if we don’t voice our hopes out loud. This is especially true when it comes to those big milestones--where the number ends in an “O” or “5.”  These can be either a delightful or a dizzying carousel ride. For some it’s a time they want to shine the spotlight on themselves and get everyone they know well to make a fuss over them. Barbara’s almost 5-year-old grandson couldn't wait to turn 5. “It’s a very special number,” he told...