I loved your story, which is why I pointed people to it. I think it brings up so many issues that we see in society, and your experiences with older women absolutely positively underscore what I so want to have happen- mentoring by example. I was far less pointing at you personally than at our society writ large- how we treat aging folks. Please, I loved your piece. I wish I saw more like yours than WOE IS ME I’M SO OLD NOW I’M THIRTY.
MOST of us don’t pay attention. This wasn’t about you. This was about all of us, and how we as a culture allow others to decide for us what the norms are as a way to frighten us into making purchases as opposed to being out in life.
Your buddies are out in life. You might want to look into a local chapter of Bold Betties, as well. There are TONS of organizations forming on line and elsewhere getting women into the wild.
Nothing about my piece was a criticism. I answered your question, you are not an oddity- and mentioning you and your piece were both celebratory. If you took it as criticism, that’s a genuine shame, for not only was that not at all intended it wasn’t stated as such. Your piece delighted me no end, and it gave me a way to make a point about how often society doesn’t see who is really out there. I saw your article to point at what’s going on that’s good in the world.
If you read my piece as a criticism, Maribel, then you didn’t read my private email which was a request to interview you about your group for my book. I do not take other people to task when I see what’s exciting about it. What you’re doing is terrific. What they are doing is terrific. That was my sole intention.
And kindly, nothing in my article specifically pointed you out or shamed you for not knowing it all. I was far more pointing out how mass media and society in general frame how we see aging.
None of that had anything to do with you. What you’re doing is an inspiration. I might ask you to reread that article in that light, rather than make the very wrong assumption that I was in any way criticizing you.