Category Archives: Death and dying

Leaving an end-of-life letter

Jane, Almost 74 I thought I would leave this end-of-life letter behind for my daughters-in-law when I die. My experience with them has been difficult, I have not been able to communicate with them effectively, and I find that writing … Continue reading

Posted in 70candles, Adaptations and accommodations as we age, Death and dying, Family matters, Parenting | Tagged , , , | 6 Comments

Remembering

Anonymous My best friend in high school called last week. We spoke about friends we lost. How some obituaries read like a curriculum vitae. I suppose this was how this person was valued during their life. I see this on … Continue reading

Posted in 70candles, Death and dying, Gratitude and Spirituality, Inspiration as we age | Tagged , , , , , | 4 Comments

Thoughts

Cindy, Age 71 I am amazed by the strength of women who survive their partner and go on to productive lives, making friends and even reaching for enjoyment. I am blessed to have a wonderful partner. We live with my … Continue reading

Posted in 70candles, Adaptations and accommodations as we age, Aging, Caretaking, Dealing with loss, Death and dying, Family matters, Loneliness, Looking ahead, Men aging, Widows’ choices | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 12 Comments

Goodbye 70 Candles, Hello 80

Ellen, Age 80 I turned 80 18 days ago, on March 10, 2021, which means I have officially reached my ninth decade. No big deal, you say? I don’t think of myself as a particularly reflective person; I’m more of … Continue reading

Posted in 70candles, Aging, Attitudes about aging, Death and dying, Family matters, HUMOR, Looking ahead, Men aging, Nostalgia, Sad about aging, Widows’ choices | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | 9 Comments

I turned 70 in October and I am so unhappy.

Anonymous My friends have died and my children wish I would die. I was a psychology Professor and retired 21 year ago. I live alone and can’t find things to do. School was my whole life but now they want … Continue reading

Posted in 70candles, About turning 70, Aging, Death and dying, Loneliness, Sad about aging, Work life and retirement | Tagged , , , , | 4 Comments

Caregiver for older parents

Anonymous, Age 70 Well, here I am. I retired on July 1 almost 3 years ago and became very involved with my 93-year-old dad and my 90-year-old mom. She became very sick and was hospitalized 2 1/2 weeks into my … Continue reading

Posted in 70candles, Aging, Caretaking, Dealing with loss, Death and dying, Family matters | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Do you feel orphaned?

Anonymous, Age 71 Great site….. I always wonder if others feel like orphans when our parents pass no matter what our age?

Posted in 70candles, Aging, Death and dying, Family matters, Older women connecting | Tagged , , , | 4 Comments

A journalist’s request

Judy, Age 63 I’m a journalist who writes a nationally-distributed column about aging and health. A topic I’d like to cover going forward, either for a column or a story: people in their 70s taking care of parents in their … Continue reading

Posted in 70candles, Caretaking, Death and dying, Men aging, Our bodies, our health | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment

Thinking about death

Anonymous, Age 68 5/8 I will be turning 70 in a couple months. I lost my husband a year and a half ago. I have 3 grandsons ages 6, 8 and 10. To get to the point, recently I have … Continue reading

Posted in 70candles, Dealing with loss, Death and dying | Tagged , , | 13 Comments