Thursday 10 May 2012

Hello, USA

After the last post, Judith Boyd (the Style Crone herself) congratulated me for my blog being mentioned on the AARP blog.  Well, as you can imagine, I was thrilled.  Not that I knew what the AAR was!  It turns out it is the American Association of Retired People.  So, it was a real honour to be there, and in the company of such fabulous bloggers as Idiosyncratic Fashionistas, 40 Plus Style, That's Not My Age, and of course, the main story, which was about Judith's blog: Style Crone.

I'm not very good at providing links (I hit the buttons, but it doesn't actually seem to "link" anything, which is kinda the point of the whole thing!)  Anyway, if you would like to google it, the post is on AARP blog, May 2, and the main feature is "Older Women Promote Aging Stylishly."  I am almost at the end (7th paragraph).

So, in celebration of being mentioned, and also because I met with my friend Joan today, I thought I would post a photo of us and tell "our" story.

Joan and I have a coffee which turned into two and a lot of laughs.

Joan is 82 now, and hasn't been in the best health this past year or so, but ever since I have known her (since 1996) she has been endlessly cheerful and "twinkly".  Her gusto for life is inspirational, uplifting, and she generates positivity, despite the fact that now she has to get around with what she calls her "gallant steed".  That's her walker. She had a kind and cheery word for the waitress, a little wave to people she knows, and a mega-watt smile.  "Everyone is so kind!" she enthused.  "That's one of the benefits of getting old.  Everyone is so kind and helpful and patient."  I suggested that perhaps they couldn't help but be, and they were just reflecting back her positive outlook to her.  She was too modest for that, but she's a dear, if ever there was one.

We met at a writing class, and she is still writing, keenly engaged in the mental stimulation of researching a book she is writing about her years of living in China.  She is using books, the internet and her own journals of her experiences to write about the Chinese culture, history, crafts and, for want of a better word, their mind-set. 

Some of my friends who also know her, call her the Poster Girl for Age UK.


4 comments:

Mrs. D said...

Congratulations on being mentioned! That's always a great thing :)
Your friend seems like a load of fun. I volunteer at my local Oxfam shop every other Saturday morning and one of the best things about it is the opportunity to have a little chat with funny and interesting older people I wouldn't have the chance to meet otherwise.

The Style Crone said...

Congratulations Rose! Don't know how this article came about, but I was in such great company. Thank you for mentioning The SC

Your friend Joan is very inspiring. What a wonderful and interesting woman to spend time with.

Heather said...

This is such a sweet post.. you are both twinkly :) I love it

XO
www.pearlsandpaws.blogspot.com

Jean at www.drossintogold.com said...

Congrats on so many accounts! First, for the aforementioned article!! Second, for your blogging award passed on to you by Melanie of Bag and a Beret!

I love this post and appreciate the company you keep!

Love, Jean