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Birren Center Releases New Collection: The Gift of a Long Life: Personal Essays on the Aging Experience
I’ve recently become a certified Guided Autobiography instructor* through the Birren Center. They’ve just released their new collection of personal essays on the aging experience.
About ‘The Gift of a Long Life’
“Life and aging are the greatest gifts that we could possibly ever have.” – Cicely Tyson
In this collection of heartfelt essays, 53 individuals share their unique perspectives on aging. From the poignant to the humorous, their stories celebrate the gifts that unfold with each passing year.
The Gift of a Long Life is more than a collection of stories; it’s a testament to the resilience of the human spirit and the richness that comes with a life well-lived.
For readers seeking inspiration and connection, this anthology offers an intimate, honest exploration of the rewards that time bestows. From small, everyday moments to profound life lessons, each essay reflects a positive attitude towards aging and the invaluable experiences that come with it.
As told by the vibrant voices of the Guided Autobiography (GAB) community, these candid stories explore the unique gifts found in the later chapters of life.
*If you’re interested in learning more about Guided Autobiography, check out the Birren Center’s website, as well as my own YourWritePath.com for news on upcoming classes and workshop.
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The Twist Podcast #258: Mentors and Memories, Cool Weather Vegetables, and the Week’s Top Headlines
Join co-hosts Mark McNease and Rick Rose as we remember the mentors in our lives (here’s looking at you, F.A.T.E!), list the best vegetables for March planting, and scan this week’s hideous headlines.
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Profiled in River Towns Magazine!
Dreams keep coming true as long as you keep dreaming! This is my profile in the spring issue of River Towns magazine. Huge thanks to my husband, Frank Murray, for making this happen. There are benefits to marrying your publicist!
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GAB Gazette Features Guided Autobiography Instructor Steve Dolainski
Featured Guided Autobiography instructor Steve Dolainski, who introduced me to GAB. My own workshops and courses start this spring.
https://birrencenter.substack.com/p/featured-gabber-stephen-dolainski?utm_medium=email
“Stephen Dolainski was drawn to GAB after learning about it through friends in Oregon in 2022.
“I did some research on GAB and, as a long-time adult educator and writer/editor, I was intrigued with the concept and the methodology. I immediately knew that GAB was something for me to explore,” he said.
After taking the the training in November 2022, he wanted to work with LGBTQ seniors.
“When I received certification, I contacted the Los Angeles LGBT Center and proposed forming a GAB class,” he said. “In 2023, we offered three GAB 1 classes and one GAB 2 class. More classes will be offered in 2024.”
Stephen loves teaching GAB and talks about how it how much it benefits writers by sharing their truth.”
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The Weekly Readlines March 21
BIG CUP: THE WEEK’S TOP STORIES
Like rain in the dessert, President Biden finally gets a boost in the polls, beating Trump in three of them this past week. Maybe it was that whole ‘there will be a bloodbath’ thing Trump promised to his enthralled supporters in Ohio. Or maybe people are finally realizing the man’s got stage-three something of the brain. Biden’s also crushing Trump in fundraising, possibly because Biden donors aren’t paying off his legal bills.
SCOTUS gave Texas the green light to start its own dictatorship, seizing immigration authority explicitly given to the federal government in the Constitution. But hey, what’s that dusty old document when it stands in the way of six ‘strict constructionists’ everyone knows by now aren’t strict at all.
In a preview of gay life in America beneath the boot of Christian nationalism, Russia arrested the managers of a gay club under its ‘Extremism’ law. Don’t say you weren’t warned.
And primed for success, Amazon began selling over-the-counter birth control pills online. But is there free shipping?
IN OTHER NEWS
First Openly Gay Top Flight Footballer Proposes To His Partner On The Pitch – Indy100
LGBTQ+ voters in Michigan, other battleground states overwhelmingly support Biden
Retirement Fears Do Not Play Out In Reality, Survey Shows – Journal Of Accountancy
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Home Advantages: Best Vegetables for Planting in Early Spring
Narration provided by Wondervox (in a fun British accent).
Home Advantages is a semi-regular feature highlighting our efforts to keep up a small house in the New Jersey woods, whether it’s redoing a vegetable garden or unclogging a bathroom sink! Follow along this year as I undertake small improvements here and there, and show you how you can, too! – Mark
By Mark McNease
Cool-weather vegetables are calling
If you’re itching to start planting, March is a great time to begin, with several hearty, cool-weather loving vegetables looking for the nearest garden. Lots of vegetables thrive in the cool, moist conditions of early spring, and they can provide delicious and nutritious harvests you can tell people you grew yourself! Here’s a short list of some of the best vegetables to plant in March, along with tips on how to care for them.
Onions
Onions can be planted in March, and they’ll reward you with pungent and flavorful bulbs later in the summer. You can start onions from seeds, sets, or transplants, depending on your preference and availability. Onions prefer a sunny location with fertile and well-drained soil, and they need regular watering and weeding. They’re ready to harvest when the tops fall over and turn brown, usually in July or August. You can store them in a cool and dry place for several months, or eat them as you go along.
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A Mug Shot Worth Having: Mystery Writers of America-NY Board Members
If you just keep at it, something new and exciting is always just around the corner. I never imagined I’d be on the board of anything, but here I am, in exceptionally good company. You can see all of the Mystery Writers of America-New York chapter board members at our website.
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Cathy’s Wealth of Health: Allergies
Narration provided by Wondervox.
By Cathy McNease, Dipl CH, RH
Here in Southern California, many are plagued by allergies to pollens in the air. Extensive landscaping has turned a natural desert terrain into a lush, verdant landscape. As a result, we have an enormous variety of plant pollens to contend with. Typically, tree pollens cause spring time allergies, while herbs, grasses and flowers cause summer and fall allergies. Mold, mildew, dust, pet dander, feathers, cigarette smoke, and chemical pollutants, may all cause allergy symptoms year round, and can be difficult to diagnose. An allergic reaction is a disorder of the immune system that causes an over reaction to something in the environment. Anti-histamine drugs, like Benadryl or Claritin are used to reduce allergy symptoms.
Seasonal allergies to pollens can cause sneezing, runny nose, cough, asthma, itchy eyes, nose or ears; sore throat, hives, rashes and fatigue. Minimizing exposure to the offending pollens is advised, but that may be impossible to achieve. Allergic reactions can be mild or severe. If your parents suffered with hay fever (allergic rhinitis), eczema or allergic asthma, there is a good chance that you have inherited the “allergy-prone gene.” From the point of view of Chinese Medicine, this shows an inherited weakness in the immune functions of both the Lungs and the Kidneys. Stress may be a trigger due to a the strong connection between the emotions and the immune system. Often the allergy-prone adult suffered allergies or eczema as a kid. Others may develop allergies later in life, even with no family history. Repeated exposure can be a trigger. Colds and allergies may have similar symptoms, but if those cold symptoms last more than a week, it may be due to allergies.
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Savvy Senior: How to Get ‘Extra Help’ Paying for Prescriptions
Narration provided by Wondervox.
By Jim Miller
Dear Savvy Senior,
Does Medicare offer any financial assistance programs to help seniors with their medication costs? I recently enrolled in a Medicare drug plan, but I take some expensive medications that have high out-of-pocket costs and need some help.
Living on a Shoestring
Dear Living,
Yes, there’s a low-income subsidy program called ‘Extra Help’ that assists Medicare beneficiaries on a tight budget by paying for their monthly premiums, annual deductibles, and co-payments related to their Medicare (Part D) prescription drug coverage.
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The Twist Podcast #257: Irish Eyes Wide Open, Fun Facts for the Faint of Heart, and Professor Mark’s Class Starts Now!
Join co-hosts Mark McNease and Rick Rose as we scan the latest headlines, welcome the smell of cabbage on the stove, and consider having our eyeballs tattooed green.
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New Nature Paintings from Jean Ryan, Artist, Author and Poet
Jean Ryan has been a friend of mine for quite a few years now. Her writing and her painting always leaving me astonished that so much talent can reside in one person. She painted a commissioned portrait of our beloved cat Peanut when we first welcomed her to our home. Peanut left this world three weeks ago, and Jean’s painting of her hangs by our front door, where she always came running to when we got home.
Check out Jean’s artwork at her website.
Check out her short story collection Lovers and Losers on Amazon here, and her novel Lost Sister here.
And what better accompaniment to her paintings than her marvelous book of nature essays, Strange Company, here and on Audible! -
I’m Now a Certified Guided Autobiography Instructor!
And we’re off! My 2-hour Fiction Writing Essentials online workshop is filling up, and I’m putting together a 2-hour Guided Autobiography Introductory workshop I’ll be offering online and at several in-person locations.
Anyone attending who wants to dive deeper can sign up for the 6-week classes once I have them scheduled (YourWritePath.com). 2024 is turning out to be everything I’d hoped it would. And we have a new cat! James, our first male, and our youngest: 10 months old, a bed cat, an attention seeker, and he gets along great with Wilma (still my baby at 9).