Ten years ago I started a blog in anticipation to my 70^th birthday. Feeling energetic and active, I decided to call it Not Your Grandmother’s 70.  Subtitle: living your best life at any age. It seemed fitting because I considered myself the poster child for it’s never too late. I have had many careers and went to law school at age 50. I was planning a big adventure – taking a trip down the Colorado River through the Grand Canyon in a wooden dory. 

I said I would write a blog post weekly. And I did, for a while. Keeping with the theme of it’s never too late to begin again I would begin it again, and again. This last year seemed like a good time to write as I was isolated during the pandemic.  Only I didn’t. Then the new year came around.  A good time to start again.  Only. I didn’t. First day of spring is a good time to start again.  Only didn’t.  It was important for me to start again as I was approaching the end of my seventies. Only I didn’t.  The clock was ticking. Now half the year has passed. Yes, I must begin again.  And here I am.

Recently I found another reason to begin again. I had cataract surgery and for the first time in my life I have 20/20 vision.  “I can see clearly now” seemed like a good theme.  And here I am, doing the countdown for the last few months of my seventies. Octogenarian? Who me?  Well not quite as energetic and feeling the aches and pains catching up but still active. Active in my community and my career. Due to the pandemic, I made the difficult decision of severely cutting down on my office space and working remotely. I sit at a desk facing a glass door with a view of the water. Call this working? This week marks the 25^th anniversary of my law school graduation. I feel blessed that I have been able to build a business that can sustain me in my “golden years”.

Now about this blog?  What is my intention? I want to show that being an octogenarian is not all that scary. I recently read that a good portion of folks born today will live to be 120. Hmm?  Not sure what I think about that.  Ask me as I revive this blog at 90. I want to inspire people and make them laugh. I want to make myself stay relevant. I want to make people think. I want to entertain. In my work as a divorce attorney, I often encounter women who tell me it’s too late for them at 40, 50, 60.  Occasionally even 35!  I hope this blog gives them hope. It is not too late for them to begin their best lives. I hope the under seventy folks find something inspiring here.

When I entered my seventies I had role models, women who were still dynamic in their seventies.  I am thrilled that most are still with us and are still role models in their eighties. They are still my inspiration.

• Gloria Steinem: 87
• Nancy Pelosi: 81
• Tina Turner: 81
• Jane Fonda: 83
• Julie Andrews: 86
• Lily Tomlin: 81
• Shirley MacLaine: 87
• And of course, Betty White: 99

So here is to beginning again. And again. And again. 

Now let’s face the next serious question.  Should we rename this blog? Not your grandmother’s 80? I guess I am not quite ready for that decision, but I am open to suggestions. I have a few more months to make that decision.

I hope you will join me on this journey. With your encouragement I won’t have to begin again.  Just keep going!