Dr. Thelma Reese
I was born in 1933 – making me what was known in my parents’ era – a Depression Baby. Although I still live in Philadelphia, where I was born, I have traveled the world extensively for pleasure and for work. My husband and I now spend part of each year in California’s Bay Area, where our daughters and twin grandchildren live. As with so many women, most of my professional life just seemed to happen unplanned: teaching, because it fitted in with children’s schedules, led to graduate school to improve teaching skills, which led to a doctorate, which led to being an educational psychologist and professor, which led to directing the Mayor’s Commission on Literacy in Philadelphia, which led to consulting for Hooked on Phonics and educational products and publishing companies. Personal passions were expressed in leading the board of Children’s Literacy Initiative and Philadelphia Young Playwrights, which I helped to found, and chairing a Youth Aid Panel of the District Attorney’s Office at a police station every two weeks.
Dr. Barbara Fleisher
I’m Bobby Fleisher, (aka Barbara M. Fleisher BA, MA, and much later, EdD). I’ve worn many hats in my life: public school teacher, learning disabilities/reading specialist, child advocate, college professor in San Francisco, Milwaukee, and Philadelphia, and most importantly, wife, mother, and grandmother. Because my physician husband Dan Fleisher’s work took the family to Europe and the Far East, our three children, Wendy, Jane, and Peter grew up believing that the whole world was their playground. My children now live in England, California, and Massachusetts. My seven grandchildren are grown now, and span the globe from China, through the US, and England. Despite the distances and the recent death of my husband, the family has remained close and hasn’t missed an annual reunion in twenty-five years.
Juggling family and career was no walk in the park for any of us women in my generation. My career was really an afterthought –something I could attend to as long as the cooking and chauffeuring were done. I’ve now retired from that professional part of my life but I’m still finding new hats to try on. Stay tuned.
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This looks really interesting. When you are ready, I’d like to share this with my mother (Shirley) who is a young 75 and gets more worked up than ever about politics and volunteering.
Lynn
We’ll set up a date to go “out to launch” very soon, Lynn. Can’t wait to have Shirley join us.
It’s really a great website Loved that lady with the big hat sitting midst the flowers. Can I forward this to all my ole lady friends????
Not an Elderchick, but a Grand Old Dame !
Forward away! We welcome all “women of a certain age” and even younger ones who want to see how we do it.
All I have to say is that I am far from and elder chick, and I think you guys rock! I wish my grandma blogged- or even used a computer- it would be so much easier to keep in touch with her! Can’t wait to read more inspiring stories on here.
Thanks, Lindsay. Maybe the family should consider a computer for grandma on her next birthday. We’d love to have her join us, but meanwhile, we’re very happy to hear from you.
Thank you so much for being here. I’m one of the “just behind you” baby boomer women, and I’m on a mission to find my heroes. Think I just did. Wish my mom was still alive because she would so love to be a part of your community.
If you don’t mind, I’ll be back often.
Glad to have you aboard! We’re very interested in your perspective and greatly looking forward to “talking” with you!
Getting older needn’t mean
You no longer can have fun.
Put a different spin on things and
Life’s still a damn good run.
Make friends with false teeth, hearing aids,
Wigs, walkers and wheel chairs
They’ll speed re-entry and welcome you back
To a youth driven world that still cares.
But if your image doesn’t cut it
Your brain can bridge the gap
By using your “savvy”and life“smarts”
To sidestep the geriatric trap.
by debra sugar
By Deb Sugar
The world would like me passive;
Passive and benign,
Content to man my rocking chair
Trade upright for supine.
Now Grannies, although “ditzy”
Were supposed to give off “nice”,
Have fuzz-filled minds; the Mantra:
“Act nice, be nice, make nice.”
But not my style, want my next mile
To be spent where I can “smarten”
So gimme a break, reassign my stake
In this oldies kindergarten!
I’m Debra,Deb, Dee, Debora, Deborah Sugar. I.m a cock-eyed optimist and despite advancing age, my rose colored glasses are as sharp and funny as ever. I’ve never been this age before so I really don’t know what’s expected of me. (I’m little over (sh-h-h, eighty) still wear jeans and hoodies and boots, listen to rock music and enjoy the slots at Atlantic City. Before retiring I was a comedy writer for a showbiz agency midtown New York City, also did stint as A&E editor of small college newspaper. Love my ‘puter and currently trying to consolidate my humorous work into a book. I am always accessible online, so if anyone shares my M.O. please contact me. I hate to think that I’m the only old “hippie.”
Hi Debra, Deb, Dee, Debora, Deborah: I should have written much sooner. Didn’t mean to take such a great voice for granted. I’m missing hearing more. We definitely have a lot in common, and what we don’t I admire in you!
Hooray for the spunk and generosity of spirit you exemplify!!
ageless. priceless.
Before 2011 arrives I will be 82 years of age. My prior ‘lifes’ included dime store clerk, architectural draftsman (woman); registered nurse, intermediate care facility owner/ administrator/ head nurse; licensed minister, pioneer-pastor; VHS rent-by-mail business owner; big time volunteer; designer/ publisher/ owner of family web sites. (This ‘reply’ is typed with the help of an on-screen keyboard.)
I make no long term plans and keep all business responsibilities up to date. There are no desires to return to my younger days if they cannot be lived with my present life experiences. My spiritual faith shores up my contented life.
Yemmus,
“No desires to return to my younger days if they cannot be lived with my present life experiences” says volumes to me. Aside from seeing how wonderful you look and learning of your extraordinary experiencein the realm of work and spirit, you give me something that illuminates my thinking. Thank you!