Molly and the Unicorn By Emily Flake Feature Emily Flake reflects on the shifting nature of magic and power in middle age.
How I Got My Shrink Back By Susan Shapiro Feature An entanglement with her shrink-stalking protege teaches Susan Shapiro something about forgiveness.
What Shattered My Mother’s Mind By Winston Ross Feature Winston Ross recalls the heartbreaking ordeal his family endured after his mother’s routine surgery led to post-operative delirium.
The Art of Losing Friends and Alienating People By Laura Lippman Feature Laura Lippman, admittedly a rotten friend, is bummed by the ways in which friendships end as one gets older.
Learning from Perimenopause and a Kpop Idol By Wendy Gan Feature Struggling with fluctuating hormones, Wendy Gan is inspired by the musician Mino to stop muting herself and return to writing.
Old Dudes On Skateboards By Aaron Gilbreath Feature The death of his life-long skateboarding friend prompts Aaron Gilbreath to get back on his board — at 44, with his toddler daughter in tow.
Hello, Forgetfulness; Hello, Mother By Max Feature Peering into the mirror of her mother, Marcia Aldrich wonders whether she too is sentenced to dementia.
Cut From the Same Cloth By Myfanwy Tristram Feature Artist Myfanwy Tristram was irritated by her teenage daughter’s extreme fashions — until she took an illustrated journey into their origins.
Keeping My Promise to Popo By Anne Liu Kellor Feature As Anne Liu Kellor says goodbye to her Chinese grandmother in the hospital, she taps into buried memories and family trauma.
Better Late By Summer Block Feature From straightening her teeth to finding her true love, Summer Block has reached the milestones in her life later than most.
Father’s Little Helper By Scott Korb Feature While under the influence of Valium, Scott Korb reflects on all the fathers he could have been and the father he has become.
Demonology: A Woman’s Right to Fury By Longreads Feature In an excerpt from her new book, Darcey Steinke investigates — and debunks — the demonization of anger within the female body.
Take Two Stem Cell Injections and Don’t Call Me Until After I Cash Your $10,000 Cheque By Krista Stevens Highlight What don’t these stem cell snake-oil salespeople have? Any science to prove their claims or any scruples about preying on the vulnerable.
Game of Crones By Laura Lippman Feature It wasn’t entirely Laura Lippman’s idea to become a mother in her 50s. But when it happened, she leaned in hard.
To Grieve Is to Carry Another Time By Matthew Salesses Feature Matthew Salesses considers the impact of his wife’s passing, and other factors, on his experience as a human passing through the fourth dimension.
Barely There By Jennifer Baker Feature Jennifer Baker considers the ways in which hair removal rituals, begun in her tween years, have helped her achieve body acceptance and connect with her own desire.
Everything is Fine By Sara Fredman Feature Sara Fredman thinks about the voices in her life as she raises young children and reckons with her fading father.
Who You Were Is Who You Are Is Who You Will Be By Michelle Weber Highlight Some of the trappings might change, but you at 27 is fundamentally you at 37 is you at 47. La plus ça change!
A Wealth of Perspective for a Free Ride, Now and Again By Krista Stevens Highlight “Over the months, spending time with these more seasoned humans offers a perspective that is grounding, calming.”
Why Murder-Suicide is on the Rise Among the Elderly By Krista Stevens Highlight “He thought he could live with the punishment of grief—he had done what his wife had asked—but the punishment of the law would be another matter.” Ann Neumann investigates why mercy killings and murder-suicides are on the rise.
A Portrait of the Mother as a Young Girl By Marlene Adelstein Feature Marlene Adelstein finds herself transported back in time and consciousness via an inherited painting.
‘I Don’t Know What Else to Do. So I Run.’ By Krista Stevens Highlight “You see that you can never go back. And with this knowledge a peculiar grief descends.”
Talking to Big Baby By Leslie Kendall Dye Feature A child’s doll exerts a gravitational pull on every member of her family.
An Introduction To Death By A.M. Homes Feature Raising a teenager of her own offers author A.M. Homes a glimpse into her mother’s experience of raising her.
Gone Gray By Jessica Berger Gross Feature Jessica Berger Gross reflects on what letting her roots grow in at age 45 has meant, in terms of feminism and resistance.
Introducing ‘Fine Lines,’ a Series About Age and Aging By Sari Botton Highlight A new essay and podcast series examines how attitudes toward age and aging have changed.
City on a Hill By Leslie Kendall Dye Feature A dementia patient’s daughter begins to question her own grasp on reality.
Desperately Seeking Company: Male, Age 85, Up for Adoption By Krista Stevens Highlight One elderly man’s attempt to combat crushing loneliness.
