To my dear and appreciated Readers,

First of all - THANK YOU (from the top and bottom of my heart) for following, subscribing and reading 50 Shades of Aging - you make it all worth it!

As you know,  my mother – the seed from which this garden grew  - passed away last June at 92.9 years old (5 days short of 93, and she would have cared that you know that…). Since then, I haven’t had too much to say.

For a while, I thought I could postulate and print some deeply personal post-death perceptions… or, that I could pen something interesting and insightful about life after death. Six months later, I’m still postulating, but not actually penning.

The fact is, I often find myself feeling like an outsider looking in… like an imposter in the honorable Caregiver Club. I thought I would be able to offer light and levity to those experiencing the darkness and confusion that often accompanies losing our person… that I would naturally align with those-who-have-gone-before-me… that a world of post-death caregiver warriors existed, and I could fight that fight with them and then write about it. But that’s not been my experience.  

I’m not sure 50 Shades of Aging is ready for eternal rest, so I’m asking for your input. I believe that you and I  share a huge constellation of cares and concerns outside the realm of caregiving. It’s become abundantly clear to me that I still have feelings to share and stories to tell about other relatable aspects of life… about substantial but slippery subjects… pieces with potential titles like:

- You Buttered Your Bread, Now Lay In It (about alternative choices we should have made)

- Alcohol is Killing Me, and I Don’t Drink (about the insanity of alcohol on families)

- I Was a Good Mother, But My Daughters Don’t Know That Yet (about love and patience)

- My Family’s Mental Illness Makes Me Insane (about how we all have one form or another)

So, I’m asking you, my thoughtful readers, what do you think about? What preoccupies your brain in your post-mid-life years… 50’s, 60’s, 70’s?  What makes your heart hurt now? What makes it sing? I believe there’s a spigot of spectacular just waiting to be opened, and I’d really love to hear what YOU think… Can 50 Shades take on new life post-death?

I’m anxious to hear your thoughts… even (mostly?) the crazy ones, and I promise to keep it confidential. You can respond by commenting at the bottom of this post, or by hitting  “reply” on this email. Or - email me directly at emilygaf@comcast.net. Any way you say it, I look forward to hearing from you.

And, thank you so much again for being such an important part of 50 Shades of Aging – and my life!

Xo

Emily