Good As Golden

On the Information Superhighway you'll come across countless blogs that invite you into the lives of their authors. Some are actually worth reading. Such is the case with Lucy's Golden Spiral Journal.

Why is it such an enjoyable read? Is it her engaging style? The richly detailed personal stories? Whatever the ineffable "it" is, clearly this blog started by an 86 year old grandmother, has it in spades.

Here's an excerpt from one of her recent posts:

What did you want to be when you grew up? Did you make a conscious decision, work for and eventually achieve that goal? If you, like me are a woman born in the first quarter of the 20th century, I'd wager your answer would be a resounding, "Heck, No!"

The occupations open and acceptable to young women of my class and generation were service-oriented and circumscribed: one could be a teacher (probably not an administrator), a nurse (seldom a doctor), a secretary (hardly ever an executive) or a beautician who most likely didn't own a business any bigger than a shop in the back of her home.

Read her musings on family, love, politics, and just about everything else under the sun that's worth having an opinion on and see if you don't find her observations, delivered with humor and wit, are spot on accurate!

A Gift From A 90-Year-Old Blogger

Every once in a while you discover a blog on the Web that makes you stop and take notice. You can't help but read it and then read it again. That's what My Life at Ninety: Looking Back and Moving On will make you do.

Started by a 90-year-old grandmother, the blog reads like a memoir as Grandma Julia recalls episodes in her life that deal with such themes as the joys of accomplishment, the struggle to adjust to new situations, or the pain that can come when life changes.

Here's a sample from a recent post:

I could still recall the tears rolling down my mother’s cheeks as she packed my things in a nice little trunk. I and my sister Maria were to leave for the city the next morning. We should be thrilled. Every child in the village thought we were lucky. It was everybody’s dream to see the big city. That night before we left, we tried to talk our father out of his decision to let us study under the missionary nuns in the city.

The stories are personal but have universal appeal. Read her blog and see if it doesn't strike a chord. Truly inspirational and a reminder to all of you out there who've hesitated to start blogging that you too have stories to tell and have much wisdom to impart.

Take a cue from Grandma Julia and get started already!

Elder Blogger From Spain Getting Lots Of Press

Did you hear about Maria Amelia Lopez the 95 year old blogger from Spain whose blog, A mis 95 años/95 years old blogger is getting lots of attention on the Web? NowPublic.com for example, calls the 95 year old blogger an International Hit, and several other online media outlets are reporting on her success as well. To read even more media coverage about Maria and her blog simply log onto the blog and click on English in the upper right hand column.

Becoming more popular by the day (well over a million visitors as of this writing) this blog of personal wisdom written in Spanish is proof that the blogging phenomenon knows no bounds-age, language, or otherwise!

When are you starting your blog?

If You Ever Wanted To Write Your Life...

Have you always wanted to write a memoir but never quite gotten around to actually starting the darn thing? If one of your New Year's resolutions is to get that memoir out of your head and onto paper, you might want to turn to Write Your Life, an inspirational blog that just might give you the guidance you need to finally churn out your life's story.

Created by senior blogger Marlys Marshall Styne, also a retired English professor and memoirist, Write Your Life is filled with the kind of useful tips and exercises designed to liberate the writer within you. For example, if you're "stuck" creatively or not sure exactly how to start writing about your life, Marlys suggests ten journal assignments to get you going in the right direction.

A copy of Strunk and White's The Elements of Style on your desk and Write Your Life on your desktop might be all you need to get that memoir written in 2008! Best of luck!

An Easy Way To Tell Your Stories Online

How many personal stories do you have to tell? Odds are, with all the life experience you've accumulated, probably quite a lot. Have you ever thought about sharing these stories with others online, but are not sure how to go about doing it? Now, Ronni Bennet, author of the popular web log Time Goes By (see earlier post), has made it a whole lot easier.

Recently, she created The Elder Storytelling Place, a site especially for those of you at least 50 years or older who want to share your personal life stories with the world but without all the fuss that can come with starting your own blog or web site to do it.

From the site, in Ronni's words:

I would like it to become a place where readers sit a spell and "listen" to other people's stories. And then tell their own. Who knows? Maybe in time we'll include audio and even video. Most bloggers have many readers who don't keep blogs and so this is a place for you non-bloggers too to spin your tales for others to read. Everyone's stories are welcome - except that you should be at least 50 years old.

Simply include your story in the body of an e-mail and send it to the site for consideration. To get started and learn more about the submission guidelines, go to The Elder Storytelling Place and click on How To Do It (Left hand sidebar,under the heading, This Is Your Blog).

So, are you ready to tell your story online? The Blogosphere is waiting to hear from you!

When The Silver Fox Whispers, You Can't Help But Listen...

What is it exactly that makes a particular blog a compelling read? Is it the author's inimitable style? Maybe it's the power to make the personal details of his or her life resonate universally somehow? Whatever it is, you'll find it in Silver Fox Whispers, an exceptionally well-written blog started by a retired school teacher from California.

Whether detailing one of her recent travel adventures, regaling us with childhood stories of growing up in Minneapolis, or sharing a funny joke someone sent her by e-mail, the Silver Fox will have you hooked with her lively, richly descriptive prose-proof that she's not just a blogger, but a blogger with the soul of a writer! And that makes Silver Fox Whispers a compelling read indeed!

Who Is The World's Oldest Blogger Anyway?

Here's a bit of blog trivia for you: Do you know who the world's oldest blogger is? According to this article from ABC Western Queensland, that title belongs to Olive Riley who's 107 years old and runs a blog called The Life of Riley. From the article:

Olive Riley has seen a lot in her 107 years and now she's recounting some of her life experiences in blog, (or 'blob' as she calls it) and it's thought that Olive might be the world's oldest blogger! Among the stories she's shared are memories of the opening of the Sydney Harbour Bridge (she was there), and stories of her time on a station near Muttaburra in the 1930s.

Now if Olive Riley can write a blog at age 107, what's your excuse? Get inspired by her blog and start your own! And if you need even more inspiration just read some of these other notable senior blogs!

Make Some Time For "Me & the Cat"

Looking for an entertaining and thought provoking read from the blogosphere by someone who's not afraid to tell it like it is? Put Me & the Cat on your must read list! The blog, created by Lorraine O'Connor, a 70-something self-professed animal lover, is a gem of a find.

Whether she's offering up amusing anecdotes from her childhood or on a more serious note, discussing important animal rights issues, she writes with a passion that's unmistakable-it's obvious that she cares deeply, and she's a skillful enough writer to make you care too!

Want A Break From The Ordinary? Just Ask Judy

If you're the type that doesn't find blogs particularly interesting, maybe it's because you've been reading the wrong ones. You certainly haven't visited Justaskjudy, in any event. This frequently updated blog by a North Carolina grandmother will have you coming back often.

Whether it's for her sage observations on life, fascinating photo tours of places she's visited, or hysterically funny pictures and cartoons she finds on the web, Justaskjudy will provide you with hours of blog reading pleasure! Don't be surprised if you make it a daily read!

How To Keep Tabs On Senior-Friendly Products

Want an easy way to keep tabs on all those products created especially to make life easier for seniors like you? Check out Senior Nirvana, a blog that highlights all the gadgets, gizmos and other useful products you'll want more information on.

Some of the more recent articles have profiled:

• Super-sized TV remotes
• Talking watches
  
• Cellphones with larger buttons
• Large Print Computer Keyboards

And much more! In short, you'll find that staying up to date on the latest senior - friendly products will get a whole lot easier once you start reading Senior Nirvana!

You'll Admire Him For Being So Don To Earth

Stop what you're doing right this minute and head on over to Donald Crowdis's Blog, Don To Earth--you've just gotta read it! That's what you'll be telling your family and friends after you've had a chance to read a couple of Don's posts--they're that good!

Crowdis draws upon nearly all his 92 years on the planet as he waxes philosophical about life, death and the journey in between. His writing will move you, fascinate you--even teach you a thing or two--and never bore you. A unique perspective and an original voice in the blogosphere , Don To Earth is a must read!

Honest Musings On Aging From A Former TV and Radio Producer

If you're sick and tired of all the negative spin on aging put forth by the mainstream media you'll find Ronni Bennett's blog, Time Goes By, a welcome and refreshing read. Bennett, a former television and radio producer has dedicated the last 3 years of her life to building Time Goes By into a helpful, honest and inspirational resource for seniors and anyone else concerned with aging-related issues.

She covers practically every issue affecting the aging population--from health and medicine to age discrimination and more. Filled with anecdotes from her own life and laced with humor and wit, Time Goes By gives you the skinny on what growing older is all about. It's definitely a must read!

81 Years Young And Still Blogging Strong!

If you always thought you were either too old to start a blog (short for web log) or didn't think you had much to say, read 81 year old Millie Garfield's popular, My Mom's Blog for inspiration. Whether she's retelling a story from her early years or offering insights on life in general you'll find her style engaging and her sense of humor refreshing.

Be sure to check out her funny videos, recipes for delicacies like potato pancakes, and links to her favorite sites. You'll want to make Millie's blog a regular read!