Think you’re too old to get a whole new life? Have a look at this week’s New York magazine, which honors nine current high achievers who are in their nineties or over a hundred. (In their hundreds?) [youtube Zzs8Ov2p-Rc nolink] For example, composer Elliott Carter has published 14 new pieces of music since he turned […] Read More

Here’s a provocative and bracing quote sent by Mamie of Can I Do It? Risk! Risk anything! Care no more for the opinions of others, for those voices. Do the hardest thing on earth for you. Act for yourself. Face the truth.– Katherine Mansfield Now, taking this literally, the hardest thing on earth for me […] Read More

My own most recent “extra life” was, as regular readers here know, the 18 days I spent in August as a New Yorker. I was apartment-sitting on the Upper West Side. For a year and a half, I’d had in mind the goal of enjoying a spell as a Manhattanite. It was a 60th birthday […] Read More

Maybe you build and repair your own cars and refrigerators and such, but not me. I like instant oatmeal. Processed foods. Processed plumbing. Things already done. But now and then in the case of my familiar trusty sits-with-me-all-day computer, I get the idea I can fix a problem myself. Now and then I can and […] Read More

I was just Friended by a writer in California I haven’t met, Nina Vida. (We have lots of friends in common.) I looked at her page and was inspired. It begins: “When I’m tempted to look at life as a series of successes and failures I remind myself that the journey is all.” Note: she […] Read More

Cherished careers don’t always stay on track from beginning to end – especially in wobbly economic times. This can be frightening and painful. A bonus life as a grocery bagger is not what anybody went to school to prepare for. A commencement speaker at Harvard Divinity School, Professor Kimberley C. Patton, thinks that in profound […] Read More

Friday, I dared to spare a few extra minutes. So often in the course of a work day, I could walk where I need to go, but drive instead to "save time." Today I walked to and from lunch at the Side Street Cafe. It's maybe nine blocks. Here's a little of what I would […] Read More

I made this announcement yesterday on Facebook and the responses have been so lovely and enthusiastic that I’m going to keep on posting the news everywhere. (Of course, I have other good reasons as well.) Here it is: My brother Harry Payne is running for the NC Court of Appeals, election day in November. His […] Read More

One of the ultimate bold acts, in my view, is to take an unblinking look at one’s finances. I’ve just read a book that has relieved me of that dread — and of the guilt and blame that come from discovering the precise results of one’s less good decisions. For getting rid of the fear, […] Read More

It’s almost a week now since I returned from my 18-day bonus extra life as a New Yorker. I’ve noticed a couple of significant after-effects of having tucked in this Plan B Life. 1. I feel very optimistic, as if almost any good thing is possible (and I’m capable of making it happen.) 2. I’ve […] Read More