💬 [B]old Age: does it even matter right now?

In this political crisis, what’s one [b]old woman writer to do?

I know many people are saying they’re avoiding the news (maybe you’re one of them). Not me! Every morning, even before Wordle, a sadomasochistic impulse kicks in; I scroll the latest headlines, gorging on the latest violations of our democratic system.

I’m 73 years old and I started this newsletter to get okay with the very normal yet challenging process of aging; by contrast, what’s happening right now in the U.S. is NOT normal, and I cannot get okay with it. It’s brazen, it’s chaotic, it’s cruel, it’s all encompassing, and it demands attention. I’m finding the daily news painfully addictive, but I have to know everything. And I want the knowledge to hurt, to goad me into action of some kind, to be [b]old, both as a writer and a concerned citizen.

But so far, other than paying close attention, I don’t have a clear plan.

My impulse is to pull the Emergency lever… THIS IS NOT NORMAL!

My response, for now, is to learn more

One thing I’m doing is reading more widely¹. One of my new Substack subscriptions is to

Robert Reich

, the 78-year-old former Secretary of Labor, now a professor at UC-Berkeley. He publishes daily, keeping track of every action by Musk and 47 that shows contempt for the rule of law. Sometimes he infuses humor, recently re-publishing a letter from deceased President Richard Nixon, Nixon’s letter to Elon Musk.² It’s written from Hell; definitely worth a read. Most helpful to me, however, are Reich’s concrete suggestions; for example, call the U.S. Capitol switchboard at 202-224-3121 and tell them where you’re from. Ask to be connected to your Representatives and/or Senators.

Inspired, I made my first ever “concerned citizen” call³ to a Congressional office; in my case, to Maine’s Sen. Angus King⁴. And speaking of my home state of Maine, you may have heard that our governor, Janet Mills (the first woman governor of the state), stood up to Trump and challenged him in person, at a governors’ lunch in DC⁵.

Another new read for me is The Contrarian, started in mid-January by former Washington Post columnist Jen Rubin. It calls itself an independent, pro-Democracy publication; in just over five weeks it has accrued over 500,000 subscribers. So there are a lot of people, like me, who want in-depth coverage–and commentary–on 47’s authoritarian movement, including this week’s pushback from citizens across the country.

A very thoughtful Stack I pay close attention to is Breaking the News by

James Fallows

. Jim, also a friend, is a veteran journalist and author, who writes about politics, technology, and American renewal, often in an historical context, and, as an instrument-rated pilot, explains how the recent airline disasters point to what the downstream effects will be of cutting funds.

Maybe there’s no “right” response, yet

I’ve been consoling myself with the thought that I’m not the only writer with a non-political focus who hasn’t figured out how to respond, at least creatively, to what’s happening in America. Writing about [b]old age–at least as I have been–does not seem to be the answer; actually it seems pretty off-topic. I don’t want to repeat the cries of outrage and frustration which are being voiced by so many. That doesn’t add much. Nor do I want to summarize and interpret all the latest actions by 47 and Musk. That is not needed.

Normally, I’m always looking for a jolt of inspiration; the odd or intriguing thing that will spark an idea for a new post about the experience of aging. But to be creative, my brain has to stop spinning in anxious circles; it has to wander a bit, aimlessly, without pressure, without a goal. And that’s really hard right now.

Maybe I should shift my attention to the small things, at least sometimes

Rarely, and especially when I’m anxious, do I pause long enough to look around quietly, and with wonder; I’ve been trying to do that more. I try to see the frozen snowbanks, the sun glinting fiercely off them, through my eight-year-old grandson’s eyes. It takes a lot longer to walk to school with him right now because he has to climb up and down every icy bank and slip on purpose and squeal. For that moment, I’m okay; I have a purpose, to love my grandchild. Maybe small moments are grounding you too.

But the question remains, what the heck am I, are all of us, supposed to be doing right now to stand up to 47, as writers and creatives? I can’t stop asking this question: how can and should I respond, as a writer and a [b]old woman, to the extraordinary events unfolding daily in the U.S.? I want to be able to look back and viscerally recall this time (what happened and how we didn’t know how it would turn out), and I want to feel proud that I did my part, even if—for the moment—it’s just paying very close attention and weaving awareness, and questioning, into my writing.

As for [B]old Age the newsletter, it’s not going anywhere. I am more motivated than ever to be among the many elders using their voices for good, and I feel that now is the time to reimagine what role [B]old Age plays in this historic moment.

MY QUESTIONS FOR YOU:

• What issues would you love to see me cover here in the [B]old Age newsletter? (I’d really like to hear!)

• If you’re a fellow creative, what feels like the right thing for you to be doing at this moment in history?

• What do you think, do older people have a special responsibility to speak up?

1. Sometimes I glance at it, but this does not mean I support media that spouts Trump’s repeated lies and revising of history.

2. The letter from Nixon was originally published by The Borowitz Report.

3. I’ve just learned about the 5 Calls app. Pretty nifty. Put in your zip code and it provides names and phone numbers of your Reps and Senators—along with a script, to protest against the dismantling of USAID, purge of the federal workforce, etc.

4. I spoke with a helpful and friendly person in King’s office. She directed me to his recent floor remarks: “He’s a Danger,” King Warns in Floor Speech Against RFK, Jr. Nomination. That seems like old news at this point, but it’s still a data point of resistance.

5. Maine Gov. Janet Mills’ challenge to Trump (NYTimes, Feb. 22, 2025)