REINVENTING MYSELF -- AGAIN. THANKS, JULIA CHILD

For some time now, I have been lying fallow. It's good for fields -- I think it's good for people, too. I hope to approach the next phase of my life with renewed energy.

Just what phase is this?  I turned 71 last month. When they hear this, everyone says, "you don't look 71." That begs the question, what does 71 look like? Do they expect a gnarled crone at that age? I've recently seen, in AARP's newspaper, a photo of a woman who is still working at age 101. No gnarled crone there!

Just what is it that I'm doing now? I'm on the brink of writing my next book based on my decision in my mid-sixties to leave my home of thirty years and move to Maine, 500 miles away, buy a big old house on the banks of a small river, start a new job and make new friends. I'm still inventing that phase. I'm also looking at the next phase and preparing for it. I'm expanding my cooking skills with inspiration from Julia Child (no -- I started on this even before I knew there was a movie). I'm looking over possible locations for my next home, reviewing and extending my knowledge of French in order to travel often to France, and planning to go back to teaching on a limited basis once my nursing career draws to a close. My house in Maine is on the market, and I'm learning to knit. I'm attempting to expand my mind by reading more about women's issues, and attending a monthly meeting of older women intent on examining the issues that we face and discussing how we are dealing with them.