Don't Write Me Off!: Thirty-Nine Stories of Older Adulthood

Book Synopsis: The age when the body starts to go is about the age when wisdom starts to come. In thirty-nine personal narratives, the storytellers in this book, ages 59-102, talk tachlis (truth) about what age has given and what age has taken away. Through stories of loss — of faculties, of physical prowess, of spouses, of children — we see the growing strength and perseverance gained through life's challenges. We also see the growing appreciation for life's simple joys — making new friends, baking, playing mahjongg and canasta, starting a readers theater, adopting a pet, volunteering, learning, exploring faith, and enjoying grandchildren, great-grandchildren, and great-great-grandchildren. In this volume, thirty-nine unique individuals create a colorful mosaic that illuminates older adulthood in an engaging, deeply touching, and often very entertaining read.Contributors: Larry L. Aronoff, Ada Bandalene, Shirley Benyas, Edith Birnholtz, Edith Blumer, Rose Cooper, Audrey Demak, Marilyn Dizik, Harry Doren, Toni Fontana, Shmuel Graybar, Harriet Hessenthaler, Bonnie Hubert, Eleanor E. Johnson, Bernie Jonas, Nancy Kalef, Ruthie Katz, Harriet Kovacs, Harry M. Krim, Ruthe Levy, Phyllis Lewkowicz, Edith Maniker, Carole Master, Deborah Merin, Jill Messenger, Adele Nodler, Diana Pliskow, Roz Rogers, Ilene Rubin, Terri Silberstein, Ann Spencer, Ann Torf, Regina L. Turner, Debbie Warner, Laura Watson, Sheba Zietchick, Millie Zivoz, Al Zlatkin
Editors: Elizabeth Applebaum, Shari Cohen, Shelli Dorfman, Alan Hitsky, Nicole Lupiloff, Sy Manello, Hannah Moss, Wendy Robins, Beth Robinson, Jo Rosen, Phyllis Schwartz, Dr. Charles Silow
Artwork: Brett Panter
Photos: Ira Goldberg, Jon Lybeck