While I love each and every topic ElderChicks tackles, the topic this month is especially interesting since it includes me, a so-called “younger chick.” I am the daughter of one of the founding ElderChicks, Thelma Reese.
About six months ago Thelma and her friend, Bobby Fleisher, mentioned that they were thinking of starting a blog. They envisioned a website where women like themselves could read, write and observe how other similarly aged women were living through their retirement years, some with vigor, some with weariness, and most with an insatiable curiosity about how other women their age were coping.When my mother told me about the blog idea, I asked if I could help. While I have no real blogging skills per se, I knew this was a community of women I wanted to somehow be a part of, and offered my services to my mother and Bobby as their official “blogmeister.” Lucky for me, they said “sure!” and so began this wonderful journey with all of you.
Although Bobby and Thelma do all the “heavy lifting” of the blog, I am thrilled to offer whatever technical support I can. As a result, I’ve been deeply engaged with each and every post, comment, photo, and email and I’ve loved every minute of it. The experience has given my mother and me a whole new opportunity for connecting, and it’s been nothing but fun and inspiring. The icing on the cake is getting to know a little bit about every one of you, too. You are all my mentors and I value the wisdom, humor and struggles each of you is experiencing and know that when I become an ElderChick, I will be wiser and better-prepared for having known you all. Thank you all for making ElderChicks a wonderful destination for old and young. [Leave a comment here.]
ElderChicks 
Tory:
Your resemblance to your mother in the picture is awesome. You are fortunate to have such a wonderful relationship with your mother. The blog sounds like a great idea.
Best,
Sonia
Sonia, I learned about your daughter through “Eat First-
You Don’t Know What They’ll Give You.” I hope other ElderChicks are finding your book on Amazon and having the fun of reading it.
Thanks to both of you for creating Elderchicks. A true collaboration!
The 3 generations of women in the Hogsett-Drake family are great examples for the rest of us.
Thank you, Tory. Believe me, the pleasure is all mine. Bobby and I draw inspiration from the examples of all our daughters and granddaughters.
Dear Tory,
What a wonderful expression of love and admiration for us older women. We have reached a stage of life when we can offer advice and not have our daughters roll their eyes or say “you don’t understand”. We have each matured and grown wiser. I must say that it feels good to be given credit for wisdom acquired through aging.
I have a cute story about my mother. I was always a good girl and always listened to my mother but then I did just what I wanted to do. One rainy day, she says to me, “Elena, it’s raining, wear a scarf”. It had been a bad day for me and I screamed, “Mom, I’m 40 years of age and if I think I need to wear a scarf, then I will wear a scarf, you don’t have to tell me what to do!” She then stares at me, puts both of her hands up to her face and says, “You’re 40 years old?”
I guess it’s hard to think of our daughters being grown-up women not needing our advice.
It’s wonderful that both of you have such a close relationship and even better that you can share it with us.
………Elena
I too am a “YoungerChick” who has enjoyed ElderChicks since the beginning. Thank you both for starting it (and inviting me to follow along!).
Hi Gail,
We love hearing from you younger chicks! You keep us going
From how many countries do sisters contribute to ElderChicks?
I mean, I am in UK and am English, and have spread news of it back to the USA and in UK.
yes, how nice to hear from Thelma Reese’s daughter
Hi Margaret,
We think of you as chief chick in the UK and appreciate your spreading the word. The wonderful Christine Purves reached ElderChicks through you, we know. Someone in Australia has just subscribed; we’re hoping she writes soon. Keep spreading the word!
That’s a wonderful sentiment as well as testament to the wisdom of these ElderChicks. Having your mom with you is a gift! Enjoy every minute!
I am the third generation of the Reese/Bers chicks! I love reading about the elderchicks. And what a great logo! 😀 Keep it up Elderchicks!
Emma, it’s great to see your words as well as the logo here! Should we let everyone know that you designed the logo? I think so!
It takes a third generation chick to have the eye for the right design. One that will endure for many years to come. Great job Emma. Tell your mama she wrote a lovely piece for the best Elder Chick on the planet!
That’s the thing about us ElderChicks: we’re still teaching and, even more important, we’re still learning.
Hi Emma,
We haven’t met, but I love that a third-generation Chick (are you then a Chicklet?) has designed the logo. That’s how the creative process works – the gene gets handed down through the generations.
Hey!
We have ElderChicks, ElderChicks-in-Training, and now we have Chicklets. What a great group!