Dear Editor, This piece (My Life and Hard Drive) is clever and charming. Laura Haywood writes well, with a light touch that's really appealing. Dorothy Mills via e-mail Deborah: You just made a sunless day much brighter. My mother-in-law who died in 1980, left me a box of costume jewelry. I recognized the name of Coro and disposed of those a long time ago. The name Weiss meant nothing to me so I did nothing with those pieces. After reading your articles (Buying and Selling On E-Bay, Part One, Part Two, Part Three) I discovered that I had several pieces left; the others largely say Kramer of NY, Richard, or Made in Austria. Thanks for your very good advice. Jean Pond Editor: I think it is vital for women to not let their being a woman become a deterrent to seeing the world or at least places they've never been. I work as a consultant and travel alone as my husband doesn't care to travel except to a golf course. I put about 30,000 miles on my car a year, for work and fun. Prepare to travel by carrying a heavy coat and good sleeping bag for the car. No, I didn't use either one, but if I had car trouble or if the weather turned bad, I'd keep from freezing. Another tip is to carry a cell phone for long out of state trips, one with dual bands. If you decide to wander in areas that are not well marked, be prudent and at least let someone know of your itinerary. Always be cognizant of who and what is around you. I met a lady, now a friend, while traveling who spent her 75th birthday at the base of Machhu Pichu in Peru. She travels everywhere, sometimes alone and sometimes with a woman friend. This year I'm hoping to plan a trip to Alaska. Carmen Farnback, Oklahoma City Carmen40@flash.net Editor: I found your site this morning - I accessed it because I'm a glutton for punishment - I should have known you would be like all the rest. First and foremost, by all means, continue to promote socialism. It never occurs to those that put together "senior" sites that some of us are alive and well and wish to continue to enjoy freedom. Second, by all means, continue with the "help me I'm falling" routine, heaven knows there are plenty of seniors that revolve around their doctor visits. And for icing on the cake, by all means, continue to consider "home and garden" as an "entertainment" category. (Editor's Note: It's actually Entertaining) Your site is strictly cookie-cutter, boring and frankly, not worth the time it took me to let you know it. Bonnie Rae via e-mail Dear Editor, In August, 1999, I had a heart attack and quintuple bypass surgery. Women our age (baby boomer women) need to know that the symptoms of heart attack are somewhate different than they are for men. Women are protect to a large degreee by hormones. So if they've gone through menopause or have had a hysterectomy, then they need to become even more aware of the signs. I'd like to see you put something in your webiste to alert women to this particular problem since I think most women are woefully unaware of the dangers - I know I was -- and I was only of of two women in my cardiac rehab program. This silent killer is only now creeping up on women my age and I'd like to see them made more aware of it. Mary Watts, Denver, Colorado (Ed's Note: Betty Soldz's article, Women and Heart Disease - Little Reported and Diagnosed Late focussed on this underreported topic. Dear Rose, If only you knew the ray of sunshine you brought to a particularly tough time. My dad died last year and it was a shock to all of us, especially my Mom. He was 72 and she is 67. My dad's sister, who is 78, came to stay with my Mom for a few weeks and help her through her ordeal. Her grief consumed her. Your article "The Stranger in My House" appeared. My aunt shared it with my mom and she laughed and laughed. The tears at that moment were from laughter and not from sadness. I think both of them related to the article more than a little. I think it will always be special to her because in her time of sadness and grief, you gave her a moment of laughter. For that I thank you. You probably do not think of yourself as an angel but I truly believe that angels are just ordinary people here among us who do very ordinary things that affect us on a daily basis and that we remember. Thank you for being an angel of laughter. Patricia Hoffman via E-Mail Dear Editor, I'm interested in exploring the emotional and psychological issues surrounding early retirement. I was shocked beyond words at the difficulty I faced because I had always assumed that because I had so many interests and was so busy, retirement would be fantastic. It wasn't. It was a blow to the ego, first! Completely unexpected. Irene in California, via E-mail Editor's Note: Dear Betty, Thanks for your article in SeniorWomen. Although I'm not of the site's average demographic, I like the site nonetheless, and I loved what you wrote. Of course I especially loved your reference to Francis Perkins, who graduated from my alma mater, Mount Holyoke College, and for whom an entire academic program at the College is named. The Frances Perkins program is designed for the special needs and issues for matriculating students who are not of the traditional college age. I shall be buying your book myself and love finding women to admire. Sincerely, Hannah Im Dear Editor: I just found out about your site and am so excited by it. I used to be an art director for an alternative newsweekly; now I'm a web designer. I'll be sixty in April. I have often thought about the need for a site such as yours. The other sites I have seen for people our age turned me off so badly I thought maybe I was in denial about my age because I just couldn't identify. I have had a quick look around your site and it looks great. I really look forward to exploring it in more depth and participating in the forum. I just know that you will be successful. I mean, a LOT of us were active, powerful women in the seventies. We can't all be dead! We're out here, and I for one really, really look forward to some community. Congratulations and thank you for putting it out there. Mary McDermott mmcdermott@viscomm.com Dear Tam, I just wanted to let you know so you won't think I've forgotten my article on long-term marriages based on the answers I've gotten to the questionnaire you have been wonderful to include on Senior Women. I have received some of the most moving, comprehensive, fantastic letters from women. You do have the most intelligent, best informed, wisest readers of any magazine, and of course it's because you attract that kind of woman to your site. It just gets better and better. Mary McHugh (Editor's Note: Since this was written, Mary McHugh has started writing a regular column for the site called Take Five but read her Part One, Part Two and Part Three of Long Term Marriage Survey. Mary is writing a book tentatively titled "The Seven Miracles of Christmas," which focuses on events following the death of her daughter over a year ago Christmas.) Dear Editor: I just found your page when I was looking for a legitimate chat room for women, preferably grandmothers, over age 50. All I ever find is chats speaking a foreign language to me. I wanted to respond to the the ladies who object to have a sales person ask if they are eligible for a senior citizens discount. I just turned age 55 and am thrilled that I can save money on my age. My key ring now has 4 discount cards due to becoming age 55 and I really use them. Take advantage of all the world has to offer us - you might as well be happy at age 55! Natalie Traugh, West Virgina, via e-mail Dear Editor: Just came across your excellent accomplishment today as I was trawling for sites to include in my Senior Corner, a community service for northern Michigan sponsored by the Traverse Area District Library. I'd like to include a link to your site in our "Remote Resources' section. Many thanks & congratulations. Mike Sheehan Moderator, The Senior Corner TADL http://seniors.tcnet.org/ Dear Editor: I wrote months ago congratulating you on what was, at that time, a new web site. Just started back with you and, oh my, how you have grown. Will now include you each morning and feel more enlightened. Your site is so readable, intelligent and as they say "accessible". It's so great to be treated as being part of a valuable group. Again, congratulations. Cheers, Beeline6, via Web-TV Dear Editor: I am interested in corresponding with anyone who is pursuing housing issues for senior women as alternatives to nursing homes and presently available expensive assisted living arrangements. I am part of a small network of women looking to form some sort of community in the next five to ten years. We had a start-up meeting with 11 people and a consultant out of the co-housing movement. Please reply to my email. Thanks, Marilyn Zuckerman, via email Dear Editor: I'm a mid-life adult student working on a MA in Library Science and Information Management and also a second undergraduate degree in English. I have enjoyed reading the articles on your site. I have one suggestion. You seem to have the references and article links scattered around the page. It would be nice to have one link to articles which would bring you to a table of contents and links to the senior women authors whose articles you have published. I especially like Rose Mula's writing, and it would be nice to have easier access to her articles with bio's and titles of other authors at a central page. Sincerely, Sharon O'Shea (Editor's Note: New design has done this.) Dear Editor: Sure would appreciate more articles by Betty Soldz. They are always so clear and direct. One has no problem with any of the information given or terms used. Keep her articles coming! Sharon in California via e-mail Dear Julia, I just visited SeniorWomen's page after too many months away, and wonder how I have ever gotten along without your columns. I, too am a lap swimmer and have my routine similar to yours. It is a time of quiet and peace and also occasional prayer. I had a go-round with a x-ray tech that reminded me of your doctor and names stories. Having had a mastectomy doesn't mean I have to be talked to only with baby talk! It happens to men, too. Because my father's doctor insisted on calling him "Willard," Daddy insisted on calling him "Larry." Unfortunately, I think the level of care went down. The best way to handle this sort of thing is to confront it head-on, nicely if possible. Some people just need to be told and are embarrassed when they realize what they have been doing. In my working life, I have insisted on having a last name and have encouraged other women to have one also. Many have not noticed that in big corporate cultures, men have last names and women frequently do not. It's not only a put - down, it is stupid. There are frequently several women with the same first name in a large office and this causes problems if all you ask for is "Carol." I am on a one-woman campaign to have a last name, whether it is a business call or ordering take-out Chinese. Such a stuffy, up-tight old bird! I love it! Karlin Campbell via e-mail 1  | 2 | 3 | 4| 5