TBO.com - TBO is Tampa Bay Online

You're Never Too Old To Laugh About Aging

ADVERTISEMENT

By AMY SMITH LINTON

Published: November 4, 2007

"Tales of Graceful Aging From the Planet Denial," by Nicole Hollander (Broadway Books, $20)
Nicole Hollander created the nationally syndicated comic strip "Sylvia," which features a disgruntled, sarcastic woman of the world pointing out the absurdities of modern life.

With "Tales of Graceful Aging," Hollander boldly goes into the odd, inevitable territory of menopause and beyond, with a collection of essays and anecdotes about her own (possibly exaggerated) experiences in aging.

No topic is taboo, and Hollander's sassy, salty and profane response to such indignities as losing keys and reading glasses, being offered a senior discount, suffering through inadvertent celibacy, outliving beloved pets and one's "last" car, and giving up tennis for sports such as "finding the best tiramisu in town" makes for laugh-out-loud reading.

Hollander's advice comes direct from left field: "If you can't remember the name of the dessert we had back in 1992 in that dump on the south side, please don't tell me you're having a senior moment. Pretend you've dropped something ... If you have lost your car in the parking lot, please lie. Tell me it's a family tradition."

Regarding health care, she writes: "If cats had Medicare, I think we would prop them up near the fireplace and have a visiting nurse spoon feed them bottled baby food chicken forever."

This is a frank and very funny collection that will shock and amuse anyone whose life includes a woman "of a certain age."

Amy Linton Smith is a freelance writer who lives in Tampa.

Share this:

Loading Comments...

Email Print

ADVERTISEMENT