Ruth Raymond Thone is a writer, teacher, community activist, and speaker. She has been active in progressive politics for many years. Currently, she studies Spanish, records her drcams, travels to see her three grown daughters, and lives in Lincoln, Nebraska, with her husband Charles. She works at a House of Hospitality and a Soup Kitchen, is active in Common Cause, drug and alcohol abuse recovery, anti-war and peace groups, feminist causes, and leads groups in Values Clarification and Realization, Appearance and Aging Issues for Women, and Writing. She is a member of and active in several social justice organizations.

• Contents I. Unmasking Our Own Truth as Aging Women“Just Fine, Thank You” Beware the Positivists! Aging Gracefully LOOKS Call It by Its Name Just Try Harder Women’s Work II. Anger, Hurt, Grief, and Change: Facing Ourselves Who Am I Going To Be When I Grow Up? Who Am I? Internalized Ageism The Grief of Aging Becoming Old Reflections on a Funeral Litany of a Death Where Does the Time Go? A January Tale Regret, Oh Damned Regret III. Honoring and Gathering Our Strength Interdependence: Support Groups Heroines: Role Models Being Response/able Overall Wellness To Risk or Not To Risk Tools Our Forgiveness Journey Before the Casket Closes Celebration Bibliography Reading List Index

Ruth Raymond Thone is a writer, teacher, community activist, and speaker. She has been active in progressive politics for many years. Currently, she studies Spanish, records her drcams, travels to see her three grown daughters, and lives in Lincoln, Nebraska, with her husband Charles. She works at a House of Hospitality and a Soup Kitchen, is active in Common Cause, drug and alcohol abuse recovery, anti-war and peace groups, feminist causes, and leads groups in Values Clarification and Realization, Appearance and Aging Issues for Women, and Writing. She is a member of and active in several social justice organizations.

• Contents I. Unmasking Our Own Truth as Aging Women“Just Fine, Thank You” Beware the Positivists! Aging Gracefully LOOKS Call It by Its Name Just Try Harder Women’s Work II. Anger, Hurt, Grief, and Change: Facing Ourselves Who Am I Going To Be When I Grow Up? Who Am I? Internalized Ageism The Grief of Aging Becoming Old Reflections on a Funeral Litany of a Death Where Does the Time Go? A January Tale Regret, Oh Damned Regret III. Honoring and Gathering Our Strength Interdependence: Support Groups Heroines: Role Models Being Response/able Overall Wellness To Risk or Not To Risk Tools Our Forgiveness Journey Before the Casket Closes Celebration Bibliography Reading List Index

Ruth Raymond Thone is a writer, teacher, community activist, and speaker. She has been active in progressive politics for many years. Currently, she studies Spanish, records her drcams, travels to see her three grown daughters, and lives in Lincoln, Nebraska, with her husband Charles. She works at a House of Hospitality and a Soup Kitchen, is active in Common Cause, drug and alcohol abuse recovery, anti-war and peace groups, feminist causes, and leads groups in Values Clarification and Realization, Appearance and Aging Issues for Women, and Writing. She is a member of and active in several social justice organizations.

• Contents I. Unmasking Our Own Truth as Aging Women“Just Fine, Thank You” Beware the Positivists! Aging Gracefully LOOKS Call It by Its Name Just Try Harder Women’s Work II. Anger, Hurt, Grief, and Change: Facing Ourselves Who Am I Going To Be When I Grow Up? Who Am I? Internalized Ageism The Grief of Aging Becoming Old Reflections on a Funeral Litany of a Death Where Does the Time Go? A January Tale Regret, Oh Damned Regret III. Honoring and Gathering Our Strength Interdependence: Support Groups Heroines: Role Models Being Response/able Overall Wellness To Risk or Not To Risk Tools Our Forgiveness Journey Before the Casket Closes Celebration Bibliography Reading List Index