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A Woman’s Valentine Day Poem

To all the men who’ve walked in and out my door

I count them all and will love them evermore

There was Denny with just one crooked tooth

Though only seven was adoring, but had little couth

He made the strangest noises and not just when he was alone

Mother said that I had to send him promptly home.

Spin the bottle, in middle school was very big

But Jimmy Downs would kiss you like a suckling pig

College days brought a serious suitor or two

Who managed love, along with a favorite brew

Ah romance, romance is one of life’s never ending joys

Thoroughly enjoyable, when men are no longer boys.

_{poem © Jo Stewart - February, 2008
image © Sherry York Tipton - 2006}

Tonight I make my debut in performance poetry: Green Mill's Women Poets night. I will read Castoffs and In Season from my new chap book, "Where the Turtle Lives." I will do my best and try not to bomb out. It's not the public speaking part that I find challenging but it will be the first time I stand up in front of a group and own what I created. Wish me luck.

Reinventing Holiday Celebrations

As we move into the winter holiday session, a few thoughts on holidays.

While I have friends of all ages, younger and older, the largest number are my contemporaries. They more or less fall into two groups when it comes to celebrating the approaching holidays.

There are those who are miserable because things aren't what they used to be. How they have no energy to cook, shop, party and bemoan the fact that no one will do it for them or with them. Or they force themselves to do things like they always did and end up being stressed out and not very fun company.

The other group has flowed down river. They realize that they are in new territory and enthusiastic about finding new adventures. It's all about finding a comfort zone, I think. Frequently some older persons just swing from one side to the other trying to find that comfort zone. Others unfortunately are stuck in the past.

I celebrated my 82nd birthday this past summer. I received lots of loving birthday cards. Considering the pool of cards from which customers must chose, I must say that my friends and family knowing my critique of humorous aging cards, chose carefully. One in particular struck my fancy:

Age is a question
of mind over matter.
If you don't mind,
it doesn't matter!
Happy Birthday!

Well of course it matters! Not in the same way that a lot of people think about aging and that is, a time where we fall apart physically and mentally; and when our opinions and judgment is so obsolete that consulting with us is a waste of time; a time when we are tiresome (Oh Lord, let me not be tiresome!). That covers most of the most egregious attitudes towards the elderly.

And yet,

On August 21 I submitted the following letter to the Chicago Tribune and it was printed on August 31, 2009

It’s really an old story: every time health care reform has come up in the past decade and longer, the issue of money, cost, budget, deficit comes up. I find it curious that war, secret deals, bailouts and more never consider cost. The cost is deemed essential or the sky will fall in. We need to re-establish priorities and have the political will to truly reform health care. In the long run a public option will reduce costs. Insurance companies do not need our protection. The people do.