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Grow Old Along with Me The Best Is Yet to Be (Large Print Edition)
Falling in love again after being widowed, redefining roles with children, men facing retirement, women discovering new opportunities for growth--this eloquent anthology appreciates the similarities and differences between men and women aging, transforming our myths of aging into a real sense of wonder and expectation. ABA promo.
- GenresNonfiction
Paperback
First published August 1, 1996
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41 people want to read
About the author
Sandra Martz
18 books14 followersSandra Kay Martz founded Papier-Mache Press in 1984. Papier-Mache Press was known for publishing accessible books which, “presented important social issues through enduring works of beauty, grace, and strength,” and “created a bridge of understanding between the mainstream audience and those who might not otherwise be heard. As an editor and publisher, she has compiled several successful Papier-Mache Press anthologies including If I Had My Life to Live Over I Would Pick More Daisies, and I Am Becoming the Woman I’ve Wanted, a book that explores the powerful feelings women have about their bodies.
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Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews
April 15, 2025
4 Courageous & Tender Stars
A collection of lovely poems, short stories, and beautiful photographs eloquently celebrating men, women, and aging. Compiled in 1996 by the same editor who compiled When I Am an Old Woman I Shall Wear Purple, a collection of poetry, prose and photographs exploring women and aging.
The works are funny, melancholy, vigorous, wistful, and joyful with titles such as:
1. Nearing Menopause, I Run into Elvis at Shoprite by Barbara Cooker - "This is the young Elvis", of course. A wistful, daydreamy, interlude "near the peanut butter." 4.5 stars.
2. At the Reunion by Marc DeFoe - "Smoky dreams slow dance through the crowd like a tipsy magician, vanishing bald spot and crows feet." Anyone who has attended their xth class reunion can feel the tender comraderie, youthful bravado, and after-the-party melancholy captured in this one page shorty. 4.5 stars
3. Spring Without Burpee Seeds by Jean Blackman - This farming community short story hit home for me. Right now when the snow is just about melted away, home gardeners and professional Farmers alike, take stock of their fallow fields, size up the season and consider what seeds to sow this year. A story about change, loss, and what we truely hold dear; "if I'd known it was my last Burpee seed display, I would have paid more attention." 4.5 stars.
4. My favorite poem in the collection is:
Bonuses by Dori Appel
"The monthly service charge
has vanished like magic
from my bank statement.
It's because I'm fifty-five,
and it's only the beginning!
In five more years the food co-op
will discount all my groceries,
and in another five I'll qualify for
social security, bargain movies,
vacations at special rates.
Airlines will reduce their fares,
then call my name for early boarding,
the drugstore will fill prescriptions
minus ten percent, and eventually
the newspaper will send
a deferential young reporter
to take down my advice on life.
Finally, when I am as dry and light
as a dragonfly's wing
and no longer satisfied with
mere discounts and reductions,
I'll slip out quietly,
absolutely free."
For me 4.5 stars 💛🧚♀️🙋🏼.
A collection of lovely poems, short stories, and beautiful photographs eloquently celebrating men, women, and aging. Compiled in 1996 by the same editor who compiled When I Am an Old Woman I Shall Wear Purple, a collection of poetry, prose and photographs exploring women and aging.
The works are funny, melancholy, vigorous, wistful, and joyful with titles such as:
1. Nearing Menopause, I Run into Elvis at Shoprite by Barbara Cooker - "This is the young Elvis", of course. A wistful, daydreamy, interlude "near the peanut butter." 4.5 stars.
2. At the Reunion by Marc DeFoe - "Smoky dreams slow dance through the crowd like a tipsy magician, vanishing bald spot and crows feet." Anyone who has attended their xth class reunion can feel the tender comraderie, youthful bravado, and after-the-party melancholy captured in this one page shorty. 4.5 stars
3. Spring Without Burpee Seeds by Jean Blackman - This farming community short story hit home for me. Right now when the snow is just about melted away, home gardeners and professional Farmers alike, take stock of their fallow fields, size up the season and consider what seeds to sow this year. A story about change, loss, and what we truely hold dear; "if I'd known it was my last Burpee seed display, I would have paid more attention." 4.5 stars.
4. My favorite poem in the collection is:
Bonuses by Dori Appel
"The monthly service charge
has vanished like magic
from my bank statement.
It's because I'm fifty-five,
and it's only the beginning!
In five more years the food co-op
will discount all my groceries,
and in another five I'll qualify for
social security, bargain movies,
vacations at special rates.
Airlines will reduce their fares,
then call my name for early boarding,
the drugstore will fill prescriptions
minus ten percent, and eventually
the newspaper will send
a deferential young reporter
to take down my advice on life.
Finally, when I am as dry and light
as a dragonfly's wing
and no longer satisfied with
mere discounts and reductions,
I'll slip out quietly,
absolutely free."
For me 4.5 stars 💛🧚♀️🙋🏼.
September 24, 2014
Short honest and heartfelt writting selections from both men and women that share the experience of growing old. This author also wrote When I Am An Old Woman I Shall Wear Purple.
January 8, 2023
This rating is for the poems only, I’ve found from the previous volumes in this series that I’m not a fan of the short stories (so I don’t even attempt to read them anymore). That said, the purchase of the books in this series are worth it for the poems alone, and this volume is no exception.
January 22, 2023
As with many short story collections, this one has those that resonate and those that do not. In this case, as compared to Martz's other compilation, there weren't as many "hits" for me, but those that were, were really, really good, making it well worth keeping. I enjoy the contents of these books almost as much as I enjoy the overarching concept of the books - just everyday people sending in their photographs, poems, and short stories and putting that out into the world. It's just so dang wholesome
April 17, 2020
Going through old books. This one has been on my shelves for decades, never read. Okay anthology, but it felt way too sentimental for me to ever want to read it again. Sending it off to the library book sale for someone who might appreciate this type of tome more.
December 7, 2014
Fascinating fabric art on the cover (by Deidre Scherer)
One poem, "Pebbles and Crumbs", made me cry. But I think we CAN be remembered by passing on our cooking techniques. Already my 6 and 9 year old granddaughters can make pumpkin pie filling from Libby's canned pumpkin all on their own. Surely I will come back to them when they make that. But will I reach their children's children? My grandma comes back to me, but does she come to them? Only through the oral history, and grandma's utensils. I guess the author is right.
"Dance" gave me an answer to a question. Author Lynne Burgess says, through the character of the old woman, "It didn't get better until she stopped thinking it was her job as a mother to make Nan's life right."
I liked reading this in bits so I could give thought to what was written before reading on. There is plenty of wisdom here.
One poem, "Pebbles and Crumbs", made me cry. But I think we CAN be remembered by passing on our cooking techniques. Already my 6 and 9 year old granddaughters can make pumpkin pie filling from Libby's canned pumpkin all on their own. Surely I will come back to them when they make that. But will I reach their children's children? My grandma comes back to me, but does she come to them? Only through the oral history, and grandma's utensils. I guess the author is right.
"Dance" gave me an answer to a question. Author Lynne Burgess says, through the character of the old woman, "It didn't get better until she stopped thinking it was her job as a mother to make Nan's life right."
I liked reading this in bits so I could give thought to what was written before reading on. There is plenty of wisdom here.
February 19, 2012
A wonderful, touching, heartfelt, and sometimes sad collection of short stories, poems, and photographs about growing older in the US. Gives much-needed attention to a much-avoided and -abhorred topic in this country. The book could have used more racial, sexual, and gender identity diversity in its contributors. But overall, this is a very important contribution to discussions on aging.
March 13, 2010
Didn't really expect to like this but it was very refreshing.
October 25, 2016
I registered a book at BookCrossing.com!
http://www.BookCrossing.com/journal/14262811
http://www.BookCrossing.com/journal/14262811
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews