Oldster Magazine | Sari Botton | Substack

Recent posts

What I Did For Love #3: Kissed the "Baby"

Joyce Wadler on appeasing her once very difficult mother, whose personality—and affinity for infants—changed dramatically with dementia.

Jun 9 • Oldster Magazine and Joyce Wadler

Remembrance of Illnesses Past—and Present

At 83, in the midst of multiple health crises, Sydney Lea interrogates his memories and interpretations of the illnesses and injuries he’s endured…

Jun 8 • Oldster Magazine and Sydney Lea

My Situationship

Suzanne Noble on the low-commitment relationship she’s been enjoying for two-and-a-half years. PLUS: An open thread where you can chime in about your…

Jun 5 • Sari Botton and Suzanne Noble

Letter from the Editor #32

An Oldster podcast is coming this fall...Why is it so hard to get home health care aides covered by Medicare and Medicaid?...

Jun 4 • Sari Botton

This is 52: NY Times Bestseller Laurie Frankel Responds to The Oldster Magazine Questionnaire

"All ages sound old until you get there, and not at all once you arrive."

Jun 3 • Sari Botton

At the Autograph Show

Kevin Jack McEnroe on finding peace in saying no to his mother, Tatum O’Neal.

Jun 2 • Oldster Magazine and Kevin Jack McEnroe

Imagine You’re Her

Jessica Handler on channeling her novel's singer-songwriter protagonist so that she can sing the songs she wrote for her unabashedly.

Jun 1 • Oldster Magazine and Jessica Handler

The Every-Other-Friday(ish) Link Roundup

Some Oldster-adjacent brain candy to occupy you this final May weekend. PLUS: "The Oldster Top 10," Cliff Chenfeld's monthly playlist of new songs.

May 29 • Sari Botton

Home Page Feature

This is 95: Artist and Holocaust Survivor Tibor Spitz Responds to The Oldster Magazine Questionnaire

"In essence, my birthday is every day."

Jan 29, 2025 • Sari Botton

Hope? Ha Ha Ha Ha...

In her early 80s, Abigail Thomas has her doubts about the future of humanity and life after death.

May 4, 2023 • Abigail Thomas

This is 54: Cheryl Strayed Responds to The Oldster Magazine Questionnaire

"Fifty-four years of living has taught me that I can persist through the hard times—and also that hard times pass."

Apr 6, 2023 • Sari Botton

The Art of Healing

Stumbling upon some paintings she made 16 years ago while being treated for cancer, Viney Kirpal is reminded of the meditative power of art-making, and…

Mar 18, 2023 • Viney Kirpal

Letter to My Younger Self #3: About What Happened in Chinatown

Lani V. Cox addresses her 16-year-old self, a girl who underwent plastic surgery at her mother's urging and emerged determined to never let others…

Jan 30, 2023 • Lani

This is 68: Celeste Lecesne Responds to The Oldster Magazine Questionnaire

"Ever since I was a child, I had a sense that my life would really take off when I was in my 60s. And this has turned out to be true."

Dec 19, 2022 • Sari Botton

Keeping My Promise to Popo

As Anne Liu Kellor says goodbye to her Chinese grandmother in the hospital, she taps into buried memories and family trauma.

Dec 7, 2022 • Anne Liu Kellor

This is 71: Art Critic Jerry Saltz Responds to The Oldster Magazine Questionnaire

"On the inside I feel the exact same as I did when I was like 45, so outside I act that way."

Oct 31, 2022 • Sari Botton

This is 92: Hilma Wolitzer Responds to The Oldster Magazine Questionnaire

"I loved being young, and I don’t terribly mind being an old woman, but I refuse to be an old girl—someone who’s coy about her age."

Sep 30, 2022 • Sari Botton

This is 52: Rashunda Tramble Responds to The Oldster Magazine Questionnaire

"I’m blessed to have grown up with women who didn’t have to scream that they were old, beautiful, and proud because it was a given."

Aug 15, 2022 • Sari Botton

36:23

In Conversation: Neko Case and Jacinta Bunnell

Listen in as they discuss old friendships, getting older, cloth adult diapers, Oldster Magazine, and more...

Jul 18, 2022 • Sari Botton

Burning it Down

After shearing off her dyed hair and growing it out silver, Joy Castro considers the thrill and terror that come with setting oneself free.

Jul 15, 2022 • Joy Castro