80 Comments

Damn- I was all ready to start writing. Next let’s do 40-60. We are in the thick of it...old enough to have made mistakes... young enough to still fix some of them..

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As others have said, do all age cohorts. I'm ready for the 60-70 one. Old enough that I know more is behind me then ahead of me, to know it's time to abandon some hopes I carried for a few decades, and to realize I had better refine my hopes and narrow them down to what really matters because there's not much time for detours, whims or do overs.

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I was going to say the same: damn, I already have a topic and ready to start. The first time I regretted I am not 70 yet.

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Haha, don't regret it--you'll be there soon enough!!

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Was just going to say; next time for the middl- aged folks, please.

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Agreed! I was excited that TFP wanted older writers for this round of essays, until I saw that, at 67, for once I’m too young!

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As a 66.5 year old, I endorse "ordinary woman's" recommendation!

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Nov 20, 2023·edited Nov 20, 2023

I was born in 1959. My parents were from the Greatest Generation. I get lumped in with the baby boomers, but not included. Maybe next time.

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AGREED- I was pumped up until I read the age restriction. Obviously Anti Gen Xism LOL :)

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That’s what I came here to say!

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Lifetime subscription and over 70? Hhmm :)

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Seriously, I look forward to reading what you receive. I often regret not videotaping discussions with my grandfather shortly before he passed.

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Should include a subscription for a grandchild or friend younger than 40.

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Well when they pass, FP will continue to send subscriptions to their email account. So their kids and grandkids can log into their email and receive FP

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Bari, Nellie, and TFP contributors: you have added richly to my understanding of the world at 70. I treasure your writing, where I find explanations that convey reason, balance, grace, sadness, and regret, sometimes with seriousness, other times with humor and poetry. Thank you.

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Brown-noser 🤣🤣🤣

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Past that.

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I can’t wait to read these! And here’s to hoping one day I’ll turn 70 and will have something to say, and worthwhile to print in The Free Press.

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What if I identify as older than 70?

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Just turned 70. I’m in!

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Good luck!

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I can’t wait to read these contributions. In the meantime, I’ll write drafts about those of us stuck in the middle of launching our young adults and saying goodbye to our parents. Please open a contest for us next. I have much to say.

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Just realized I've never seen a call for submissions for anyone this age, kudos to TFP for recognizing the potential for some really good stuff! Can't wait to read.

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Disappointed that at 68 I didn’t make the age cutoff. Sigh.

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Likewise. I’m always too old for these things and now I’m too young at 68? Gimme a break!

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Me too - 65...

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DITTO!

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Ditto at almost 69! But it feels good to be too young for something!

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Folks, nobody is going to check our birth certificates LOL.

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Hah! And you old geezers thought you were done writing those “what I learned on my summer vacation” essays decades ago. I guess not, Boomers. Sharpen up some No. 2 Ticonderoga yellow shafts and get to work. Get your grandkids to type it on a computer and hit send.

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Can you send the list of Free Press-approved books so that the under 70 set can simply buy them? Thanks!!

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A good place to search for wisdom. By the way, "...the winning entries were talked about in the pages of The New York Times". Let's ignore The NY Times, it is obviously corrupted and incorrigible. Perhaps if we ignore it, it will go bankrupt and disappear.

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I hope NYT DISAPPEARS!

Old enough to remember it was the newspaper of choice for the educated minds!

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Great idea! I'm 65; I will enter when I finish growing up.

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Oct 29, 2023·edited Oct 29, 2023

I arr a mor gooderest writter sow eye should win.

(someone has to be the skinny old wise ass..here I am!)

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i quit school when I were 12 years old, and today I are a genious.

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I think you may have opened the floodgates, prepare for a deluge.

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Splendid idea -

At 62 I’ve got stories but no cred for this contest. Maybe bounce back and forth across the decades for a bit to enrich our lives and perspectives? Eg essays from readers betwixt 20-30, then 60-70, etc.

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Right. 62 is old enough and wise enough to share some pretty good stories.

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